Learn from me..lesson learned at camp

I camped with the Boy Scout for a week in early July and had a few incidents which created some lessons learned.

Fall # one – I was wearing pants just slightly too long.  The cuff of my pants got caught on a raised nail as I was stepping off a platform and I fell off the platform in one of those unable to catch myself very ungraceful ways.

Lesson – make sure clothing is well fitting

Fall # two – Walking in the dark I tripped over a tent tie-down line.

Reminder – Walk a wide path around tents.  In this case the person in the tent should have tied a bright color string around the line as well for safety

First-Aid Kit – I carried I backpack size first-aid kit around everywhere. There came I time that an adhesive bandage was needed by one of our scouts.  I was proud to be the only one around that had their first-aid kit with them.  I got out my kit a realized that the bandages in the kit were off-brand and not very durable. 

Lesson\Resolution - I have since replaced all the off-brand bandages with Band-Aid brand bandages.  I have also double checked my kit and reminded myself what was in it.  I had not done this prior to the trip

Poison Ivy (not our friend!!!!) – I have been taught to recognize and avoid poison ivy and had done well until Avery wanted to go on a scavenger hunt that took us to a more overgrown part of the camp.  While trying to be calm as we were passing a hornet’s nest an untimely noise in the brush (snake in my mind) caused a panicked run right through the poison ivy.

Reminder – Avery was wearing long pants and did not get the poison ivy rash like I did.  Again, wearing the appropriate clothing is very important

Lesson – Calamine lotion does not treat poison ivy very well Hydrocortisone is much more effective