First Aid Kit

[sunflower]

Hi
I was wondering if you would recommend purchasing the first aid kit along the walk? Would they be readily available and reasonable prices? I'm travelling from Sydney and realised that it may be difficult to take the scissors as carry on. I wasn't going to check in my back pack.

thanks
SF

[Covey]

The first aid kit requirements are really minimal. The scissors are very useful, but you can buy them in the pharmacy in St Jean.

There is a blister plaster called Compeed by J&J. Sold in every pharmacy along the Way and come in a variety of sizes from ones to go on your little toe, to big ones which look as though they cover shark bites! I usually carry some waterproof plasters for when you cut your finger. I always carry Ibruprofen 600mg and take one before going to bed. They are an excellent muscle relaxant and sooth the aches and pains so you get a good nights sleep. Also means when you wake up in the morning your legs are not aching.

There is no pharmacy at Roncesvalles so you need to get your bits and pieces at a pharmacy before you set off.

[Leslie]

I like to have the plasters that have no cushion. I found this great the first time I walked the Camino as I have very bad blisters due to crap boots.

I had to do some minor surgery on my feet one night with the scissors and after that I used this plaster to wrap around my heals tightly - this was the only way to walk without too much pain - ah I was being a cheap student and buying everything as cheap as possible - not a great idea for footwear.

[Gazza]

Sunflower

With regard to the Compeed, i believe these are much cheaper in Oz then in Spain. Suggest to buy a working supply before you go, then top up if need be

Gazza

[ainsley b]

Hi

I finished the Camino Frances about 2 weeks ago. A small first aid kit is a good idea if I went again i would bring
compeed,
various sized bandaids,
white tape (I used this to wrap toes to prevent blisters, to help keep them down once they showed up and to keep the edges of the compeed off my socks),
neosporin or polysporin (an antibacterial ointment to put on blisters at night also cuts, scrapes and burns)
A tensor bandage or two
painkillers
maybe something for your stomach.
This should be able to fit in a baggie. If you need anything you will be able to get it at a pharmacy or someone will likely offer it to you. Gazza is right if you can get compeed at home before you go do, it costs a fortune.
Ainsley

[Gazza]

Ainsley

Good to hear from a recent completer. I head off from Oz in 3 weeks. Cannot wait.

What was the situation with bed bugs??

Gazza

[ainsley b]

Hi Gazza

I didn't see or get any bed bugs. I didn't hear of any places to avoid either. Some of my friends had some bug bites that lasted a couple days and then went away. They may have been bed bugs but we don't know for sure. If you get them it won't be pretty but you will deal with it and it will make a funny story for your friends back home.

My biggest tip is DO NOT DRINK THE WATER IN CARRION about 12 people I know were very sick at Carrion or shortly after and we don't know if it was a virus or the water. A Spanish friend said that the water in Carrion has a reputation for not always being treated enough. Buy the bottled water there.

If you can bring a swiss army knife they are really useful for food prep and cutting bandages.

For the first aid kit also bring either a needle and string or a safety pin to drain the blisters. You may want some alcohol swabs to disinfect the needle and blister as well. I can not imagine how awful an infected blister would be.

[Gazza]

Thanks Ainsley, that is good news (bed bugs).

Army knife already packed (one of those nice to have items)

Also info Re: Carrion is good to know.

Was the walk everything you expected??

Gazza

[ainsley b]

Hi Gazza

I tried not to expect too much when I went so i would be open to new things and experiences. All I expected were that I would hurt, have knee issues, get blisters, have cold showers, use ear plugs for the snorers and hate my backpack. I thought the first week would be really rough. I figured I would fall at least once along the trail and cry out of frustration and tiredness. I expected worse weather then I had. Not the funnest expectations for a trip I know but at least I was mentally prepared for most of the hardships. All of the things I expected happened, so yes the trip was everything I expected. Except for the weather which was usually quite nice except for the snowstorm on the way to Roncesvalles.

I was not expecting the incredible amounts of kindness on the trail, the beauty of the scenery, the fantastic cathedrals or the amount of villages where the traffic jams are cow or sheep herds. There are days when you are filled with joy and the beauty of life and days when every step is a struggle the days don't depend on the terrain the day depends on your attitude and tolerance for pain and other people. After a few days you stop hating your pack.

I hope I haven't scared you too much. It was an incredible experience and I hope you have more good days then bad. When are you going and where are you starting from?

If you have any other questions just ask.

Buen Camino
Ainsley

[Tanya Yaksich]

Hi Gazza,

Get yourself a permethrin treated silk liner from B.C.F , they cost about 80 bucks and weight a couple of hundred gramms. They're very roomy. The packaging is a small box with Equip written on it. They're kept in the insect repellant section!!
Cheers Tanya

[Gazza]

Thanks Tanya

Finished treating all my gear on the weekend. Got some concentrated permethrin & mixed it up myself.
BedBugs beware

Thanks for the thought though

Gazza

[Covey]

Best also to add some Immodium tablets to your First Aid kit. If you get an attack of "the runs" it is not very pleasant to try walking, so you need some fast acting "glue you together" pills.

[josofia]

Arrived in Santiago on 25 May after walking from St Jean with 2 children, 7 and 12. We walked through the Pass to Roncesvalles on the coldest day in 130 years, snow, mud, rain, a heatwave and loved it.

Re : first aid...I used Compeed at first but found that when the heat struck in the last week, it seemed to exacerbate the blisters. On the 19th day of walking I had my first real blisters. A Tasmanian nurse we met told me that she used layers of tape: a white tape base and then over that thick skin-coloured bandage tape. I had both these rolls in my first aid kit because my physiotherapist had shown me how to use them to support my knee. I had no knee problems but these 2 rolls of tape saved my feet when Compeed failed. Every night I would take the tape off and dress the blisters I got using compeed. In the morning I would cut new tape and stretch it over my heels and inner big toe. (
Essentials in my kit are **betadine, sterile needle with thread, lighter to help sterilise, a doctor's sterile needle with cap bought in Spain, alcohol if available, white gauzy tape (2-3" wide), skin-coloured fabric bandage tape (a bit narrower than white tape) which can be used in 2 or 3 layers, fabric bandaids, gauze pads, a few latex gloves, Tiger Balm for muscles, Aspirin, Scissors, Tweezers, 3 x Saline solution in Ampoules, Compression Bandage, Silic 15 Cream by Ego good preventative anti-friction crea for your feet.
Josephine

[Covey]

Sounds as though you are better equipped than a Field Hospital!!

I carry some surgical gloves because I keep being asked to help with dressing peoples feet. For some strange reason, old age and being an ex-soldier are assumed to be suitable qualifications to attend to various ladies feet. For some other strange reason, males never ask!

I carry a handful of surgical wipes which are small squares of paper towel soaked in surgical spirit and packaged in individual sachets. What one does with one's own feet is one thing, but looking after someone else's feet requires more care!

[Gazza]

Josofia

Did you take a separate Pack for yr first aid gear lol

If I have issues, I hope someone like you is around

Gazza

[Tanya Yaksich]

Hi Josofia,
Your advice sounds great. I think my first aid kit is covered now.
How did your children deal with all the walking? How many kms. approx. did you walk each day? My Daughter and 2 grandsons aged 6 and 8 wanted to come with me, but i thought a year older would be better. How long did the whole trip take? So many questions!!
Cheers tanya

[viclindal]

Just got back 3 weeks ago.
One bed bug situation (observed the bits on a friend)
Also one alberque closed to clean out bed bugs.
the first situation was interesting as I stayed there and no problems.
Vic

[chino]

I had a question about bringing my Knife?

I have a 4.3 Inch Cold Steel Fixed blade that I like to carry with me on all my outdoor activities, for cutting fruit rope etc... would it be ok to bring it into this country?

also totally random but serious, will I need to carry toilet paper for outdoor use?

[Covey]

I have not seen any regulations about carrying a blade, but would suggest it is OK providing you do not wave it around in public too much. The Spanish Police, especially the Guardia Civil, do not have much of a sense of humour and it is best not to bring yourself to their attention.

Carrying a roll of toilet paper in your pack is essential!

[josofia]

It was hard at times for the children but they loved it when we met and walked with others...we started at 15 km day and ended doing 20-27 km day! you can decide on length of trip to suit you.

[Franky]

I have not seen any regulations about carrying a blade, but would suggest it is OK providing you do not wave it around in public too much. The Spanish Police, especially the Guardia Civil, do not have much of a sense of humour and it is best not to bring yourself to their attention.

Carrying a roll of toilet paper in your pack is essential!

Thanks, what about the RENFE TRAIN, do you check in a bag I just dont want to take it on the plane than find out I cant take it on the train. I mean the Price of the knife is not too expensive but it is my favorite outdoor knife of my collection

[Covey]

I would just keep it in your pack whilst you are on trains and in the cities.