Righetti discusses backcountry medicine
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POLSON — Dr. Michael Righetti spoke to a packed lobby at St. Joseph Medical Center on Sept. 16 from 6 to 8 p.m. about backcountry medicine.
Righetti is a horseman, hiker and backpacker so he understands the need for a lightweight, emergency first aid kit.
For a first aid packing list Righetti suggested:
• non-narcotic analgesics
• anti-inflammatories
• throat lozenges
• sunscreen, lip treatment
• water disinfectant method
• blister care
• personal meds
• Band-Aids
• safety pins
• tape
• ace bandages
• gauze
• lights
Additional items to include might be staples and a stapler and/or Super Glue for closing cuts. A gentleman in the audience said staplers were available at a vet supply store and can be used on animals or people. For big gaping cuts, Righetti said safety pins could be used for closure.
One disinfectant is necessary in a first aid kit according to Righetti, and he recommended chlorhexadine, found in Phisohex.
“It kills most kinds of germs,” Righetti said.
Righetti also demonstrated a San Splint, a thin piece of aluminum wrapped in foam. The San Splint is light, easy to pack and versatile.
For survival gear, Righetti listed the must-haves as shelter, food, water, fire and a signal or contact method.
Coached by Righetti, audience members located their cricoid cartilege, which is right below the Adam’s apple. Righetti said this is a good thing to know in case a person should be in the wilderness and needed to do an emergency cricothyrotomy because someone was choking, with an obstructed airway. Then a hollow tube could be inserted until a surgeon can do a tracheostomy.
The audience also got involved in practicing stabilizing a broken femur.
Righetti and veteran horseman Dave Croft demonstrated using manties, poles and blankets to immobilize a person, in this case Alex Salois, 13.
During this “Doc Talk,” Righetti encouraged people to ask questions and throw in comments as the evening progressed.
The next scheduled event will be What Everyone Needs to Know about Breast Health. Interested participants can gather in the lobby at St. Joseph Medical Center on Oct. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m.
There is no cost for the seminar, and refreshments will be served. Call Robyn Lane at 883-8408 or 890-5597 for more information on the evening.
