I never thought it’d happen to me … until it did. I’ve heard stories about hikers going on trails without enough water or getting bit by rattlesnakes, but I’m a rancher from Texas—I know my way around the outdoors.
My wife insisted I bring this outdoor first-aid kit along whenever I work alone, and I hate to say it, but it saved my life when things went south the other day. My horse took off and left me stranded miles away from home.
It has darn near everything a person needs for camping, hiking, or just the great outdoors. My wife said it was only $27.99.
Here’s what happened
I was repairing fences when my horse took off without a backward glance. Normally I’d be pissed, until I looked down and saw what she saw—a snake. The thing bit me before I had a chance to react.
Two things were going through my mind: One, that snake isn’t venomous. Two, I had plenty of medical supplies in my backpack. I cleaned up the snakebite with the antiseptic towelette, added antibiotic ointment, and bandaged it up.
Now, my problem was I was about ten miles away from home without water. And it was something like 90º outside. A few miles in, I came across a water spring on the ranch—something I’d typically never trust drinking out of—but I saw water purification tablets in the med pack and figured it was worth the risk. I’m still breathing anyway.
I also took some ibuprofen for the stinging snakebite on my leg, put some sunscreen on my face, and treated the blisters growing on my heels since it would be a long walk home.
Long story short, I survived. But I’m not sure I would’ve made it with the snakebite festering on my leg for nearly five hours or not having any water in the blazing Texas sun. My wife was more than smug about being right.
I have to recommend grabbing this Hiker Medic med pack if you do anything outdoors, especially since it’s only $27.99 (reg. $34.95).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
The post A snake bit me, and this saved my Texas butt appeared first on Popular Science.
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