GOLDEN VALLEY PROSPECTORS

* Stay Alive - yourself, others, and the victim. Especially yourself. If you are unable to help, then no one gets out alive.
* Stabilize Injury - stop the injury from doing further damage to the victim. Stop bleeding, remove them from the cause.
* Start Recovery - make the victim better. Fix the injury or ailment as much as possible.

1. Ace bandage
2. Triangular bandage
3. Adhesive tape
4. Alcohol swabs
5. Adhesive bandages, assorted sizes
6. Butterfly bandages
7. Gauze pads
8. Moleskin, 1 or 2 packets
9. New Skin (or Super Glue) for small cuts or abrasions
10. Cotton swab, sterile, packaged in pairs
11. Chemical heat and cold packs
12. Dry-wash pads or wipes
13. Antihistamine
14. Antacid
15. Aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen
16. Anti-diarrhea medicine
17. Antiseptic ointment
18. Hydrocortisone cream
19. Insect repellent
20. Sunscreen
21. Bulb irrigating syringe
22. Tweezers
23. Safety pins
24. Swiss Army Knife, Scissors or Multi-Tool
25. Cell Phone and GPS
26. Mirror, small and unbreakable
27. Prescription medicines
28. Potable Aqua; iodine water treatment

     No matter what you decide to carry in your kit, make sure you check it each time before heading to prospect.
Toss old supplies or out of date medications and restock with fresh items as necessary. Never be complacent and always
take a First Aid kit with you. The one time you don't will be the time you need it.
     The most important thing to remember to take with you when going prospecting is water! You should bring enough water to
last at least two days longer than you expect to be gone. Don't forget the food while your at it.
     You want to always tell someone where you will be and if at all possible leave a map. Make note of approximately what
day and time they can expect you back. Always bring a cell phone or even a GPS. Don't forget the sun screen, even in the winter.
Ultra violet rays are damaging even when it's not hot out. A wide brimmed hat is a good idea too. No peice of gold is worth
your life.

SNAKE BITES

1. Keep the victim from panic -- make them settle down and keep quiet.
2. Make them lie down and take it easy, with their legs and head elevated.
3. Do not give any stimulants or alcohol whatsoever.
4. Do not apply a tourniquet.
5. Do not ice the puncture site.
6. Keep the bite below the level of the heart.
7. Apply suction from a snakebite kit as a last resort, but do not use one's mouth.
8. Light the patient up with massive doses of antivenom -- more for children than adults.
9. If possible, it is crucial to kill and keep the snake for identification purposes.*
10. Get immediate medical attention.

*Identification of the rattlesnake is extremely important, especially in Kern County, where several distinct species exist.
One, the diamondback rattlesnake, has plenty of cousins up and down the state, and the other, the notorious Mojave green,
stands alone and is the more dangerous of the two. The Mojave green carries a double impacting venom made up of a hemotoxic
digestive enzyme, like the diamondback carries, and also a neural toxin which demands special treatment to prohibit paralysis
and breathing problems in its victims. Snakes like the one that bit Stier use their venom to begin the digestive process even before
the snake can find its prey after biting it. Using its tongue as a superbly accurate sensing and tasting organ, it literally tastes its way to the
dead animal before feeding. The Mojave green does the same, but its venom acts a lot faster because the paralytic nature of
its bite causes immediate death. In any event, more than 8,000 people are bitten in the US each year, but only a dozen or so actually die.
This is an excerpt from a Bakersfield Californian story by Steve Merlo. Follow this link for the whole story.

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