Health and Wellness Guide (version 1, mental health section coming soon)
This is a guide to help you prepare for the No Borders Camp in November 2007 in Calexico/Mexicali on the US/Mexico border. It contains suggestions for staying healthy before, during and after the camp. This is not a first aid guide. For further reading on health and safety during a protest see our resources list on the back page. If you are interested in working as a medic at the No Borders Camp (as an action medic, conflict mediation team, etc.) please read the section “Medics Needed.â€
Before the Camp:
Try to stay healthy. When you travel and change climates it is easy to stress your body and weaken your immune system. This can be reduced if you listen to your body and treat it well. Practice good nutrition and try not to stress yourself out. Get plenty of sleep. Drink enough water. If you are traveling with friends let them know about your previous medical conditions (asthma, diabetes, etc.), what you are allergic to and emergency contact information. Leave a photocopy of your ID and/or passport back home where a friend can access it if needed.
What to Bring:
-Water - Hydration is your best preventative medicine. You should be
drinking at least one gallon per day. Please try to bring as much water
for yourself and to share as you can.
-Water filter – Always a helpful thing to have.
-Food – The more food you bring for yourself and friends the less work you put on camp organizers and other people cooking.
-Personal Food - In addition to food for your group and yourself, don’t
forget those personal comfort snacks.
-Personal Medications and Prescriptions - Get prescriptions filled before
you leave – bring twice as much as you anticipate needing!
-Emergency Medicine - (inhaler, EpiPen, etc.) Even if you haven’t had a
problem in a long time.
-First Aid Kit - To take care of all the little cuts
-Medical Condition Tags/Bracelets
-Suntan lotion, lotion, toilet papers, hand sanitizer/soap, and any other
personal toiletries.
What to Wear:
-Comfortable clothing for a range of temperatures. Be prepared for
temperatures reaching triple digits as well as lows in the fifties. Be
prepared for direct sun as well as rain.
-Long sleeves and long pants
-Sturdy, comfortable and protective shoes/boots
-Sandals for around camp
-Thick and thin socks
-Clothing you can layer
-Sunglasses
-A hat/umbrella to protect you from the sun
-Bandanas to protect your neck from the sun
-Glasses are better to wear than contact lenses and don’t forget that old
pair you never wear anymore.
-Shade structure
-Backpack and/or fanny pack to carry everything.
Personal Care:
Good nutrition and drinking lots of water will keep you one step ahead of getting sick. Wash your hands before you eat, after you poop. This is not the best time to start that fast you’ve been planning. Have folks that you come with and/or back home that you can talk to during and after the camp.
Climate:
You will be experiencing temperature extremes. Hot during the day, colder at night. A long night of shivering will leave you feeling like crap the next morning. Remember to bring a sleeping bag and clothing warm enough for a good night’s rest. During the day you might want to have a thin long sleeved shirt to help keep the sun off of you as well as long pants for sun block as well as protection from spiky plants.
Inflicted Trauma:
Though physical trauma is not always avoidable or preventable you can take steps to recover from it. While staying in good health is the best thing you could do before a traumatic injury, keeping up a healthy life will help wounds heal. Following medics/health professionals suggestions (ice, rest, hydration) will help as well.
Resources:
-Bay Area Radical Health Collective - www.barhc.org Excellent resource
including a library of readings.
-To contact the Medical working group for the No Borders Camp email
nobordersmedics(at)riseup(dot)net.
Medics Needed!
Interested in volunteering in the No Borders Camp Medical Working Group?
If you want to be a medic at the camp please email
nobordersmedics(at)riseup(dot)net. A brief list of needs is as follows:
(contact this email for more details)
-Experienced folks in: first aid, action medics, holistic healing,
acupuncture/pressure, massage, Reiki, counseling/listening, conflict
mediation, etc.
-Infrastructure building and supplies collection (for the related areas of
emergency preparedness/first aid, Holistic Healing, and Mental/Emotional
Wellness
Please let us know your level of training (action medic, first responder,
nurse, etc.) and/or who trained you. Also, let us know your level of
Spanish. Thanks ahead of time for being willing to rally your radical
wellness skills and energy against all borders and systems of oppression.
