First aid kit requirements

[gsganzer]

The topic came up on another forum and I thought I'd post it here too. I cut myself pretty bad a few months ago and fortunately had a Molle pack first aid kit I had put together in my truck. But that experience made me completely revamp what I had in that kit. It seems most kits focus on a lot of non-emergency type items. I ended up revamping my kit with more wound treatment items such as clotting gauze, medical tape, wraps, larger dressings as well as scissors, tweezers, betadine, antibiotic cream, burn dressing. I still have smaller things like small bandaids, aspirin etc, just not a 10 day supply of them. I still need to add a space blanket, splint, tourniquet, eye wash/dressing and maybe a suture kit or liquid wound closure stuff.

Anyone have a kit they recommend? Or maybe a list of items that should be in a kit? I understand needs vary, but what would you put in a basic kit that would stay in a vehicle, hunting camp, home?

I'm trying to define what would/should be in a typical kit first aid kit, rather than stuff that might be better kept in your home medicine cabinet.

 

[Beeenvenue]

Yes, most of the ones you find in department stores are really overpriced versions of stuff for really minor problems. I make my own. If you look online, you probably should look for trauma kits rather than first aid kits.

4x4 gauze pads
Blood stop
Medical shears
Medical tape
Tweezers (not critical but great for pulling bee stingers and splinters/thorns)
Generic Benadryl (for any stings, etc)
Burn gel
Eye pad
Chemical ice pack with ace bandage
4oz alcohol
Sterile gloves
Butterfly strips
Strap for tourniquet (belt, etc)


You can add more for larger trauma or if you think you might need this to help others, or if someone might be coming to help you. Most of the other stuff in preprepared kits are for minor booboos that you can go back to the house for.
If you WANT to then sure have some individual packs of ibuprofen, alcohol prep pads, regular band aids, etc but again you could get most of that in household sizes and put them in snack size ziplocks for far cheaper.

 

[jjp8182]

The question that will drive that response is what type of injuries are you looking/expecting to handle? - or have the equipment for others to handle?

Having said that some of the better pre-assembled kits I've seen have been from here: Medical Gear Outfitters

If you're looking to potentially deal with gunshot wounds, I've heard (from multiple sources - to include an old/retired combat medic) that insert-type tampons work for solid projectiles (e.g. rifle/pistol). While it may not seem "manly" having something that can be inserted into a bloody bullet hole that is designed to absorb blood and expand (to help clot/stop the bleeding) could help make the difference between living and dying in the time it takes to get to a proper medical facility.

However, the single most important thing to have is the knowledge to use the items on hand...... which is one of the reasons my usual "belt" for outdoor activities is nothing more than a few feet of webbing I cut from a harbor freight ratchet strap, to which I added a side-release catch and a couple of plastic slides (to manage the excess length). Nice thing is that as a belt it also has infinite adjustability. :thumbsup:

 

[gsganzer]

If you're looking to potentially deal with gunshot wounds, I've heard (from multiple sources - to include an old/retired combat medic) that insert-type tampons work for solid projectiles (e.g. rifle/pistol). While it may not seem "manly" having something that can be inserted into a bloody bullet hole that is designed to absorb blood and expand (to help clot/stop the bleeding) could help make the difference between living and dying in the time it takes to get to a proper medical facility.

Good point. I'll throw a couple in the kit. We used to keep some in the glovebox when I did forestry work for chainsaw cuts, for the same reason you describe.

 

[jeff9366]

I do considerable chainsaw work, alone, in the woods. Have been sawing this way without incident for 35 years or more.

I keep several 8 X 10" "wound dressings" and velcro straps, in addition to a standard first aid kit, on my utility vehicle, which carries my saws.

Wound dressing are available at most large drug stores.

 

[denchen]

As a retired 30 year front line Fire Officer, throw in a roll of `cling film` or what ever you guys call it and a small bottle of isopropanol. The clingfilm will cover burns with all the crap. Once covered and the oxygen deleted, the pain will be much less. then cool under cold water to take the heat away, and if the worst happens in a really bad cut, it will hold everything in until you get to some help. The isopropanol will kill all the bugs, it`ll hurt like ****, but you could live to call me all the names under the sun.

 

[Jstpssng]

Tampons are actually the last thing that you want in a first aid kit. They are made to absorb blood, what you really want is to clot it. (Which was pointed out at my last first aid course) I carry a tourniquet in the pocket of my chaps along with some blood clotting powder. My truck has a blood clotting sponge, another tourniquet, low dose aspirin (good in case of heart attacks) Benedryl (helpful if somebody suddenly discovers they're allergic to bee stings)
Gauze, bandaids, triple antibiotic ointment, and surgical tape. Eye wash, ice compress, tweezers and scissors. Also a sharpie marker, note book, eye protection, mouth barrier, several of the proverbial dust masks, and I can't remember what else. I carry it in a Craftsman soft sided tool bag. Carrying it is one thing; knowing how to use it isn't as easy. We take a CPR/first aid course every 2 years.

 

[bunyip]

Aware of snakes and take a restrictive bandage that has little rectangles printed on it, when the tension is right they become squares, very clever little invention, I hope when you mention tourniquet you mean restrictive bandage so as not to completely stop the blood flow and kill the limb.
Buy Snake & Funnel-web Bite Bandage - Survival Emergency Solutions

 

[Tree Hugger]

I use a chain saw frequently alone also. I started carrying one I built. tourniquet, clotting sponge, clotting powder, gauze, tape, sissors and bandaids. lots of thorns and stickers so the bandaids come in handy.

 

[NorTracNY]

I'll agree with Jstpssng. You want to stop the bleeding, not absorb it. You want the blood clotting bandages, but also include Israeli compression bandages. They work great. Of course include a tourniquet. For these items, buy an extra one and make sure you know how to use it. An emergency were someone, maybe you, are bleeding out is not the time to read instructions.

 

[jjp8182]

I'd agree stopping the bleeding should be the goal, but from my understanding that's not always the easiest thing to do ....particularly with deep punctures/perforations to the torso, upper arm, upper leg where tourniquets don't seem practical/usable.

...and short of cauterizing, my understanding (which admittedly may be incomplete) - most bandages/gauze work by absorbing/slowing the blood flow (all with application of appropriate pressure) so that the blood can clot either on it's own --- or possibly with some chemical assistance.

If I'm incorrect on any of that, I'd like to know as I prefer to understand the theory behind the product recommendations more so than simply having products recommended. I've seen enough products that fail when used even slightly to moderately outside of the manufacturer's recommended use (which doesn't always reflect real world needs) to just trust product recommendations. Granted most of that has been outside the medical realm, as I don't work in the medical field, but humans are humans and I've seen enough to more than believe in Murphy's Law (actually at this point I'd agree with the quote that states Murphy was an optimist).

Tourniquets being a great example of where if the use/theory is understood well enough to use the item correctly it may save life & limb, but if used incorrectly may save life, but lose limb ...or lose both when both could have been save by correct understanding/usage.