What do you have for a first aid/trauma kit?

[Tinhack]

Diphenhydramine HCL (Antihistamine) works for me on stings--Wasps, bees, ants and scorpions. Then dab a little Cortizone-10 on the site(s). I typically drop a couple before I go out to mow weeds too.

Edit: Oh yeah, my "kit" also contains Neosporin Cream, some Band Aids and a bottle of New Skin Liquid Bandage.

 

[Jstpssng]

Are you alone, so treating yourself or is this for when you have a buddy?

Aspirin for heart attack victims. Benedryl for allergic reactions. Clotting powder and some type of bandage. Military tourniquet.

I also keep a disabled cell phone when running chainsaw, after pocket dialling my mother, of all people last year who only could hear the saw running.

 

[repete]

There is a medical grade super glue. Believe you can get it on Amazon and other retailers. Actually, had it used around 5 years ago on a cut from a bandsaw. On ball of thumb so doc just super glued it closed. Much better than stitches.

I got my hip replaced and they glued me shut. No stitches.

 

[repete]

Speaking as a 56 year first responder, the best thing you can do is take a GOOD first aid class from a knowledgeable trauma responder.
I have never cared for the classes given by someone who took a class and then became an instructor, who has never actually seen true trauma and death events.

 

[ArlyA]

In the sawyer safety class, they said if you cut yourself good, you aren't going to be able call anyone.

 

[mjonesnh]

In the sawyer safety class, they said if you cut yourself good, you aren't going to be able call anyone.

Know that is the case. A friend from several years ago that was a logger before cell phone days had a saw kick back and got him in the neck. When he didn't come home, they went looking for him. They found him 75 yards from tree headed toward truck.

 

[RayIN]

Pertaining to stopping bleeding; now a product is made that has a battery-pump to pressurize an air pressure tourniquet for arms and legs. That would be invaluable for a chain saw injury, as a chain saw doesn't cut, it tears away the flesh.
Obviously not for a neck wound_.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

Excellent post! Lots of good ideas here! This can't be talked about enough! I too pack stuff to make sure I can stop just about any bleeding. Blood Clot, Israeli bandages, tourniquet. I just got a sealed stop the beed basic kit I will keep sealed and leave in the truck. You never know when it can save a life. Thanks for the reminder to go through my kits and re-up anything that needs it.

We now have an EMT class at my school and the instructor told me the other day there are certain kinds of blood clotting treatments tht are now thought to potentially cause strokes. I didn't get a lot of info on that but he said he is looking into it, so I will ask him more about it.

 

[RjCorazza]

Know that is the case. A friend from several years ago that was a logger before cell phone days had a saw kick back and got him in the neck. When he didn't come home, they went looking for him. They found him 75 yards from tree headed toward truck.

That's how my high school gym teacher died also, but across the upper leg.

 

[ArlyA]

In the sawyer safety class, they said if you cut yourself good, you aren't going to be able call anyone.

I should have included the buddy system. You have someone along to help you stop the bleeping, then they call 911. They specifically said, if you get a cut bad and holding your hand over it to stop the bleeding, you can't be calling at the same time. You bleed out.

I like having someone along to help me spy those dangerous cuts anyway.

 

[ArlyA]

While looking at camps today, found these guys. We had our sawyer 1st aid kit along that includes epi pens. Years ago I asked my doc I wanted some and he said "sure" and wrote me a scrip.

 

[Mirage276]

I have a small mymedic kit on my work backpack, the superskin bandages are really good. I should probably get another one for the garage/tractor

 

[sandman2234]

We typically go camping with two other couples as a constant amid others. Those two are almost always there. One is a semi-retired EMT that currently works teaching new hires the classes they need. He has been our First Aid Kit a couple of times. (broken arm, then a broken wrist). We don't leave home without him! (we do have a kit in the bathroom designed by him)
David from jax

 

[JasperFrank]

We typically go camping with two other couples as a constant amid others. Those two are almost always there. One is a semi-retired EMT that currently works teaching new hires the classes they need. He has been our First Aid Kit a couple of times. (broken arm, then a broken wrist). We don't leave home without him! (we do have a kit in the bathroom designed by him)
David from jax

Whats in the kit?

 

[repete]

Pertaining to stopping bleeding; now a product is made that has a battery-pump to pressurize an air pressure tourniquet for arms and legs. That would be invaluable for a chain saw injury, as a chain saw doesn't cut, it tears away the flesh.
Obviously not for a neck wound_.

You could use a manual blood pressure cuff and just maintain it above the systolic pressure. Ya, on the neck wound.

 

[blacktruck]

I've always made it a point to be prepared. This also includes fire extinguishers and first aid/trauma kits. In my truck, I carry a self made first aid/trauma kit. Most first aid kits are loaded with bandaids, lotions and aspirin. I wanted a kit that was better suited for job site or outdoor injuries. Like injuries from livestock, chainsaws, job site tools, gunshot or knife injuries. So, I put together a hybrid kit that has bleeding care supplies (clotting gauze etc.), tourniquet, sucking chest wound, splint, eyewash as well as a reasonable set of band aids.

I also made every member provide an emergency contact number.

What does everyone else do for first aid/trauma kits?

Excellent post and too often overlooked by all of us because "it'll never happen to me".
We can't prepare for every eventuality but at least having something for the main type of hazard you are facing in a particular area is a start. I worked as an EMT for many years and having an emergency contact number is a critical bit of information to carry with you. I have been as much of a slacker as anyone in this area. Too many years of working on remote or hazardous assignments and being out of touch with family and friends.
As said, excellent post and a good reminder for all of us, including me.
Thank you.

 

[paulsharvey]

Small, "all in one" type first aid kits. Often left over ones from work, that "technically expired" because of the eye wash saline...

In my experience, a first aid kit, no matter how large or well equipped, is only good for a single moderate incident. No, ouchy/boo-boo, but even a smaller, first aid required cut, you (or your patient) is gonna bleed all over everything, half of it will end up in the dirt digging through it. Guess the point is, $30 kit, single real use; $300 kit, also single real use; only difference is how much is wasted.

 

[mattltlp]

I put one of these kits in each of our fire trucks. They sit in the cab under the driver's seat. Even though your rescue truck or engine may be very well equipped, it also may be a quarter mile away if something happens at a brush fire (chainsaw injury, impalement, etc) or a crash scene. These kits provide some cheap peace of mind.

The contents is packed into ziploc bags to keep them from getting dusty. Then that is packed inside a cheap tool bag from Harbor Freight, but you could use any bag you like. I bought the same bag so they were consistent across all the trucks.

Trauma Kit Contents:
Pocket CPR mask
Oral airway
Trauma shears
5x9 trauma dressing (2-3)
Gauze roll 3" (3)
Elastic bandage (1)
Triangular bandage (1)
Petroleum jelly dressing (1)
Tourniquet
Gloves (4)
Hand wipes
Sharpie marker


A neighboring FD has gone to carrying a scaled-down version of this kit in their EMS jumpsuits. If something goes south, there's no running back to the truck.

 

[ranchito]

Yes to the superglue. Great to stop nuisance bleeds. Quick clot and tourniquet for GSW and other serious stuff.

 

[paulsharvey]

So, I'm assuming personal and/or family use, or your specific crew if work...

I'll share what our first aid teacher (a paramedic and trained first aid teacher), at work said; "this is for yourself and immediate family, or as required by work; I would Not recommend stopping and offer aid outside of those situations, to the general public"