I'm starting to put together my first aid kit, I recently bought the individual first aid kit from Maxpedition, and I'm stumped. I know the basics to put in there from looking at first aid kits you can buy in the stores, but what are useful items that you have experience from that are worth carrying in addition to the regular items? I'm a state certified Paramedic so I was going to toss some extra gear in there but anything else that can be thought of? Thank you if pictures are available please post.
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First Aid Kit Help
- Thread starter ChrisR01
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2011
- Messages
- 140
Moleskin!!!
It always goes back to "what is your mission?" What are you using the kit for- what is most likely? What kind of support/assets/resources will you have when you go? For how many people and for how long do you have to sustain life? Are firearms involved, axes? knives? fire? How long do you have to sustain a life threatening mechanical injury or illness?
Basic Priniciple: Clearly Define the Mission, which in turn Dictates the Gear!
I didn't read in your OP anything about what you're intented mission or activity/goals are so it is challenging to offer any suggestions. Granted a hemostatic is not recommended if you're going to be biking in a city park within cell phone range. If you're rock climbing and hiking 40 minutes from the last cell phone signal then I would say a hemostatic agent would most definately be in my IFAK! Your mission for this kit dictates what you supply it with. Are you interested only in dealing with catostrophic life threatening emergencies or do you want to stop a tummy ache and heart burn? Again, only your mission profile will determine this.
Agreed with earlier posts if 911 is just minutes away then a SOF or CAT Tourniquet plus an Emergency Bandage, (i.e. Israeli Battle Dressing) is a must have to stop rapid blood loss which can be the result of lots of different activities or situations. The Military is so dialed in today, in most cases, that 911 is just a few minutes away by ground or air transportation and they have substantially much better trained & equipped troops now who can use their IFAK so they don't want to mess with a homostatic agent like Quick Clot. Geez #28 French Naso, Emergency Bandages, CAT or SOF Tourniquets, and mandatory training - wow we've come a long waze!
However, if you're putting a kit together for you or a couple people and 911 is several hours to days away then a homostatic agent in addition to a CAT or SOF is a smart thing to have. I would at a minimum have at least one and preferably two Emergency Bandages on my person at all times (like in a cargo or shirt pocket). If you're seperated from your IFAK (which most recreational folks will do as they're not as committed or trained to never leave mission critical gear sitting next to a pack) then you as a solo hiker could be in deep you know what if you have a substantial injury and you're seperated from a pack, bag or IFAK (I left it next to my backpack up the hill and my leg is shattered and gushing!)
I'm surmising you're not wanting the kit for local in town activities because as a Paramedic I'm assuming you've got a really awesome car and home kit. But since you're probably needing it for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting et al you need to define your mission (what you're doing and involved in or potentially involved in and how far away from 911 and for how many hours/days?) and then build the kit and develop a plan accordingly. But what the heck do I know?
Basic Priniciple: Clearly Define the Mission, which in turn Dictates the Gear!
I didn't read in your OP anything about what you're intented mission or activity/goals are so it is challenging to offer any suggestions. Granted a hemostatic is not recommended if you're going to be biking in a city park within cell phone range. If you're rock climbing and hiking 40 minutes from the last cell phone signal then I would say a hemostatic agent would most definately be in my IFAK! Your mission for this kit dictates what you supply it with. Are you interested only in dealing with catostrophic life threatening emergencies or do you want to stop a tummy ache and heart burn? Again, only your mission profile will determine this.
Agreed with earlier posts if 911 is just minutes away then a SOF or CAT Tourniquet plus an Emergency Bandage, (i.e. Israeli Battle Dressing) is a must have to stop rapid blood loss which can be the result of lots of different activities or situations. The Military is so dialed in today, in most cases, that 911 is just a few minutes away by ground or air transportation and they have substantially much better trained & equipped troops now who can use their IFAK so they don't want to mess with a homostatic agent like Quick Clot. Geez #28 French Naso, Emergency Bandages, CAT or SOF Tourniquets, and mandatory training - wow we've come a long waze!
However, if you're putting a kit together for you or a couple people and 911 is several hours to days away then a homostatic agent in addition to a CAT or SOF is a smart thing to have. I would at a minimum have at least one and preferably two Emergency Bandages on my person at all times (like in a cargo or shirt pocket). If you're seperated from your IFAK (which most recreational folks will do as they're not as committed or trained to never leave mission critical gear sitting next to a pack) then you as a solo hiker could be in deep you know what if you have a substantial injury and you're seperated from a pack, bag or IFAK (I left it next to my backpack up the hill and my leg is shattered and gushing!)
I'm surmising you're not wanting the kit for local in town activities because as a Paramedic I'm assuming you've got a really awesome car and home kit. But since you're probably needing it for hiking, camping, fishing, hunting et al you need to define your mission (what you're doing and involved in or potentially involved in and how far away from 911 and for how many hours/days?) and then build the kit and develop a plan accordingly. But what the heck do I know?
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Charco tabs, eases stomach issues without preventing purges.
Not to hijack the thread but I was contemplating putting a kit together last week. Anyway the wife was dragging me around shopping and she stopped at one of the dollar stores (the ones where everything is actually a dollar). I checked out the meds/first aid isle and found lots of stuff to put in my kit. They had gauze, 3x3's, tubes of triple antibiotic ointment, diarrhea tablets, waterproof tape, cold packs...etc. I thought maybe they were smaller sizes or something so I cross checked my purchases at the local cvs and they were the standard common sizes. Just a heads up if you have any of those stores close.
Not to hijack the thread but I was contemplating putting a kit together last week. Anyway the wife was dragging me around shopping and she stopped at one of the dollar stores (the ones where everything is actually a dollar). I checked out the meds/first aid isle and found lots of stuff to put in my kit. They had gauze, 3x3's, tubes of triple antibiotic ointment, diarrhea tablets, waterproof tape, cold packs...etc. I thought maybe they were smaller sizes or something so I cross checked my purchases at the local cvs and they were the standard common sizes. Just a heads up if you have any of those stores close.
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
First, your FAK should be informed by your experience both in medical training and in your own personal history with injuries in the woods. At the last MidWest School of Bushcraft, Terry Barney talked about FAK contents and he stressed that most bushy types of injuries are relatively minor apart from exceptional circumstances. Things like sprained ankles, broken wrists and arms, cuts and abrasions. At the same time, people on the forums try to treat first aid like they were going into a military war zone. Chances are you aren't going into a war zone and don't need the same kind of kit.
At the other end, if you don't know what something is, it doesn't belong in your kit. As Quirt state, circumstances of where you are going, who you will be with, how long etc. will dictate what you might bring with you. There shouldn't be one kit for all circumstances and more people require more supplies.
Things I like in my kit. Two triangle bandaids (these are the swiss army knife for FAKs) and a bandana. Multiples of guaze pads in different sizes. Multiples of bandaides in different sizes. Tape. A tube of antibiotic (I find those little antispetic pads are never enough). Immodium (already mentioned). Moleskin. Antihistamines. Cortisol cream. Some advil and tums. Pair of tweezers and pair of scissors. Two pair of nitrile gloves. Lip balm. SPF tube. Heat sheet (used as barrier, groundcloth or blanket).
At the other end, if you don't know what something is, it doesn't belong in your kit. As Quirt state, circumstances of where you are going, who you will be with, how long etc. will dictate what you might bring with you. There shouldn't be one kit for all circumstances and more people require more supplies.
Things I like in my kit. Two triangle bandaids (these are the swiss army knife for FAKs) and a bandana. Multiples of guaze pads in different sizes. Multiples of bandaides in different sizes. Tape. A tube of antibiotic (I find those little antispetic pads are never enough). Immodium (already mentioned). Moleskin. Antihistamines. Cortisol cream. Some advil and tums. Pair of tweezers and pair of scissors. Two pair of nitrile gloves. Lip balm. SPF tube. Heat sheet (used as barrier, groundcloth or blanket).
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2009
- Messages
- 3,292
Heres mine. It started out as a Lifesystem FAK, but ive since added and removed alot of stuff. Not pictured are some prescription allergy pills, Quickclot sponge, moleskin and a space blanket.
Dont forget a proper tick-remover. Mine is a plastic creditcard-sized one pictured in the middle. It has a neat little magniying glass that can double as a firestarter on a sunny day.
Dont forget a proper tick-remover. Mine is a plastic creditcard-sized one pictured in the middle. It has a neat little magniying glass that can double as a firestarter on a sunny day.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2009
- Messages
- 6,234
there's alot to be said for 1 inch cotton sports tape at 3 bucks a roll. Lasts forever and makes great impromptu handle wrap.
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2011
- Messages
- 211
If you don't have any anti diarrhea medicine on hand, pack some corn meal. Take a tablespoon full mixed in a glass or cup of water and it helps greatly. Learned this from a friend of mine who's best friend is a family medicine doctor.
might sound simple but how about duct tape around a pencile. Saved me plenty of times from deep cuts to close them to hot spots on the feet from long days. Also good to put togher broken gear. Some neosporine gaguse(sp) over a cut then cover it with duct tape. It keeps dirt away and stays there rain shine or sweat. If dirt is not too much of a problem cut a few slits in the duct tape so it can breath . I always got a big roll in my car.
I'm pretty sure that I read that the military is now using gauze impregnated with hemostatic, because with the deep wounds the military deals with the powder wasn't getting deep enough to stop the bleeding. The gauze can be packed into the wound, and get the hemostat down deep enough to do its job.
I've used Quick Clot to great effect on shallow wounds that were bleeding heavily.
Also, just because the military does or does not do something, doesn't make it a good idea. The military is large and beurocratic, and what works for the military, with its policies, supply chain, and different types of wounds, often won't work for an independant person.
I only recommend what I've used - diarrhea medicine, kerlix, and quick clot mattered the most, when it mattered. Oh yeah, and water.
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2011
- Messages
- 1,767
A head lamp . I cant stress how much youre going to find it useful in a survival situation out in the middle of now were, when your patching yourself or one of you buddys up.
What brand is this one? I use a Zebralight H31w.
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- Mar 31, 2010
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Surefire
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
- Messages
- 708
In a camping situation, Sunscreen and either hydrocortizone or Benadryl cream come in handy almost every time I go out. I also carry two types of antacid. You can tough it out without them, but why go through that noise if you don't have to 
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2007
- Messages
- 273
Since you're a paramedic I assume you know what you need. But I would add:
Dermabond
Triple antibiotic ointment
Suture kit ( if you have experience in suturing)
Burn Kit.
Marker/Sharpie
CPR Barrier
Epipen
Dermabond
Triple antibiotic ointment
Suture kit ( if you have experience in suturing)
Burn Kit.
Marker/Sharpie
CPR Barrier
Epipen
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2008
- Messages
- 80
A small 3 or 4 bladed folding knife, all blades as sharp as you can get them, with at least a couple of good fine pointed blades. at least one pair of tweezers (one large and one small is better) several needles (the kind with large eyes) and thread (dental floss works well, hence the large eyed needles) a small magnifying glass (the flat ones that you can carry in your wallet are good and take up almost no space) a couple of days supply of any prescription medication you might require, rotated frequently to assure freshness.
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2009
- Messages
- 13,240
Hydrocortisone cream, the advanced stuff, especially if you're in tall grass in a wet area, I can tell you from my experience these past few weeks that chiggers are no fun and scratching makes it itch worse.
Also any medications you need. I get really bad migraines, so I carry a lot of extra aspirin. I'm prone to foot injuries, so I carry foot powder and an extra pair of socks in my first aid kit. Film containers work good for foot powder. You really need to know what you're likely to need.
Also any medications you need. I get really bad migraines, so I carry a lot of extra aspirin. I'm prone to foot injuries, so I carry foot powder and an extra pair of socks in my first aid kit. Film containers work good for foot powder. You really need to know what you're likely to need.