First Aid Kits?

[Tyson Norris]

I've seen a lot of first aid kits with 18 different kind of band aids, 32 different little pills and about 7 different ways to disinfecting something, I've just never been able to get my head around it. Seems more like it's just there to make you feel safer. I just carry what I think will actually work for me when it's needed, which isn't much, most of my kit it has uses outside of a FAK. It`s very minimal, and is primarily there to help incidents where I will need to stop bleeding.

This is what I carried for my solo one month tour of Wabakimi:

general items for first-aid:
- 5' duct tape (moleskin, band-aids and gear repair)
- triple antibiotic cream (very powerful stuff, has seemed to work very well)
- electrical tape (nice waterproof band aids, and gear repair)

day to day gear that compliments first-aid:
- bandana
- thread & needle
- 50`of paracord

What are your thoughts on this, anyone else run a really paired down kit? Am I crazy?

 

[DaddyDett]

I am a former AF Medic, currently rated in Wilderness First Aid.
Nope, not crazy. Definitely less than I would carry, even in a minimalist kit, though.
I would add a Sam Splint, and 2 or 3 4"x6' rolls of Kerlix roller bandage for pressure dressings and splinting.
I would also replace the electrical tape with 2" cloth Athletic tape.

 

[JD Mandrell]

Electrical tape stays on skin very well? (I admit, never tried it)

 

[Tyson Norris]

Electrical tape stays on skin very well? (I admit, never tried it)

I mainly usually use it for small finger cuts, and go all around the finger. Not breathable, but stops bleeding and stays on well, after a few hours I'll take it off. More of a rubber compress than tape, haven't had issue with it sticking when I take it off. There's about a billion things that'll work for that, but I use this for my gear too (holes in goretex and tarps, maybe a big ol' hole in my boat. ) I once had to use electrical tape to seal a water tank at work, stayed on there better than the epoxies we we're using, provided a waterproof seal on the stainless steel until we finally fixed the problem... weeks later!

 

[Edwood7]

Diarrhea pills are always present in my kits. Getting hit with it at a bad time will F. up your day.

 

[OwenM]

What are your thoughts on this, anyone else run a really pared down kit? Am I crazy?

Not the first time for this topic. I'm repeating myself by saying that I think most of the stuff I see carried for first aid can be replaced with a few simple items.

Standard for me is:
-roll of athletic tape
-2 ACE bandages
-1 roller bandage
-couple of 2x2 bandages
List could end right there, but:
-QuickClot..got it for the heck of it, and will hopefully never use it.

Also, I do a lot of strenuous stuff, and have a long list of past injuries, so having to wrap or support an ankle, knee, or elbow isn't unusual.
ACE knee and ankle supports, and an elastic support bandage with velcro ends provide quick fixes for those things, and I use them often, so don't mind carrying them.
Here's a pic of what goes in the toplid of my pack right now(aborted review). Everything except the sunglass case, headnet(little round blue bag) and 3mm cord goes in that Mystery Ranch small flat bag, which is about 8x9" and fits in the toplids of all three of my backpacks and the outer pocket of my lumbar pack.

 

[Skrapmetal]

While I like the idea of FAK's, even the better commercial ones like AMK spend quite a bit of space and weight on dealing with itching and blisters. I'm not prone to blisters, so I don't worry about that, and itching isn't exactly an emergency situation.

I tend to buy those, pick them apart and replace things. Fewer bandaids (although I do keep a few in there), more 3x3 gauze, drop most of the wipes and antibiotic squeeze tubes and replace with a small tube of the max strength Neosporin, etc.

I actually just picked up a new one off of steepandcheap that I've got to get around to rebuilding, the size of the pouch will fit my new pack better than my old one.

 

[JayGoliath]

Et,

Diarrhea pills are always present in my kits.

I always have charcoal pills with me. Just took 2 after an adventurous dinner at local seafood. Bowel had been very uncomfortable but it's all good now.

What's the key next to the BIC lighter?
Is it a cuff-releasing type?

 

[Don Rearic]

Et,

What's the key next to the BIC lighter?
Is it a cuff-releasing type?

Yeah, he has a standard-universal handcuff key that will work on most common handcuffs in North and South America. Smith & Wesson, Peerless and Hiatts, to name a few.

As far as First Aid stuff goes - ditch the tape. The last thing you need is adhesive in a wound gathering potentially infectious matter where you are trying to keep everything as clean as you can. The tape always gets me. "Tape" in a survival kit doesn't get to double as a "bandage" unless you simply don't care if you get an infection.

You can go whole hog with a First Aid Kit or keep it a bit more simple:

Trau-Medic Dressing - anything suitable as a "battlefield dressing," even if you are not on a battlefield. A wound from a .30-30 Winchester really cannot be convinced it is simply deer season and the 7.62X39mm Short Russian round didn't do it.

Pri-MED Gauze to pack the wound then the dressing above on it.

Celox Pack to stop bad hemorrhage after trying to stop with direct pressure fails. Or, Quick Clot, either-or.

ACE Bandage
Assorted Band-Aids
Assorted Gauze Pads
3M Brand Steri-Strips
3M TegaDerm Dressings
3M Micropore Tape
Povidone-Iodine Pads and Swabs
Alcohol Prep Pads

Don't close a wound with Steri-Strips or anything else unless you are able to irrigate the wound with clean water and then further disinfect it with Povidone-Iodine.

Imodium (loperamide)
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Advil (Ibuprofen)
Ben's Insect Repellant
Bullfrog or another good sun screen
Rehydration Mixtures (Gatorade Powder, etc.)

If you don't think insect repellant and sun screen are real must have items and you think it's "snivel gear," well, good for you! I guess real men don't have to worry about things like "rest" when they are stressed out or other things like dehydration.

 

[Rprecision]

Having a minimalist approach to things can be a good thing, with the context of a FAK I choose not to partake.

Generally speaking I have found commercial kits to be a decent start. I take some things out like 5 of the same ointments and add other things like a good pair of forceps, CAT Tourniquet, Etc. While I will concede that good first aid skills cannot be purchased via a kit. However a good stocked kit can provide tools to use those skills.

I spend a lot of time in the backcountry and find some of the creature comforts go along way to making a trip more enjoyable. Also, when your minimalist buddy is grumpy and pissy from multiple insect bites, a newfound allergy, blisters, burns, sinus congestion, its nice to play doc and bring the trip back on track.

Just my take

 

[rprocter]

Tincture of Benzoin comes in a very small vial and can be applied to the skin on either side of a wound and then allowed to dry until very tacky (5-10 minutes). Then use steristrips to pull the wound edges together and then cover with a waterproof tape.
The steristrips will stay in place for about 3 days even if on your hand which you have to keep using. V. useful little trick i learned from a plastic surgeon.
I also suggest insect repellant (i use DEET very sparingly) because biting insects may not be too bad as long as you are moving, but if injured and you have to stay put for awhile, they can be a serious problem.
roland

 

[Skrapmetal]

Yeah, he has a standard-universal handcuff key that will work on most common handcuffs in North and South America. Smith & Wesson, Peerless and Hiatts, to name a few.

As far as First Aid stuff goes - ditch the tape. The last thing you need is adhesive in a wound gathering potentially infectious matter where you are trying to keep everything as clean as you can. The tape always gets me. "Tape" in a survival kit doesn't get to double as a "bandage" unless you simply don't care if you get an infection.

You can go whole hog with a First Aid Kit or keep it a bit more simple:

Trau-Medic Dressing - anything suitable as a "battlefield dressing," even if you are not on a battlefield. A wound from a .30-30 Winchester really cannot be convinced it is simply deer season and the 7.62X39mm Short Russian round didn't do it.

Pri-MED Gauze to pack the wound then the dressing above on it.

Celox Pack to stop bad hemorrhage after trying to stop with direct pressure fails. Or, Quick Clot, either-or.

ACE Bandage
Assorted Band-Aids
Assorted Gauze Pads
3M Brand Steri-Strips
3M TegaDerm Dressings
3M Micropore Tape
Povidone-Iodine Pads and Swabs
Alcohol Prep Pads

Don't close a wound with Steri-Strips or anything else unless you are able to irrigate the wound with clean water and then further disinfect it with Povidone-Iodine.

Imodium (loperamide)
Benadryl (diphenhydramine)
Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Advil (Ibuprofen)
Ben's Insect Repellant
Bullfrog or another good sun screen
Rehydration Mixtures (Gatorade Powder, etc.)

If you don't think insect repellant and sun screen are real must have items and you think it's "snivel gear," well, good for you! I guess real men don't have to worry about things like "rest" when they are stressed out or other things like dehydration.

I learned first hand how awesome TegaDerm is a couple of months ago. Had a stupid accident with a machete falling off of a table that left me with stitches, but I still had to work and it was rainy. They are the first thing I've ever used that actually kept water out.

As far as tape... in my case it's never intended to go directly on the wound. Just a good way to hold gauze/bandaging on.

 

[Don Rearic]

I posted this a couple/three years ago in the WS&S Forum and thought I would dredge it back up out of my files and re-post it here.

Wound, Immediate Closure Kit - WICK

3M Steri-Strips, 2 Packs of 3 each, 1/4" X 3"

3M Steri-Strips, 1 Pack of 10 each, 1/4" X 4"

3M Steri-Strips, 1 Pack of 6 each, 1/2" X 4"

3M Tegaderm Patch, 2 Packs of 1 each, 2 3/8" X 2 3/4"

Dermabond Topical Skin Adhesive, 1 Tube, 0.5 ml

Kendall Vaseline Petrolatum Gauze, 2 Packs of 1 each, 3" X 9"

Fingertip Bandage, 2 Packs of 1 each, 1 3/4" X 2"

Elastic Strip "Band-Aid," 3 Packs of 1 each, 7/8" X 3"

Fabric Knuckle Bandage, 4 Packs of 1 each, 1 1/2" X 3"

Fabric Large Patch Bandage, 1 Pack of 1 each, 2" X 3"

Povidone-Iodine Prep Pad, 8 Packs of 1 each

Hydrocortisone Cream, 1 Packet, 1/32 Oz.

Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 2 Packets, 1/32 Oz.

Water-Jel Burn Jel, 2 Packets, 1/8 Oz.

ALOKSAK Bag, 4.5" X 7"






3M Steri-Strips work incredibly well. I just patched a ceramic tile cut on my Wife's finger last week and after just rinsing with water and scrubbing it with a Povidone Prep Pad and closing it with a Steri-Strip, it healed amazingly well. It was a real bleeder and after thoroughly rinsing in clean water, it simply would not stop bleeding. So, we scrubbed it with the Povidone and closed it immediately afterwards and put a dressing over it. It bled through immediately but she kept the dressing on for over 12 hours so it was not disturbed and had time to clot.

3M Tegaderm Dressings are also highly recommended. They provide an excellent barrier to contaminates and still breathe - they are incredibly more advanced for protecting wound sites compared to regular dressings.

If you want to downsize this already small kit, you could go with 2 3M Tegaderm Dressings, cut the Povidone-Iodine Prep Pads by half and go with the 3M Steri-Strips where you get 10 strips that are 1/4" X 4" each.

Assorted knuckle and fingertip bandages along with regular types of "Band-Aid" bandages can patch up a lot of stuff and keep it clean.

There are three basic reasons to suture a wound:

1. To stop bleeding.
2. To keep the wound from becoming larger by movement.
3. Cosmetic reasons, less scarring, etc.

This kit offers a real and very effective alternative to suturing yourself. It's also an alternative to the suggestions of using any form of tape to close wounds which is begging for an infection that you do not need during a critical time. I don't want an infected cut in the best of times but when you have to be your own medic out in the woods, you definitely do not want one.

The Water-Jel Burn Jel is included because anyone can get a nasty burn when handling various cooking cups, pots, utensils, etc. It works very well, kills pain quickly.

If you want to expand the kit, making it about 25% larger, you could include a small bottle of Systane, which is an eye-wash and lubricant, a small 5 Gram Tube of Lidocaine, three packs of Ethicon or other sutures with cutting needles, a tube of antibiotic eye ointment and perhaps a small tube of Oragel which is a benzocaine-based pain killer.

 

[ROCK6]

Thanks for re-posting that kit Don. I jacked up my finger pretty bad a couple weeks ago on a short backpacking trip with my son. I raked the saw over my trigger finger; I had Ironclad gloves on and it shredded them and opened up 3/4" just above my knuckle. It was a real bleeder, but didn't cut to the bone or hit anything serious...a lot of blood and freaked my son out.

My son couldn't find hit FAK (we had a good lesson after the wound dressing), so I pointed out where mine was as I was trying to keep from bleeding all over my stuff. I too always start with a commercial kit (Adventure Medical makes a great foundation), but add items I prefer:

Benadryl
Burn gel
Large band aids
Extra knuckle band aids
Extra 2x3” gauze
Extra cloth tape
Sliver grippers
Mini syringe for irrigation

I dressed the wound and should have used some butterfly bandages...it'll be a nice scar Later that night I used a concentrated solution of iodine (from Polar Pure) and the syringe to make sure I got a good irrigation before adding some good antibiotic ointment and putting on a clean dressing (iodine will make you scream for your mommy like a little girl).

It was a two day trip and this happened on the first day. I went through a few gauze pads and plenty of tape keeping it clean and dry (we did some "psk" fishing and got wet several times).

I know it sounds like "duh", but the best way to figure out what you need for a kit is to always have it close by and log all the uses...you quickly find out what works for you and your most common needs.

Don also mentioned Burn gel...if you (or your wife) do a lot of cooking around open fires, you'll appreciate having a pack or two. I use to carry a small squeeze tube of Aloe Vera as well when we did a lot of backpacking in the Texas summers.

There are some items that I think are good to have, but they also require advanced training. Serious injuries needing a tourniquet or hemostatic dressings are life-savers but I strongly consider training for proper use.

ROCK6

 

[Don Rearic]

Thanks for re-posting that kit Don.

No sweat. It's not the best kit, but it's a good start just for minor wounds.

It was a real bleeder, but didn't cut to the bone or hit anything serious...a lot of blood and freaked my son out.

But it was a good learning experience.

You know, my Dad was getting his cobalt treatments, this is before he had the final battle and the chemotherapy, etc., I was 13 years old and we get a coconut at the store. We bring it home and he poked a few holes in it with an icepick, drained it, we're drinking the milk, then he popped it a couple times with a hammer. Stuck an Old Hickory Butcher's Knife in a crack he made in it with the hammer and had the coconut in his left palm. One slip. Run the Old Hickory through his palm and almost a quarter inch of the tip was sticking out of the other side of his hand. Right between and slightly behind his first two (punching) knuckles. I almost let a chunk loose. HE almost let a chunk loose. Didn't even yell. Went over to the sink and pulled it out with a grunt and I didn't know if I should be scared or what.

Just an interesting story.

But the good point is, it is sometimes good for young people to see that stuff firsthand and observe someone not freaking out, too. They can learn from it. Of course, if we start screaming and losing our minds, they observe that as well.

(iodine will make you scream for your mommy like a little girl).

Yes, it will. Hahahahaha!

Don also mentioned Burn gel...if you (or your wife) do a lot of cooking around open fires, you'll appreciate having a pack or two. I use to carry a small squeeze tube of Aloe Vera as well when we did a lot of backpacking in the Texas summers.

That particular burn gel works wonders! It has a local anaesthetic in it and as much as I screw around with the campfire, it's amazing I don't need it more.

There are some items that I think are good to have, but they also require advanced training. Serious injuries needing a tourniquet or hemostatic dressings are life-savers but I strongly consider training for proper use.

ROCK6

Hemostatic agents are only slightly less controversial than The Sawyer Extractor. Most comments about any of it are usually taken totally out of context because people have whatever agenda or way, way too much education and not enough common sense about it all.

Basically, it's very important to not use the stuff unless you have to. Since Quick Clot has really went commercial and the stuff is available in one form or another at retailers like Bass Pro Shops, hopefully the regular hospitals/health systems will get more and more exposure to it as well.

 

[ROCK6]

But it was a good learning experience.

They always are The funny thing is I was sawing a hanging tree top from a recent storm and was trying to be careful not to have the whole thing fall on me and I was glancing over my shoulder to make sure my son was doing any dangerous...that's when it bit and as soon as I took my eyes off the saw (an excellent 14" fixed blade Corona...thanks to Bryan Breeden), I could almost see it happen. A great reminder to always pay attention to the task at hand when dealing with bladed tools, tools that go boom or anything that could burn your

But the good point is, it is sometimes good for young people to see that stuff firsthand and observe someone not freaking out, too. They can learn from it. Of course, if we start screaming and losing our minds, they observe that as well.

So very true and that applies to how your react to anything that happens in life:thumbup:

That particular burn gel wo
rks wonders! It has a local anaesthetic in it and as much as I screw around with the campfire, it's amazing I don't need it more.

My wife is "burn-prone"...seems like she burn herself everytime we go backpacking. I should probably get her some asbestos gloves She's used that gel a few times and although we're not talking third-degree burns, the discomfort can ruin an outdoors trip if not taken care off. She has a couple packs in her own FAK.

Hemostatic agents are only slightly less controversial than The Sawyer Extractor. Most comments about any of it are usually taken totally out of context because people have whatever agenda or way, way too much education and not enough common sense about it all.

Basically, it's very important to not use the stuff unless you have to. Since Quick Clot has really went commercial and the stuff is available in one form or another at retailers like Bass Pro Shops, hopefully the regular hospitals/health systems will get more and more exposure to it as well.

I agree. I've seen the after-effects of it's use. This isn't something you pour on a shallow laceration and the sole reason I really think that if you plan to carry it, try and get some quality training and understand how and when to really use it. I carry it in my duty gear blow-out kit and my hunting kit...it's not something I consider essential for any other recreational activities.

I need to updated some of my FAKs so thanks for the ideas on the 3M Steri-Strips, 3M Tegaderm Patches and the Dermabond Topical Skin Adhesive.

ROCK6

 

[Skrapmetal]

Everything I've read about hemostatic agents is that Celox gauze are the key for the layman, and it seems like Quikclot (particularly the loose stuff) gets a pretty bad rap from medical professionals.

I've got a roll of Celox gauze for my woods FAK, and I'd feel comfortable using it if I had to.

 

[Don Rearic]

Everything I've read about hemostatic agents is that Celox gauze are the key for the layman, and it seems like Quikclot (particularly the loose stuff) gets a pretty bad rap from medical professionals.

I've got a roll of Celox gauze for my woods FAK, and I'd feel comfortable using it if I had to.

There are any number of reasons why "medical professionals" might be giving certain things a "bad rap" or "bad rep." That doesn't really make any different to me to tell you the truth. Same thing has been said about sutures/suturing or closing ANY wound in the field by ANY means by some folks that are medical professionals.

 

[gadgetgeek]

I have two methods for packing kits, one is the day-hike get me back to the car kit. Roll gauze, patches, ace bandage, benadryl, and athletic tape. enough to either hold myself together until rescue, or to drag my sorry butt down to the trail head.
The other is the more stocked, which I carry everyday in urban situations, (patch it up to get back to work/longer term solutions) I've used steri-stips on others, and they are a great long term solution, once the bleeding is brought under control, or if the wound has been clean, holding it together to reduce scaring, then ointment, then bandage. In the sport med world, vasoline and other products similar are used to stop bleeding very often.
tagaderm is great, and can be a trip saver, or better yet, an aid to prevent a trip getting canceled. dermabond is very expensive, I'd stay away from it without training, and to be honest if you need to dermabond a wound, you need to be evac-ing anyway IMHO, unless its for cosmetic reasons, then well, whatever.

 

[sodak]

A while ago someone was recommending mastisol, and I ran that past a family member who is a physician, and she heartily endorsed it. I'm not in the minimalist camp for first aid. When I need it, I really need it. I am packing a FAK for my family, not just me, so I always have bandages, tape, gauze, etc.

Don't forget eyewash. It comes in relatively small bottles, and can be a lifesaver. This much I know from personal experience.