First Aid Kits?

Just from the medical side of things (I can only be considered skilled at survival 'cause I'm not dead). I would give a huge +1 for some diarrhea meds, Lomotil if you have insurance and can get an rx from your doc. Stupid as it sounds, diarrhea can flat kill you if you don't have ready access to water. Personally, I'd throw in some Bactrim DS or Keflex if you go that way, as they're both rated to take care of MRSA in infected wounds. I'm a bit surprised that I didn't see superglue on anyone's kit. Superglue and duct tape will field dress most lacerations. Used both quite a bit when I was doing the EMS thing. I was actually wondering if anyone had any other suggestions for meds to pack?
 
in my big packs I carry little more than diarrhea meds, NSIADs, Benadryl (and claritin) simply because anything else is not practical. Although come to think of it I have begun to carry a product called hydro-lite which is a rehydration solution, as well as NUUN tablets, as an additional treatment option.
I don't go on trips long enough for antibiotics to matter, and for that matter getting MRSA outside of a hospital is pretty rare. As for superglue, that's an at-home thing for me, I'd rather not seal a wound in the bush.
 
I'd say my kit looks a lot like the first one Don posted, except:

I use 3M Durapore tape. The Micropore tape is more of a "clinic" type tape, and is preferred for long term wound care, and what I use at home. Durapore is much stronger in my experience and better for keeping things together between the "first aid" and "wound care" phases of treatment.

I don't carry band-aids. I find i get a better bandage and better seal using tape and gauze to make myself a band aid.

I also carry a small bottle of sterilized saline (which can be used for wound irrigation and it works well as an eye wash), and irrigation syringe.

I also add a pack of QuickClot Gauze If you have a real deep bleeder, QC powder won't get where it needs to be and it may be too deep for a Kerlix/PriMed (compressed Kerlix) mop and compression bandage to stop the bleeding. Put the QC gauze in the wound first, then the Kerlix/PriMed and then the compression bandage.

Not all of this is for gunshot wounds. Face it, we play with axes, machetes and big knives and one bad mistake and you've got a serious wound.

Oh, I also carry a SAM Splint.

My FAK tends to be pack along the lines of "If I don't have this, and I need it, will it kill me?" Rather than "Did I use this last time?"

Guys, I've talked with several doctors about it, and ALL of them recommend AGAINST using duct tape against the skin. Medical products like surgical tape and moleskin use different adhesives and they aren't quite as harsh on the skin, and I've been told that some folks find out they have a nasty allergic reaction to the adhesives in duct tape. Don't cheap out on yourselves. A few moleskin patches and a roll of surgical tape (waterproof) weighs little and is worth it, IMO.
 
sodak said:
Don't forget eyewash. It comes in relatively small bottles, and can be a lifesaver. This much I know from personal experience.
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I was thinking about that last week and picked up some single-use rinse bottles from Walgreens. I got a branch in the eye last year that more or less shut that eye down for the rest of the day... I really wish I'd had some rinse with me back then.
 
Cpl Punishment said:
Guys, I've talked with several doctors about it, and ALL of them recommend AGAINST using duct tape against the skin. Medical products like surgical tape and moleskin use different adhesives and they aren't quite as harsh on the skin, and I've been told that some folks find out they have a nasty allergic reaction to the adhesives in duct tape. Don't cheap out on yourselves. A few moleskin patches and a roll of surgical tape (waterproof) weighs little and is worth it, IMO.
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I have known two people that developed very nasty infections from one using duct and the other electrical tape on cuts. One was just a "knife guy" I know and the other was an electrician.
 
Tyson Norris said:
What are your thoughts on this, anyone else run a really paired down kit? Am I crazy? :D
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well, my FAK isn't exactly 'pared down', but you might be interested in my mthodology in putting it together.

i decided i was prepared to dedicate an old Aus Army SLR pouch to a FAK. so, i took said pouch along to my friendly local ambulance station and had a chat with one of the paramedics.

I explained i did a bit of bowhunting and bushbashing and that i wanted my SLR pouch turned into: "The most comprehensive FAK you can fit into THIS pouch".

a couple of days and $65 later, she handed me back a full pouch.

here's the thread with the contents listed

just saying. perhaps it might be wise to have a good chat with a paramedic and get some professional input into what should be in your 'pared down' kit.

in general, i find teh Off The Shelf FAKS to be full of junk.
 
Great kit, great thread. We are going the same way over here. Anything that leads to a person not needing some government functionary for their very survival is frowned upon.
 
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