I need a couple of bandaid solutions.

I know it's been said many times in many ways, but in terms of importance the contents of your first aid kit take a distant second to the knowledge in your head. This can dictate your first aid decisions as well. I personally am not trained in suture so I don't carry suture materials. I wouldn't mess around with a SAM splint unless you knew your way around a fracture.

If you spend any sort of time outside I would recommend a course in wilderness medicine from either WMI, AERIE, or SOLO schools. The course lengths and contents can vary, but generally they teach in-town first aid and then throw in a healthy dose of instruction on improvised materials and backcountry safety. The instruction is heavily scenario-based they're very practical and entertaining at the same time.

That said, my in-town and backpacking first aid kit consists of...

BSI: Nitrile gloves and pocket mask
Wound cleaning: A bottle of tincture of iodine, some alcohol prep pads
Dressing and bandages: 1 ace wrap, half roll of athletic tape, and a couple of 2x2 gauze pads
Meds: Couple of tylenol, immodium, benadryl, aspirin

With this kit I can improvise and do everything I know how to do, and I'm not tempted to do anything I should be leaving to professionals.
 
Will said:
The goal with first aid is to patch yourself up well enough to move, or at least to stay alive until help arrives (12-24 hours hopefully). On longer trips, you want to have enough first aid equipment so that minor injuries can be treated without forcing you to end your trip early, but on shorter trips, this is not an issue. Luxuries like antibiotic ointment, alcohol pads, specialized bandages, irrigations syringe, excessive quantities of dressings etc. just add weight and bulk.
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Point taken. Antibiotic ointment, of course, has multiple uses. See thread on "chap stick." Same, same.
 
I haul an Adventure Medical .5 kit with added meds-- Benedryl, Immodium AD, Ibuprofen, more antibiotic cream, more stuff for blisters, etc. I also carry sunscreen lotion and lip balm, bug repellent, and body glide for chafing.

Here's the list of contents:

Essential Equipment: 1 Splinter picker tweezers, 3 safety pins, 1 Aloksak
Wound Management: 2 After Cuts & Scrapes towelettes, 2 antibiotic ointment, 1 tincture of benzoin, 2 butterfly closure bandages
Bandage Materials: 4 3x3 Sterile dressings, 4 2x2 sterile dressings, 1 3x4 non-adherent sterile dressing, 1 conforming gauze bandage, 4 1x3 adhesive bandages, 2 knuckle adhesive bandages, 1 tape (1/2" x 10yrd)
Blister/Burn: 1 Moleskin
Medication: 4 Motrin, 2 antihistamine, 2 After Bite sting relief

I think knowing how to improvise will extend a first aid kit. You can do a lot with socks, sanitary napkins, cut off shirt sleeves, bandanas, coat hangers and newspapers for splints, and so on. I've done a broken collar bone and a really bad broken arm (humerus in about six peices) with improvised stuff-- motorcycles should come with lots of triangular bandages :)
 
I carry 6 large fabric band aids in my wallet. They can be cut up and used as butterfly's if needed. (I was a sheet metal worker for some years and you need something to contain leakage so that the drippers don't get red all over everything.)
No need for antibacterial ointment, Small cuts don't seem to benefit from it (on me at least) and you should not use it in cuts needing stitches (some people are also allergic to triple antibiotic ointment).
A clean handkerchief in my pocket.

In the vehicle and backpacking kits I carry a small bottle of betadine as this has definite benefits.
Moist towelettes to clean around the wound site (in the larger kits)
No pain killers, the only effective ones require a prescription.
a couple of rollers of gauze in the larger kits, duct tape to hold thing together.
an eye cup in the larger kits, (to help get dirt and gravel out of your eye).
aspirin as it has uses other than headaches(heart attack for example)
A roll of vet wrap for sprains (some use ace bandages) in the larger kits
A battle dressing in the larger kits (little cuts usually heal fine without care but you had better be prepared for the life threatening injury.)
A Sam Splint in the larger kits
Blood stop in the larger kits.
I carry a large bandanna in the woods and in vehicle and camping kits(many uses, i.e. sling)
Enjoy!
 
One thing I haven't seen anyone mention is a small mirror for helping with face or eye injuries (assuming that you're alone).
 
Joel Stave said:
One thing I haven't seen anyone mention is a small mirror for helping with face or eye injuries (assuming that you're alone).
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Hey Joel,

Excellent suggestion, but let me add, make it a magnifying type (especially for us older, vision challenged types :( ) .

Quote - Happy Joe: "No pain killers, the only effective ones require a prescription."

I don't know what it's like in the USA, but I find here in Canada, if you explain your need to your doctor, he quite often will oblige with a prescription. Pain killers are important for obvious reasons and may make the difference between suffering through and doing what's necessary, and not. 'And not' is not an option.

Doc
 
Someone mentioned antihistamines, these are an absolute must for me. I don't get hay fever all the time like when I was younger, but when I do it hits me like a ton of bricks. Doesn't stop me from working or anything, but it really sucks without drugs.

TUMS are another must in our kits. Again, I don't need them all the time but they're a godsend at 3AM sometimes.

I don't carry them on my person, but in our main trunk/campsite FAK there are children's strength duplicates of most of what you all listed. I'm too lazy to cut Tylenols into quarters or whatever.

Especially the last year or so, I've found myself with several cheap folders floating around. Not sure where they all came from, lol. But the ones that take a razor edge (even if they don't hold it real well) get tucked into FAK's, and so forth. One of those plastic, retractable utility knives, where you break off a small section of the blade when it goes dull, would be cool too. They're cheap as hell (Family Dollar!) and available in small sizes.

This thing is the bomb for FAK's:
http://www.bladematrix.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=37488
The scissors and nail clippers alone take care of a lot. There's also a tweezers, screw blade, regular blade, bottle opener :jerkit: and nail file. This one is made by Gerber. Other companies make similar tools, of course, and may be of higher quality. But this one leaves nothing to be desired, and I got mine in a $10 WallyWorld package deal with a regular-size/type multi-tool and a couple junk knives. My woman likes it enough that I ponied up the $4.50 and got another for her kit.The bigger multi got handed down to her when I found a $45 deal on a Leatherman Blast (really a big step up from the Gerber)/ C301 knife (pretty decent EDC knife, actually...although I want the non-serrated version) combo pack :) Come to think of it, I reckon I made out pretty good on this lil set of tools.
 
A basic kit very much depends on your training and motivation to carry weight.

A light basic kit that will get you out of most situations with some improvisation is:

3 Triangular bandages (the one item if could only take one thing ;) )
Small amount of duct tape 3 feet.
A few durable bandaids of different sizes. I like the role you cut to length yourself.
A couple 3x4 non stick telfa style pads.
A small role of vet wrap
1 small ace wrap
A couple 4x4 gauze
1 large abdominal pad (you need dressings for major bleeds unlike a previous posters opinion)
3 pairs of gloves nitrile
Small tube crazy glue
A sleve of moleskin
Small tube of decorator cake icing (unconscious diabetic shock) hard to improvise.
6 Aspirin
12 Ibuprophen
6 Tylenol
10 Benedryl
6 Immodium

Build your own, this should cost you less than $30 and weigh a lb or less. It will get you out of the woods in fine fashion for most injuries if you know how to use the gear.

Skam
Wilderness EMT-B
 
IMHO, loose the butterflies and suture tapes and pack duct tape and super glue. I've taken lots of wilderness canoe trips in the BWCAW and Quetico and had more co-travellers with semi-severe cuts than I care to remember. Never bad enough to force us to return, but the butterflies and especially suture tapes never held worth a darn in a wilderness environment (wet, dirty, strain, motion). Thin strips of duct tape held better and longer than either!

With the super glue, make sure that the wound has been cleansed and disinfected. I always try to leave a little "weep-hole" in the wound covered with triple-A and a bandaid to allow the wound to cleanse itself if necessary.

Oh, yeah, make sure your teatnus booster is up to date BEFORE you leave on your trip...:D

my $.02
 
RE no pain killers;
Doc; I don't need 'em & don't use 'em, this includes breaks, sprains and other injuries (Your results may vary). I have no problems with people that need such things having them but I don't need then so I don't stock them.

Enjoy!
 
I can self start my own IV with either hand due to hyperfascination/obsession with being able to do this task.
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That's obsessive, alright. ;) I never knew anyone who could stand to do it with their dominant hand, let alone ambi. I don't see it as practical though, as one liter won't be of much use except in situations where you could rehydrate orally. For anything worse, I'm not sure you'd be in any condition to start an IV at all.

1 large abdominal pad (you need dressings for major bleeds unlike a previous posters opinion)
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For a major bleed you need a helicopter and a surgeon.
 
skammer said:
Small tube of decorator cake icing (unconscious diabetic shock) hard to improvise.

Skam
Wilderness EMT-B
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I suspect I know what you are doing with this. You better explain this to the others because I don't think most would do or think that is what it was for. If they did what most people would do with this the risk of aspiration and death is extreme. They deserve an explaination so there is no misunderstanding and the appropriate disclaimers. :D :o ;)

KR
CT EMT-D
NREMT-B
Wilderness EMT
 
Happy Joe said:
RE no pain killers;
Doc; I don't need 'em & don't use 'em, this includes breaks, sprains and other injuries (Your results may vary). I have no problems with people that need such things having them but I don't need then so I don't stock them.

Enjoy!
Click to expand...

I assume, unlike me, you've never had a problem with kidney stones, because if you had, and you were out in the boonies, it would soon change to Unhappy Joe. :D

Doc
 
Geraldo said:
For a major bleed you need a helicopter and a surgeon.
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From reading and personal accounts, folks have been saved because large dressings were available to stop bleeding before the dustoff arrived. Only "first" aid, but still seems worthwhile, no?
 
Thomas Linton said:
From reading and personal accounts, folks have been saved because large dressings were available to stop bleeding before the dustoff arrived. Only "first" aid, but still seems worthwhile, no?
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Saved, no. Kept alive until a surgeon can fix the problem, yes. It is a chain of events that have to occur to keep someone alive long enough to get the person to the trauma surgeon. EMT's and Paramedics can actually fix some medical patients but we can only help keep trauma patients alive but they need to be fixed by a trauma surgeon.

KR
 
kr1 said:
Saved, no. Kept alive until a surgeon can fix the problem, yes. It is a chain of events that have to occur to keep someone alive long enough to get the person to the trauma surgeon. EMT's and Paramedics can actually fix some medical patients but we can only help keep trauma patients alive but they need to be fixed by a trauma surgeon.

KR
Click to expand...
Sure. Yes. That's why it's "first" aid.

I forget that langauge changes. A "dustoff" is a helicopter that takes you to medical professionals. I should have been clearer.
 
What in your opinion is the very best tweezers on the market for use in the wild...gosh I hate slivers and pull them out weekly...I have a cheapie set but am willing to spend the bucks to get a high end one if someone can recommend a good set...any EMT's or Doc's have a suggestion?
 
Quirt said:
What in your opinion is the very best tweezers on the market for use in the wild...gosh I hate slivers and pull them out weekly...I have a cheapie set but am willing to spend the bucks to get a high end one if someone can recommend a good set...any EMT's or Doc's have a suggestion?
Click to expand...

I personally like using Micro-Adson Forceps to remove slivers. I have also used kelly clamps with success as well. Also some slivers can be removed with tape sometimes. If you want to spend the money you can get some excellant tweezers. Here is a good sampling.

http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/products/tweezers/forceps.aspx

KR
 
kr1 said:
I suspect I know what you are doing with this. You better explain this to the others because I don't think most would do or think that is what it was for. If they did what most people would do with this the risk of aspiration and death is extreme. They deserve an explaination so there is no misunderstanding and the appropriate disclaimers. :D :o ;)

KR
CT EMT-D
NREMT-B
Wilderness EMT
Click to expand...


Fair enough.

You paste the entire inside of the unconscious patients cheeks and under tongue with the tube of icing. It will absorb into the blood without compromising the patients airway with candy or liquids.

Skam
 
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