individual first aid kit

[Fonly]

this is mine, carry for me, and the ladie that tags along for trips.

 

[gadgetgeek]

no pics, but my "urban" kit lives in a blackhawk BDU pocket organizer,
2- 4x4 gauze
2- 1.5x2 nonstick
asst bandaids
adventure medical shears (not great, but they fit)
laerdal small pocket shield mask
2pr nitrile gloves

My EDC backpack also has another similar few bandages, tape, a tensor and some basic meds, tylenol, zantac, tums, fisherman's friends. and a small bottle of alco gel.
for wilderness I have a MEC shoulder bag (the smallest one) that gets stuffed with all kinds of stuff, and then gets re-packed for my hockey team, so if I have to go over the boards, I don't have to take my eyes off the kid to dig in the big kit for stuff.
I need to get some of those Israeli bandages for my wilderness kit, and really besides the pocket mask, its all just in case one of the knives takes a nibble at me.

 

[nemoaz]

Hard to beat the standard military first aid dressing. Consider grabbing one of these if you can.
May I also suggest something like a triple antibiotic cream and some iodine solution.

 

[ROCK6]

Hard to beat the standard military first aid dressing. Consider grabbing one of these if you can.

The older Trau-Medic ones are okay, but the newer Israeli bandages (although a tad larger) are excellent, especially if you have to dress your other arm and you're one-handed. I still like the older ones because they are flatter and go in smaller kits.

ROCK6

 

[MrCoffee]

The older Trau-Medic ones are okay, but the newer Israeli bandages (although a tad larger) are excellent, especially if you have to dress your other arm and you're one-handed. I still like the older ones because they are flatter and go in smaller kits.

ROCK6

Rock are these the same ones available from CountyComm? I was planning on ordering a couple for my CERT bag... along with a few dozen items they don't supply....

Cheers!

 

[ROCK6]

Rock are these the same ones available from CountyComm? I was planning on ordering a couple for my CERT bag... along with a few dozen items they don't supply....

Cheers!

Yeah, I think they are the 4" ones, which I prefer since they are more compact. There are 6" sized ones as well, but way to big for an IFAK.

ROCK6

 

[ROCK6]

! I have some typed up content lists somewhere, but can't find them:grumpy:...I don't have the time to pull everything out right now. Just my recommendations are plenty of gauze and plenty of roles of tape. I'm not EMT, but I've taken several courses, including the old and new versions of the Combat Life Saver courses (new ones are actually very impressive). I'm out of tolerance, but will be going through the course again soon...I also need to update my CPR cert. My larger kits are for first responder and military load-outs, but I have smaller ones geared for backpacking and camping. My wife and kids all have a small kit...mostly Band-Aids, moleskin, tape, gauze, Tylenol, Benadryl, Motrin, antibacterial cream, Sting-Eze pads, and always a few safety pins, dental floss and needles to give it some versatility.

For my occupation, it's really about stopping bleeding, CPR, opening a breathing passage way, stabilizing and evacuation. The medical command has reported that if a Combat Life Saver can get to a wounded trooper within 10 minutes there is a 99% chance they will stabilize and get the him/her evacuated to a CSH...if they make it to the CSH there is a 99% chance they will live...pretty incredible when you think about it

ROCK6

 

[ROCK6]

Oops, these didn't fit

Continued...

I know JW is more into First Responder equipment and training, but for most of us, day to day accidents are usually pretty simple cuts/abrasions, mild burns, stings or other allergic reactions (poison oak/ivy or insect bites), fevers, aches and pains, blisters, upset stomach/diarrhea, sprained ankle or a smashed finger or toe.

I still like to have a field dressing in my bag just for those severe accidents. This are my smaller backpacking kits:

Don't forget some good nitrile gloves and a little 100mph (duct) tape. Imodium is another critical one if you've ever picked up a bad stomach bug!

ROCK6

 

[zman308]

I carry a cut, bruise, blister, scrape, bump kit. Too often wilderness first aid kits start looking like a level one trauma center. I have a friend whose medical kit is so big that I think he could do organ transplants with it. Carry stuff for immediate attention and if you are going back that far into the woods here in the US get a satelite phone. They can get a chopper to you pretty fast in most areas.
Try to dig up a copy of "Forgey's Wilderness Medicine" it is dated but still has some great ideas of making a medical kit, what medications to take, and so on.

 

[IsleofGough]

I like the first poster's kit better than the others. But add tweasers, broad spectrum antibiotic pills (levoquin or augmentin) and narcotic pills, quickclot (non prescription - I saw it recently at a NEX), and a one handed tourniquet. Include bug spray (DEET) but no bug bite cream. add some water purification tabs. In my kit, I have firestarter, because hypothermia is a major way of loosing your life (along with dehydration). Consider epi-pen for people with bee allergies. Add a needle and some moleskin for blisters. My experience is as a military trauma surgeon.

 

[gadgetgeek]

is there a point to carrying epi without injectable benydryl? sure you get 15 min, but if your response is farther away than that.... are there any treatments for anaphylasis that can be used in a wilderness setting?

 

[j williams]

I like the first poster's kit better than the others. But add tweasers, broad spectrum antibiotic pills (levoquin or augmentin) and narcotic pills, quickclot (non prescription - I saw it recently at a NEX), and a one handed tourniquet. Include bug spray (DEET) but no bug bite cream. add some water purification tabs. In my kit, I have firestarter, because hypothermia is a major way of loosing your life (along with dehydration). Consider epi-pen for people with bee allergies. Add a needle and some moleskin for blisters. My experience is as a military trauma surgeon.

I carry water purification pills, and a firesteel, in a seperate PSK dry box, along with a sterile needle and bug spray is carried in their as well.

I am gonna add a ripcord tournaquet to the kit, as well as some moleskin, Thanks for your suggestions!!

 

[The Mastiff]

Guys, don't forget latex free gloves & other gear for those allergic. I'm one that has a reaction just putting one of the gloves on. Every time I go into surgery I make sure the anesthesieoligist knows so I don't get a latex tube. I know a girl that happened to. She survived ok but couldn't talk & had a swollen throat for a while.

Likewise Tramadol. There are some that can't take NSAIDS, and cortisone steroids leaving ultram about the only alternative besides narcotics.

I wish it was over the counter but it's not. It's great to keep around. Joe

 

[stitchawl]

[SNIP]
Likewise Tramadol. There are some that can't take NSAIDS, and cortisone steroids leaving ultram about the only alternative besides narcotics.

I wish it was over the counter but it's not. It's great to keep around. Joe

Every time I'm in Third World countries I buy fresh meds that are not otc in the US, i.e. 100mg Tramadol HCL, Ciproflaxin, a course of amoxicillin, just to make sure I have up-to-date meds in my kit. Nothing worse than having a tool that no longer works.... Never encountered any problems with Customs allowing them in. I imagine if I were trying to bring in quantities of Valium or Zanax they might raise an eyebrow.

Stitchawl

 

[Fiddleback]

JW, what are your thoughts on QR powder? I have a good bit of it in my kits.

 

[SouthernCross]

To the standard items (ie bandaids, alchol swabs, etc), I've added ibuprofen & immodium tablets, a couple of compression bandages (for snake bite), some paraffin soaked 3 ply cardboard (emergency firestarter), a small fishing kit (and by small I mean small ), a small cake of soap and a mini bic.




Kind regards
Mick

 

[j williams]

Every time I'm in Third World countries I buy fresh meds that are not otc in the US, i.e. 100mg Tramadol HCL, Ciproflaxin, a course of amoxicillin, just to make sure I have up-to-date meds in my kit. Nothing worse than having a tool that no longer works.... Never encountered any problems with Customs allowing them in. I imagine if I were trying to bring in quantities of Valium or Zanax they might raise an eyebrow.

Stitchawl

Thats a good idea for a group kit. I only carry latex free gloves, Why carry 2 differant pairs is what I think. Im not allergic to latex, but Its the only kind I use. This one is a personal kit, so chances are If im treating myself, I wouldnt wear gloves, but I think I will toss in a pair just to be safe.:thumbup:

JW, what are your thoughts on QR powder? I have a good bit of it in my kits.

IMO I like the stuff. For a backwoods emergency kit, I think its a great tool to have in your arsenal. Tourniquets are coming back into favor, and I would use one before that stuff, if a tornaquet is able to be applied. For chest wounds, etc.., I would use it in a heartbeat. Circulation is a big deal when dealin with these things. Whatever it takes to stop the bleeding.:thumbup:


You know, these kits can grow out of controll. I will post pics of my mainline setup to show you how inclusive these things can get. Truth is, you can handle just about anything with the kit I posted, and a little engineering. IE improvising slings with my shemagh, creating splints with sticks and paracord or 100moh tape, using 100mph tape to treat a blister...etc...

The most important part of these things is having the knolage to deal with said problem, and keeping a level head while attacking it. Not getting tunnel vision on one problem, while missing another. Be prepared, always observant of possible life threats, and carry what you are confident in using. Truth is, most of you are not medics, and just carrying the basic stuff will get you by wonderfully. If you tried to prepare for everything, you might as well stick a Doc, and a trauma surgeon in your pack, and pack a field hospital on your back. Part of venturing into the backwoods is understanding the risks accociated with it. You can plan for basic first aid, but we can all "what if" to death. It is impossable to prepare for everything. Stabilization of life threats are key.:thumbup:

 

[Fonly]

Yeah, now that I think about it, what more do you really need on a day trip other than gauze, some tape, alchol swabs, bandaids and some imodium, and mabye some tylnol.

When I was growing up, I carried electrical tape and paper towel with me as my first aid kit.

 

[Bushman5]

J Williams, are you familiar with those stretchy 10" wide exercise resistance bands? the big flat ones make a GREAT pressure dressing.....(with a stomach pad underneath) .......

 

[stitchawl]

J Williams, are you familiar with those stretchy 10" wide exercise resistance bands? the big flat ones make a GREAT pressure dressing.....(with a stomach pad underneath) .......

Thanks for this, Bushman! I just added a length of this to my kit! I can see a half dozen different applications as is, and even more if cut down to size!

Stitchawl