Recommendations for a basic First Aid Kit

CKE2

CKE2

Joined
Aug 28, 2003
Messages
1,550
I have seen them all over the place, I have had a few and while somethings in them are good there was a lot of stuff not really needed.

What would you put in a small first aid kit? Lets say size restriction is a container(waterproof) say a Pelican 1020 or 1030 or close to that(5" x 3" x 2" thick)

Do you think you could get away with this:

Bandaids(asst'd sizes)
Gauze
Gloves(latex/vinyl)
Steri Strips(instead of a needle and thread...I would have to be pretty desperate to stitch myself up let alone someone else:eek:)
Tape
Polysporin type ointment
I wonder about salt packets? If you had a small infection you could boil water(sterilize it) and put the salt in to disinfect. I have done this at home on some occasions??? I am talking cuts to the hand or foot say....assuming you had a vessel big enough to put said hand or foot into with salt water.

I am sort of revamping some of my gear for this season. I hope to take my soon to be 4 year old out tenting and camping this year more and want to be prepared. I have camped all my life and over the years have had a few occasions where I have actually had to use the first aid or survival type gear I have had so I want to make sure what I am carrying now is a good overview for what I would need. My son fell while swimming last summer and split his toe nail. My wife was surprised that in my day pack I had the first aid stuff to clean his toe and bandage it up. What can I say, I was taught to be prepared...and I was never a boy scout:)

Thanks for any info/suggestions you may have:thumbup:

Have a great long weekend.
 
This is my kit - a bit substantial, but the lock'n lock fits one of the pouches of my bags perfectly.

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I'm working on one right now. I added QuikClot, ankle wrap, Israeli bandage, Advil, moleskin, anti-diarrhea medicine and a small flashlight.
 
Thanks Ken for the pics:thumbup:

Good point, pain relievers and a flashlight is a good idea too.
 
I recently almost ripped my pinky toe off, and I just had my alkosak FAK and my psk. I used the bandana from my psk to apply pressure and to hold the toe to the foot, after rinsing and using hydrogen peroxide.

Once home, I needed tweezers and a high pressure irrigation syringe to remove all the junk from the stick that made a deep and long cut. I also used a small amount of iodine to make an iodine solution to soak it in.

Bandaids where pretty worthless, so I'm going to add a lot more "make your own dressing" stuff, like gauze and tape, as well as more dissentectant, as my tiny bottle of peroxide didn't to much. I also needed some small scissors clippers to remove some skin.

Anywho, I really need to rethink some of my stuff. Good post.
 
peripatew said:
I recently almost ripped my pinky toe off, and I just had my alkosak FAK and my psk. I used the bandana from my psk to apply pressure and to hold the toe to the foot, after rinsing and using hydrogen peroxide.

Once home, I needed tweezers and a high pressure irrigation syringe to remove all the junk from the stick that made a deep and long cut. I also used a small amount of iodine to make an iodine solution to soak it in.

Bandaids where pretty worthless, so I'm going to add a lot more "make your own dressing" stuff, like gauze and tape, as well as more dissentectant, as my tiny bottle of peroxide didn't to much. I also needed some small scissors clippers to remove some skin.

Anywho, I really need to rethink some of my stuff. Good post.
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Wow, I carry an Israeli bandage for that kind of thing, but even that would probably need to be jury rigged in that situation. I think I need to add the irrigation syringe. I also now carry spray Neosporin.

http://countycomm.com/ISRAELIBANDAGE.htm
 
I would add roller gauze. PriMed gauze is vacuum sealed and compact. Kling is readily available everywhere and compact, but not as fluffy as PriMed.

If you can fit it in there then a 5x9 trauma pad (a.k.a. combine pad, ABD pad, abdominal pad) is great for massive bleeds.

As far as tape, get some Gorilla brand duct tape. Nothing better for the field.

I would also avoid closing wounds (steri-strips, sutures or staples) in the field as that's a great way to get an infection. Leave it open, cover it up and keep it clean. If it's a large wound you can soak roller gauze in a povidone iodine solution or just clean water and pack the wound carefully. This allows a wound to heal from the inside out and does a much better job of preventing infection.

When I build mini-trauma kits I usually include: 4-6" compression bandage (Ace-type bandage, preferrably with a velcro closure), 3-4" roller gauze (x2), 5x9 trauma pad, 4x4 gauze (x4), triangular bandage (or just carry a bandanna, which has a multitude of uses), Gorilla tape (wrapped around a pencil), triple antibiotic ointment, large safety pins (x3), nitrile gloves (x2 pair +), CPR shield (if you're the type to help others) and some band-aids for small cuts and scratches. Add some ibuprofen, aspirin (especially if you're older) and some benadryl and your ready for most things for a short duration, with the right knowledge and practice. A SAM splint is also nice, if you have the space. I'm sure I'm forgetting some small things, but this is a good start.

Combined bandages like the Israeli bandage (check out the TacMedSolutions Olaes bandage and H&H H-Bandage, which are much better, in my opinion) are nice and convenient, but are much less versatile than the components above and are only good for one use. Those are designed for a fast and easy solution to a specific problem (i.e. gun shot or knife wound) in a hostile environment. I do carry the Olaes bandages if I'm going to bad places.

Hope this helps.

Kage
 
kage said:
I would add roller gauze. PriMed gauze is vacuum sealed and compact.

Combined bandages like the Israeli bandage (check out the TacMedSolutions Olaes bandage and H&H H-Bandage, which are much better, in my opinion) are nice and convenient, but are much less versatile than the components above and are only good for one use.

Kage
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Thanks for the info.:thumbup: I know I carry too much in my FAK, but I camp with my family. I would rather be a little over prepared, than a little under prepared.

Ordering Olaes now:thumbup:.
 
Telfa pad (non stick pad to go under the bandage, also used with tape to make small bandages)
ABD pad (absorbant pad) Get one with a platicy thing on the outside. In the event of the thoracic cavity being punctured they can be used to make a valve to prevent a pnumothorax. sterile enclosed side down.
Roll of gauze
Sterile Strips
Tape
Antiseptic (Not alchohal, or peroxide)
Benadrill
Fast acting ASA (82mg)
tweasers
mole skin
Tensor bandages
Sam splints (Mostly for groups, make good pillows too!)

The above is what I carry. I don't usually have sam splints unless its an overnight hike, because they really do make great pillows, or with a large group of people. Take 2 of them, because in the event that they are actually needed you need to immobilize the injury, the joint above AND below. Hot and cold pads can be a good idea in groups too.

Israeli bandages are great, but with the things i have posted above you can pretty much make them, and keep things more modular and compact. You can get pretty creative with all that stuff actually. Israeli bandages are mostly for when you cant take the time to properly treat an injury. If you can even once the Israeli bandage is on, you should apply pressure to the wound.

as far as CPR shields go, I don't carry them. Lots of contraverys surrounding rescue breaths in CPR actually being useful. Basically you're creating barometric pressure in the chest, witch inhibits blood flow thats your goal in the first place. If you dont have pure oxygen with you, I really don't think it's worth it. Just do CPR without the rescue breaths. Unless its hypothermia or other non-heart related things you're pretty much dead without a defibrillator anyways. A 2-3% chance without it for actual heart problems.
 
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CKE2 said:
I wonder about salt packets?
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IMO it's well worthwhile adding a couple of single serve packs. As well as being able to make a bath for a wound, their also usefull in preventing/treating cramps in hot weather, and don't leeches love being sprinkled with a little salt :D



Kind regards
Mick
 
Ill put up a picture of my kit in a bit, but the point of all my kits are as follows:

If its a cut:
Clean,
Dress,
and keep proerly dresses.

Burn:
Clean,
dress properly (a burn cream of your pleaser)

Deep laceration of stap:
Stop bleeding! (thats allways a first)
Clean,
and bandage properly


So, I carry for all that, but my kit is designed for two people, as my girl comes with me alot. do you know the dimensions of the 1020 cases? I know the 1010 are quite small eh?
 
Hi friends,

Thanks y'all! This is really good information. I approach it a bit differently and pack stuff by quantity basically in order of need or likelihood of usage. From my experience the first aid and health care needs are in an order something like this.

  1. Small cut, scratches, blisters, abrasions, slivers and punctures, insect bites, stuff in eyes
  2. Sunburn, windburn, heat/diaper rash (crotch and arm pits), chapped lips
  3. Muscle fatigue, back and joint discomfort
  4. Bruises, clunked heads, twists and sprains (bent or banged fingers and ankles)
  5. Head and tummy aches
As a biodynamic and organic farmer I tend to lean toward the homeopathic remedies. For instance, my EDC FAK has a number of band aids, small tubes of calendula and arnica creams, 30x arnica montana, rescue remedy, Similasan eye drops, Culing pills (Chinese hebal for GI distress) and Tylenal.

For trips, I add diaper rash cream, more bandages, aloe vera for burns, no-more-sting, sunblock, rosemary and/or arnica massage oil for sore muscles, and a few more meds. I do not pack a whole bunch of stuff for severe injuries. Of course I do have bandanas. As a school teacher I also have the good forturne of being required to regularly take first aid and CPR classes, so I have that training too. (Highly recommneded for everyone, whether you go into the brush or not!)

Thanks again, and all the best, Phil
 
Make sure you have stuff for the little guy too. I like bright bandaids, even if they don't stick for long, the care of putting on one is a big comfort to little ones. maybe some child stomach meds.
Make sure you are familiar with the stuff too, seems like a no brainer, but I've seen people waste rolls of athletic tape because they didn't know what they were doing, where an elastic bandage would have been almost as good, but not nearly as difficult to use.

my kits are fairly light on most stuff, but heavy on gloves as I don't assume I'll know the person I'm helping. In canada we are protected from lawsuit when providing aid as long as it is within reason.
 
I use a bare minimum....

ace bandage
few pieces of gauze
micropore tape
butterflies
iodine wipes
bandaids

I should be able to stop the bleeding with gauze and ace wrap...then start the hike out. Most of the time it's only for little wounds that you use your kit anyways. Some bandaids and tape are all I ever use. On overnighters I'll add a few more things.
 
With kids in mind, +1 on some
-bright kids band aids,
-children's ibuprofen,
-ipecac syrup,
--re-hydration salts,
-children's Benadryl,
-eye wash and salve,
-medicine spoon and dropper graduated with tsps and mL
-forceps (for kids who like rocks in ears and noses)
-tongue depresser
 
Ramm9 said:
With kids in mind, +1 on some
-bright kids band aids,
-children's ibuprofen,
-ipecac syrup,
--re-hydration salts,
-children's Benadryl,
-eye wash and salve,
-medicine spoon and dropper graduated with tsps and mL
-forceps (for kids who like rocks in ears and noses)
-tongue depresser
Click to expand...

Get rid of the ipecac. No one uses it any more that I am aware of. The risk of aspiration is too great, plus by the time it makes the person throw up (if it works at all with the first dose) a great deal of absorption has already occurred. If you can get it get activated charcoal suspension.

KR
 
BushcraftBrainTrust: if you're hurting on space then the old standby of using a ziploc with a small hole in it and squeezed to make a pressure irrigator works pretty well (use eye protection, as it will splash water and bodily fluids everywhere) and is versatile as the plastic can be used for a ton of things, including as a flutter valve for a sucking chest wound, similar to what Munky88 is referring to in his post.

Ramm9: I'll 2nd what kr1 said. Syrup of ipecac is no longer recommended for fear of aspiration and due to secondary damage of throwing up caustic materials. Activated charcoal is recommended for certain chemicals and poisons, but Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222: put it in your cell phone as you read this!) should be contacted first with as much info as possible about what was ingested, including what it was, what the label says if it's available, quantity, at what time, if there is vomitus then what is the color, texture, smell and is there blood present, what was the last thing the patient ate and drank and when, reaction, etc.

Also +1 on colorful and fun bandaids. Worth their weight in gold when it comes to upset children.

Farmer Phil: share more of the homeopathic info with us! What are those used for and how effective are they for their intended use?

from Munky88as far as CPR shields go, I don't carry them. Lots of contraverys surrounding rescue breaths in CPR actually being useful. Basically you're creating barometric pressure in the chest, witch inhibits blood flow thats your goal in the first place. If you dont have pure oxygen with you, I really don't think it's worth it. Just do CPR without the rescue breaths. Unless its hypothermia or other non-heart related things you're pretty much dead without a defibrillator anyways. A 2-3% chance without it for actual heart problems.
Click to expand...
Here in the US CPR is still the standard for the medical field and chest compressions only are indicated for non-professionals who are trying to help as it is simpler and takes away people's fear of bodily fluids. Efficacy is still questionable. That said, when it comes to heart problems then it is true that the patient is likely dead without an AED. But if it's a drowning victim or hypothermia victim then CPR can be quite effective. I've also used rescue breathing effectively on a few people, so don't discount it completely. If you think you'll do CPR bring a shield or mask.
 
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