The ultimate minimalist first aid kit!

C

Clint Simpson

Joined
Nov 13, 2001
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The ultimate minimalist first aid kit!

I’VE GOT IT!!* I’VE GOT IT!!!*

After looking at “travel” first-aids kits on the market, I starting thinking: What are the bare essentials for first aid? Now, I am not talking about band-aids and aspirin, we are *way* past paper cuts and headaches. And I don’t need a portable field hospital. I am talking about FIRST aid, keep the person alive until we get to a hospital. I boiled it down to bandages and adhesive. In the city, a hospital (ambulance) is close enough to help with broken legs, concussions, etc. and shock is not an issue, as professional help should arrive before shock can have any major effects. In the wild, one can’t do much about severe pain, concussions, etc. without a pharmacy so let’s drop that as the time/cost factor is too high. Broken bones? With the tape, any of us can fashion a makeshift splint/cast (The knife is PRESUMED). Shock? Space blanket is in the survival kit. So in short, mostly one only needs to worry about stopping severe bleeding.

Bandages and adhesive. First the adhesive. First aid tape is nice but thin, not that waterproof and not that sticky either. The way to go here is athletic tape. Multi-function and cheaper than first aid tape. Wide and sticky enough so when it is on your body, IT IS ON YOUR BODY and I have showered with this stuff on and afterward it wasn‘t even loose. First aid tape is not even in the same league as this stuff.

Now for the bandages. Gauze is nice but most are just oversized band-aid pads. To be really effective, one needs something like combat quality field dressings. But what can Joe Average buy that is super absorbent and sterile? The answer: Feminine hygiene sanitary napkins!! You read it right, I am talking about Kotex and Maxi-pads!!! Many come in their own wrapping, made to be toted around, and cheap enough to not care if they get beat up in your pack (buy more for next time, that simple). They are DESIGNED to soak blood, what more can you ask for? If that was not enough, they come in small sizes! Bring many ultra-thins and if one is not enough, stack one on top of the other or side-by-side. Then tape them to the body.

So there you have it. The ultimate minimalist first aid kit: Maxi-pads and athletic tape. With the skills and the ability to improvise, unless the victim goes “code blue” these will keep the victim alive until you can get him to the hospital.

Suggestions, agreements, and challenges and not only welcome but solicited.

*Richard Chamberlain as Alan Quartermane.

Now THIS is a centennial post!
 
Hi,

I can follow your thinking and I also used these bandages in the past inside my shooting jacket as extra padding for my elbow, soaked on water "molded" and used as cooling "patch" (NOT directly on your skin!! use multiple layers of moist 'cloth' between it and your skin).
And I even used it once to stop a nasty bleeding head wound, most times a small laceration on your scalp bleeds like crazy but is only 'minor'.

One thing however, these bandages are not sterile and should only be used in case you have no sterile bandages around.
Luckily a heavy bleeding wound tends to "clean" itself but whenever possible I learned is use sterile bandages.

There are some pretty small packages with sterile bandages used to absorb blood and stop bleeding available and I prefer to carry these together with some extra other stuff.

Best Scouting wishes from Holland,

Bagheera
 
Originally posted by Bagheera
these bandages are not sterile and should only be used in case you have no sterile bandages around.
Luckily a heavy bleeding wound tends to "clean" itself but whenever possible I learned is use sterile bandages.
Click to expand...

Apparently sanitary napkins are not that sanitary. Anybody know if this is true for ALL brands or not?

Yes, wounds do "self-clean" but that stops as soon as one applies the bandage. Neosporin is not going to help here. It sterilizes the top of a cut, but if the cut is deep enough the jelly traps goo inside the wound (with bacteria) and causes an infection. The plan for the sanitary napkins was I could always buy more if I find myself traveling in a large group without having to wait on UPS. It could also help some of the ladies in a pinch;) Another plus is after I carry them around awhile, but before they get too beat up, I could give them to my girlfriend or toss 'em without fuss. Much less likely to do that with mail-order products. Therefore, I'll only carry them when I think I may NEED them, not when they MIGHT be handy.

The idea came from reading about WWI. The French nurses found out that the wound dressings worked better for them than the homemade poultices they were using. This lead to the invention of Maxi-pads. Shortly after reading that, I cut my foot bad enough to need stitches. Mom's maxi-pads where convenient to stop blood from getting everywhere. BTW, the first aid tape was useless back then, I used duct tape but athletic tape sticks to the skin better.

So now that my brilliant idea sucks, anyone have a suitable replacement? Or at least a place to buy decent sized bandages on the cheap?
 
Originally posted by Clint Simpson


...snip...
So now that my brilliant idea sucks, anyone have a suitable replacement? Or at least a place to buy decent sized bandages on the cheap?
Click to expand...

I bought both trauma pads and Bloodstoppers from Galls

www.galls.com

and yes, I keep one of yeach in my desk at work, my home, and my car - I carry a bloodstopper in my daily carry backpack, along with the "Bandaid and headache" stuff - as I said to someone, it's the most important thing in there

the 4" bloodstopper is only $2.99

http://www.galls.com/shop/viewProductDetail.jsp?item=FA912

Charlie
(usual disclaimers)
 
I have two vacuum-packed tampons :eek: :eek: :eek: ...yes...you heard me...in my field first aid kit and in my range bag. A Corpsman once told me that they could be used as a field-expediant way to stop-up gunshot wounds...
 
I thought about tampons, especially the OB itty bitty kind that fit in an Altoids tin. Then I thought I need something bigger. I am talking about dog bite, knife wound, fell on a pointed stick type wound. Tampons are a great idea, one can cut it open and "unfold" it to cover a greater area. (note, use the "outside" part that did not made blade contact on the wound) The question now is how sterile are they? No point getting you to the doctor just so he can cut off your foot due to infection. OK, in truth he spends 30 minutes cleaning the wound, but why make his job harder?
 
Not sure about the sterility...I guess if I have the choice of possibly loosing a limb or having to fight off an infection vs. bleeding to death where I lay...I'll take a chance. I have 2 'regular full-size' tampax ones... the fact that they have an "applicator" makes me think that they + a pressure dressing would do a better & faster job at plugging a hole (move on....don't go there) than only a topical dressing alone would... Bottom line is that I hope I never have to test them...
 
How Clean is Clean? How long does an infection take to set? How often do clean but non-sterile dressings need to be changed? How often do STERILE dressings need to be changed?

If one can get to a hospital within a few hours maybe one does not need to carry a fancy dressing. Maybe a thick bandana will do? (Worked in the old days!) Perhaps Maxi-pads are not so bad an idea, as long as you know the limits of the system?
 
The only thing I would add is Moleskin. If you are out in the wilds and develop a blister problem, Moleskin is the best way to deal with it, bar none. Doesn't take much space, light weight and very effectice. BTW I think I will rework my homebrew firstaid kit to include the sani..sani.. pads.
 
Another "alternative" tape is plain ol' Masking Tape. It really sticks to skin, even when wet and will also stick to itself. Easy to find in just about any paint/hardware/drug store.
 
Uh guys, I hate to tell you this but, the best way to stop bleeding is "proximal control" or direct pressure. If you poke a hole slightly larger than a pin, in the common femoral artery, and "just cover it up" it'll bleed like freaking stink. You can "plug up" all the bullet holes you want with tampons and maxi-pads just don't do it to me! Since you will:

A)Contaminate the wound
B)Seed the wound with foreign material
C)Cause extensive tissue necrosis

Proximal control, refers to applying pressure to the arterial supply above a bleeding vessel, at the arterial source. This, in combination with direct pressure allows hemostasis (clotting) to take place. A rather large hole, in an artery, say 3/16" can be stopped in about 10-15 minutes with direct pressure and immobilization. Probably the "best minimalist" first aid kit is a good fund of knowledge, you never have to worry about leaving it at home!

BTW This really works! I do it every day!

And Warriorsociologist, my Dad wants to meet the Corpsman who told you that, since he's a retired Navy Doc who was stationed with the Marines from '61-'65 and '71-'72.:D He doesn't think tampons and maxipads are such a good idea either. Me, I'm just a dumb radiologist, what do I know about trauma?
 
Originally posted by marcangel
And Warriorsociologist, my Dad wants to meet the Corpsman who told you that, since he's a retired Navy Doc who was stationed with the Marines from '61-'65 and '71-'72.:D He doesn't think tampons and maxipads are such a good idea either. Me, I'm just a dumb radiologist, what do I know about trauma?
Click to expand...

...hmmm sounds like there's more than a hint of unwarrented sarcasm here... The corpsman's name was HM1 Wells. I think he's stationed in FLA now...have fun finding him. Exactly what do you mean / what are you trying to imply or start with your "I'm just a dumb radiologist..." line??? I don't normally go "down this path..." but let's all try to play nice and be adults here.

BTW, I believe that I did mention that a direct pressure dressing was how you should stop a bleeding wound...
 
Good info Doc.(marcangel),I would add for chest/abdominal wounds you want an occlusive dressing.Basically a plastic or foil dressing used to seal the wound,one corner left untaped.

My field kit is a few bandaids,a couple of pain pills,a piece of mole skin,2 4x4s and a bandana. Quite frankly the bandana and a couple of motrins can handle most everything. But as I said in other posts like this,its not an equipment issue its a training one.
 
The point is, don't believe every thing you hear. I suspect the Corpsman was yanking your chain. As for a being a radiologist, trauma is not my area of expertise. I just see alot of stuff (myth) that gets perpetuated as fact. Unfortunately, it sounds good enough to believe sometimes, and can be EXTREMELY dangerous. I actually called Dad to find out what he thought, since I didn't want to perpetuate more myth. Lone Hunter's post about the motrin, moleskin, bandana and band-aids, etc. is right on track! I would add some tongue depressors and some meds. Tongue deppresors can be very valuable, as splints and even to check an airway. I actually had a lady "code" in front of me as my wife (USAF flight nurse) and I got off the plane in Orlando. After 1 round of CPR we got her back. But I had to keep her airway open for 30 minutes until the EMTs arrived. After that, I added the tongue depressors and 2 airways to my carry-on bag. Training is the key. We were taking a family vaction when a guy went into acute pulmonary edema on the plane. Belts can be used as tourniquets, and Dad and I treated him with rotating tourniquets and oxygen (60's FLASHBACK) until we got on the ground.I was impressed, talk about improvisation! A 14 ga. I.V. needle and cannula can also be worth it, provided you know what you're doing. (emergency trach or chest tube).
 
We ought to remember that expedient methods are what you use when you don't have the tools you would normally have at hand. Since we're talking about equiping a minimalist kit we're getting the things we need and not the second, third, or nth best.

On the other hand, if we're without the trauma pad none of us should hesitate to holler for Maxi pads, et al. (I remember sitting in the lounge after of a midterm exam that had derailed all of us and a buddy of mine that had been a medic in Vietnam says, "Why couldn't he have asked a question that I knew the answer to like, "What good is the wrapper from a cigarette pack?"" To which I replied weakly, "Cover for a sucking chest wound".)
 
Great post!

I was wondering about the tampons. Dosen't the method to treat a wound differ according to the location? I can see you slowing the blood or stopping it in order to let it clot, but would that be possible with a puncture wound to the torso? Wouldn't the tampon (however "unsterile") be a good idea if it does in fact stop the bleeding. If the patient gets an infection later on or this procedure causes more necrosis (tissue death) isnt that secondary to actually keeping them alive?

I mean worst case scenario you can cut up your of his clothes can't you to use as temporary bandages.

Q: Would urine act as a kind of disinfection or would it infect a wound worse? I'm just asking as Urine used to be used to bleach cloth in the middle ages. Wouldn't the ammonia in the urine kill something? (Hopefully not the patient)

Uncle Bob
 
Use the canula, but cut the finger off of a rubber glove and put the needle/canula through the tip. This allows the finger to act as a one-way valve so that air escapes and the glove finger collapses around the canula when the victem breaths in.
 
RE: Uncle Bob
Puncture wounds to the torso? Depends where, chest or abdomen.
If major vessels are involved, and you don't get volume resuscitation, you're pretty much SOL. Probably the best thing to do with a belly wound would be to apply a compress, such as an ABD pad if you have it, a shirt or several maxi-pads:D if you don't. Chest trauma is a whole kettle of fish that would take pages to cover, and really should be dealt with by the pros (Medics, EMTs, Docs and Nurses). One thing I really think everyone should know about, is the Trendelenberg position. Place the victim's head down and the feet up. This is a BASIC treatment for shock/hypotension and something I've seen ALOT of "pros" (Docs included) FORGET! The bottom line in hypovolemia/shock/hypotesion is that you want the blood to perfuse the vital organs that can't live without it for even very short periods of time, namely the brain and the heart. Kidneys, liver and all our other essential abdominal organs can "live" for several (at least six) hours with minimal tissue perfusion. The heart and brain start with irreversible damage in matters of minutes if perfusion pressure is not maintained. Remember, unfortunately ALL bleeding eventually stops:eek: :eek: :( !

"Remember Gome, Your heart is smarter than your brain, it tells you when you're dead. "
Andy Potash, Medical Resident, The Pennsylvania Hospital '89-'91
Now a Cardiologist
SOMEWHERE
 
RE: HSO
I was thinking more along the lines of a tension pneumothorax, since most of us deal with blunt trauma. I believe you're thinking about a sucking chest wound, which is why I don't want to get into the whole chest trauma topic. Chest trauma is better left for folks with more advanced training. The only reason I brought the 14 ga. I.V. up, was it reminded me of my first ACLS "mega-code" when the instructor threw in a tension pneumothorax, which is an ATLS protocol, and a chest tube was not available:mad: ! I was an 18 y.o. ER orderly at the time! Afterward, the instructor told me, "I served as your Dad's C.P.O. @ LeJeune...:) " I had asked for a 14 ga. IV and placed it in the 4th ICS.

ACLS= Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ATLS= Advanced Trauma Life Support
ICS= Intercostal Space

Sorry for the edits, I had to put my son to bed, and I am one shi**y typist!
 
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