Basic first aid kit

[Newlife]

100% agree,

but... there is always a chance that if you have something you don't know how to use with you (as long as you can admit to yourself you have no business trying to use it) someone else in the emergency situation is a vet, first responder or doctor that knows how to use it, but does not have a kit or a specific item with them, or ran out, that can now still save a life.

Know and admit your limits and learn how to use your gear. Also know what you have with you, and location in the kit. Sucks if you needed something and can't find it, or a responder asks if you have XYZ and you waste time or forgot you did actually carry it.

Totally agree. I think it’s better to have a not need than to be in a situation where one cannot be found. I also 100% agree with know your layout. If you’re dumping your whole kit out to find a tourniquet you’re wasting very very valuable time.

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[Newlife]

Another thing no one ever mentions in their load out is a sharpie and a watch(extra). Keep a water proof marker, sharpie etc readily available at all times and a watch, phone etc that is working and accurate the best you can.

someone mentioned a snake bite kit earlier.One those are trash. The best thing you can do is get them to the closest hospital as fast as possible. Mark the bite and the time and each 30 minutes to an hour mark the area again as the Venom spreads. It could be the difference of saving a limb or life very quickly.

 

[PlayfulBird]

Another thing no one ever mentions in their load out is a sharpie and a watch(extra). Keep a water proof marker, sharpie etc readily available at all times and a watch, phone etc that is working and accurate the best you can.

someone mentioned a snake bite kit earlier.One those are trash. The best thing you can do is get them to the closest hospital as fast as possible. Mark the bite and the time and each 30 minutes to an hour mark the area again as the Venom spreads. It could be the difference of saving a limb or life very quickly.

You are very right. Heck, a tourniquet without knowing when you put it on ....

As to the snakebite kit there are better and worse, depending on your training and location also... but stopping circulation, spread and the time is definitely imperative

 

[taintedsaint]

I've picked up a few things as a 20-yearSpecial Forces medic and a volunteer paramedic locally. All good tips in prior responses, some not so much. One thing that's overlooked is cleaning a wound without contact. As a lot of injuries in the field and working on a vehicle involve torn skin (avulsion), you may want to avoid rubbing it to clean it to avoid pushing dirt or grease into the wound. So, I recommend a bottle (or two) of inexpensive contact lens solution. Its sterile saline but most importantly, when you squeeze the bottle it comes out in a forceful stream allowing you to clean the wound without touching it.
Stay safe out there.

 

[Alans17]

I've picked up a few things as a 20-yearSpecial Forces medic and a volunteer paramedic locally. All good tips in prior responses, some not so much. One thing that's overlooked is cleaning a wound without contact. As a lot of injuries in the field and working on a vehicle involve torn skin (avulsion), you may want to avoid rubbing it to clean it to avoid pushing dirt or grease into the wound. So, I recommend a bottle (or two) of inexpensive contact lens solution. Its sterile saline but most importantly, when you squeeze the bottle it comes out in a forceful stream allowing you to clean the wound without touching it.
Stay safe out there.

Any must-have items you’d recommend? Any other pointers? Sounds like saying you’ve got the experience would be an understatement!

 

[dcmdon]

As to Chinese knockoffs, not for tourniquet pls
The feeling when it breaks when trying to put on a no name ... it stays with you

I'm talking about zippered bags. I won a Maxpedition Med kit bag at a shooting match raffle and its no better than the $13 one I linked to above.

 

[dcmdon]

I've picked up a few things as a 20-yearSpecial Forces medic and a volunteer paramedic locally. All good tips in prior responses, some not so much. One thing that's overlooked is cleaning a wound without contact. As a lot of injuries in the field and working on a vehicle involve torn skin (avulsion), you may want to avoid rubbing it to clean it to avoid pushing dirt or grease into the wound. So, I recommend a bottle (or two) of inexpensive contact lens solution. Its sterile saline but most importantly, when you squeeze the bottle it comes out in a forceful stream allowing you to clean the wound without touching it.
Stay safe out there.

Brilliant. That's why I have a bottle of water in my kit. But this is clearly a better way to do it. Thanks.

Can you give us your basics list? Since you've probably forgotten more than most of us will ever know. ha.

A sharpie should always be in your "pack". But its not part of my first aid kit.

I've got a self rescue bag in my truck that has a bunch of other stuff. My first aid kit is in that bag. The kit includes.

1) a full roll of TP, not just a little bit.
2) Emergency Bourbon - no joke. Its my kit. My stuff.
3) Oxycodone left over from when I had surgery. 20 mg vac packed with a copy of the prescription.
4) Compass
5) Paper maps of the northeast.
6) Fixed blade knife
7) Protein Bars
8) A couple of liters of water
9) Down jacket, Dome Periignon Wind and waterproof beanie (winter only)
10) Rain shell
11) fleece
12) extra socks and an old pair of sneakers
13) Garmin InReach - total overkill, but I have it for hiking so I might as well keep it in the truck. Ive never used it in an emergency but have used it dozens of times to text my wife when I'm out of cell coverage.
14) Old cell phone, fully charged, vac packed so its 100% waterproof. Google maps downloaded for the entire US so no internet necessary. The battery lasts about a year before it gets to about 75%. Then I charge it and re-vac pack it. This is total overkill also. But I use it as backup when I'm hiking, so I keep it in the truck.

One thing about layering. If you are caught on a cool summer night, a fleece will take care of you. If its 40 and blowing, the rains shell with the fleece will take care of you. If its 20 and blowing the fleece, down, and shell will keep you warm.

Its not always about preparing for a life saving emergency. Sometimes its just about being comfortable. I can't tell you how nice it is to put on a dry pair of socks and shoes after getting caught outside in the rain.

Most of this fits in a backpack. The backpack I use is an lands end book bag that carries well. It was one of my kids. Its highly "grey man" with zero tactical look. Its proven itself carrying books much heavier than my stuff.

 

[PlayfulBird]

I'm talking about zippered bags. I won a Maxpedition Med kit bag at a shooting match raffle and its no better than the $13 one I linked to above.

I agree with that also.I just mean dont buy certain items as no name because often they are made cheaply or defective. Same goes for some knockoff stypic powders or bleed stoppers. You don't know what's in them

 

[taintedsaint]

Brilliant. That's why I have a bottle of water in my kit. But this is clearly a better way to do it. Thanks.

Can you give us your basics list? Since you've probably forgotten more than most of us will ever know. ha.

A sharpie should always be in your "pack". But its not part of my first aid kit.

I've got a self rescue bag in my truck that has a bunch of other stuff. My first aid kit is in that bag. The kit includes.

1) a full roll of TP, not just a little bit.
2) Emergency Bourbon - no joke. Its my kit. My stuff.
3) Oxycodone left over from when I had surgery. 20 mg vac packed with a copy of the prescription.
4) Compass
5) Paper maps of the northeast.
6) Fixed blade knife
7) Protein Bars
8) A couple of liters of water
9) Down jacket, Dome Periignon Wind and waterproof beanie (winter only)
10) Rain shell
11) fleece
12) extra socks and an old pair of sneakers
13) Garmin InReach - total overkill, but I have it for hiking so I might as well keep it in the truck. Ive never used it in an emergency but have used it dozens of times to text my wife when I'm out of cell coverage.
14) Old cell phone, fully charged, vac packed so its 100% waterproof. Google maps downloaded for the entire US so no internet necessary. The battery lasts about a year before it gets to about 75%. Then I charge it and re-vac pack it. This is total overkill also. But I use it as backup when I'm hiking, so I keep it in the truck.

One thing about layering. If you are caught on a cool summer night, a fleece will take care of you. If its 40 and blowing, the rains shell with the fleece will take care of you. If its 20 and blowing the fleece, down, and shell will keep you warm.

Its not always about preparing for a life saving emergency. Sometimes its just about being comfortable. I can't tell you how nice it is to put on a dry pair of socks and shoes after getting caught outside in the rain.

Most of this fits in a backpack. The backpack I use is an lands end book bag that carries well. It was one of my kids. Its highly "grey man" with zero tactical look. Its proven itself carrying books much heavier than my stuff.

Beyond the basics listed in all the posts, I would add an inexpensive bedsheet. It can be torn up for padding a splint, torn to strips to tie on a splint, etc.

Various sized banded-aids up to 4x4 gauze pads and ABD pads (abdominal) for big bleeds. Also roll of electrical tape, good for near waterproof wrapping over bandage plus the elastic nature provides compression of the bandage being held in place.

 

[taintedsaint]

Any must-have items you’d recommend? Any other pointers? Sounds like saying you’ve got the experience would be an understatement!

Beyond the basics listed in all the posts, I would add an inexpensive bedsheet. It can be torn up for padding a splint, torn to strips to tie on a splint, etc.

Various sized banded-aids up to 4x4 gauze pads and ABD pads (abdominal) for big bleeds. Also roll of electrical tape, good for near waterproof wrapping over bandage plus the elastic nature provides compression of the bandage being held in place.
Also, more of a skill than a product, learn when to use what bandage. If a wound is juicy more than bloody (surface skin peel, burn, deep scrape) use a bandage with a non-stick layer. If you don't have one, wet a regular bandage with the saline solution. This prevents bandage from sticking. A wound that's deeper and primarily bloody, needs the absorption of an un-coated gauze.

 

[taintedsaint]

The last thing I'll add after my previous replies is knowledge. Knowing WHAT to do is more important than the equipment.
But also important is knowing your buddies. If you regularly wheel with the same folks, know who has a health condition.
Ex:, if you have a friend who is diabetic and starts acting weird, lethargic, mumbling, generally loopy, they may be crashing. Ask them what works for them to raise blood sugar. I use grape jelly. Small squeeze packet, couple spoonfuls, gets sugar up quick. Not sure why but grape works fastest.
If someone carries an epi=pen for whatever allergy, know where they carry it and how to use it.
Also know when you are beyond your ability/supplies. Penetrations to the eye or torso are immediate calls to EMS. Period.

Stay safe.

 

[Lunentucker]

Decades ago I read about they were treating venomous bites and stings in the wilds of Africa with electrical current. The current slowing through the venom chemically neutralizes it by breaking down the protein chains.

About three years ago I got hit by 13 hornets when I unwittingly disrupted their nest. We immediately treated each sting with a 9 volt battery by wetting the site and applying the posts of the battery to either side of the wound. Hold it there until it burns pretty good, then rotate it 90 degrees and repeat.
Within minutes my stings had stopped hurting and I was fine.

This summer I have treated two spider bites with it.
I'm pretty sure the first was either a black widow or brown recluse, as that one was tough to get under control. Took a couple of days to stop the redness and swelling and 6 weeks later I still have a scar, but it's healed up nicely.

There was a doctor who was experimenting with the treatment method and modifying stun guns to be used in the field. I don't think his idea really gained traction in the broader medical community, but as someone who's personally had success with multiple bites and stings, I am a believer.

Maybe the AUX battery has some use after all.

http://venomshock.wikidot.com/

 

[Alans17]

Decades ago I read about they were treating venomous bites and stings in the wilds of Africa with electrical current. The current slowing through the venom chemically neutralizes it by breaking down the protein chains.

About three years ago I got hit by 13 hornets when I unwittingly disrupted their nest. We immediately treated each sting with a 9 volt battery by wetting the site and applying the posts of the battery to either side of the wound. Hold it there until it burns pretty good, then rotate it 90 degrees and repeat.
Within minutes my stings had stopped hurting and I was fine.

This summer I have treated two spider bites with it.
I'm pretty sure the first was either a black widow or brown recluse, as that one was tough to get under control. Took a couple of days to stop the redness and swelling and 6 weeks later I still have a scar, but it's healed up nicely.

There was a doctor who was experimenting with the treatment method and modifying stun guns to be used in the field. I don't think his idea really gained traction in the broader medical community, but as someone who's personally had success with multiple bites and stings, I am a believer.

Maybe the AUX battery has some use after all.

http://venomshock.wikidot.com/

I’ve seen multiple sources specifically saying not to do this, and to just get them to the nearest hospital for antivenin.

 

[dcmdon]

Decades ago I read about they were treating venomous bites and stings in the wilds of Africa with electrical current. The current slowing through the venom chemically neutralizes it by breaking down the protein chains.

About three years ago I got hit by 13 hornets when I unwittingly disrupted their nest. We immediately treated each sting with a 9 volt battery by wetting the site and applying the posts of the battery to either side of the wound. Hold it there until it burns pretty good, then rotate it 90 degrees and repeat.
Within minutes my stings had stopped hurting and I was fine.

This summer I have treated two spider bites with it.
I'm pretty sure the first was either a black widow or brown recluse, as that one was tough to get under control. Took a couple of days to stop the redness and swelling and 6 weeks later I still have a scar, but it's healed up nicely.

There was a doctor who was experimenting with the treatment method and modifying stun guns to be used in the field. I don't think his idea really gained traction in the broader medical community, but as someone who's personally had success with multiple bites and stings, I am a believer.

Maybe the AUX battery has some use after all.

http://venomshock.wikidot.com/

The pain of the bite is just a nuisance. The bigger issue is if a dozen bites trigger some kind of anaphylaxis. Over the counter Benadryl can be used in a pinch to reduce the symptoms. Its not nearly as effective as epinephrine, but in a pinch can help. Use it if its available, but don't allow providing diphenhydramine to slow your progress to help. Its about common sense. If you are in a town 10 minutes from a hospital and the victim is breathing ok, doing nothing is probably best.

If you are on a 20 mile hike and are hours from a trailhead or rescue, and the person is starting to swell, then maybe taking a half dozen Benadryl is a good thing.

the normal maximum dose of Benadryl is 50 mg. The maximum tolerated dose is many many many multiples of that. (roughly 25x standard dose for death) In a situation like yours giving more than the normal max dose might be a good preventative measure.

I'm not going to suggest doses but if you do your research you will find lots of info.

Technically speaking a lethal does of diphenhydramine is 20-40 mg/kg. So if you weigh 150 lbs your lethal does is roughly 1350 to 2700 mg.

 

[LWBrew]

Lots of good information in this thread. I have been looking at a new First Aid bag/setup for the JT recently also. The best advice I have seen in this thread though is to get training. That is vital. All the supplies in the world won't help if you don't know how to use them.

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