First Aid Kit: how to set yours up

Thanks! Hopefully I can finish the first few post after the weekend.

 

That would be great. I know some would definatly like to see how it's setup!

 

Great thread...I keep a pretty well stocked kit in my truck mostly equipped with stuff to stop bleeding. Ill be checking out this post....after the game

 

Soooo......dead topic?

 

Nope still on my radar. Just been dealing with family health and emergency home repairs. Soon I hope!

 

subbed

 

Ok sorry, I finally did some updating and still have some more to come! Ive had a loved one in and out of the hospital recently and between working in the medical field and spending my off days visiting the hospital I just haven't had any desire what so ever to talk about anything medical related in my off time.

So lets get this started!! All comments, questions, discussions welcome!!!


***Coming up lets tear apart the Toyota first aid kit as well as the top of the line kits!

 

Opinions on Adventure Medical Kits?

 

Bump for this extremely useful thread

 

I wasn't familiar with those kits but was able to find the supply list for their biggest kit which cost $200.

• 
  Bandage Materials
• 10 - Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 1" x 3"
• 10 - Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, Knuckle
• 2 - Bandage, Conforming Gauze, 3"
• 2 - Bandage, Stockinette Tubular, 1" x 4"
• 4 - Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2" x 2", Pkg./2
• 4 - Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 4" x 4", Pkg./2
• 4 - Dressing, Non-Adherent, Sterile, 3" x 4"
• 2 - Eye Pad, Sterile
  Bleeding
• 3 - Gloves, Nitrile (Pair), Hand Wipe
• 1 - Instructions, Easy Care Bleeding
• 1 - Trauma Pad, 5" x 9"
• 1 - Trauma Pad, 8" x 10"
  Blister / Burn
• 1 - Aloe Vera Gel with Lidocaine, 1 oz
• 2 - GlacierGel (Small Rectangular)
• 1 - Molefoam, 5" x 6"
• 2 - Moleskin, Pre-Cut & Shaped (14 pieces)
  CPR
• 1 - CPR Face Shield
• 1 - Instructions, Easy Care CPR
  Dental
• 1 - Dentemp, Filling Mixture with Pain Relief
  Duct Tape
• 1 - Duct Tape, 2" x 5 Yards
  Fracture / Sprain
• 1 - Bandage, Elastic with Velcro, 3"
• 2 - Bandage, Triangular
• 1 - Instructions, Easy Care Fracture & Sprain
• 1 - C-Splint™, 4" x 36"
  Instrument
• 1 - EMT Shears, 4"
• 1 - Pencil
• 3 - Safety Pins
• 1 - Splinter Picker/Tick Remover Forceps
• 1 - Thermometer, Digital
  Medical Information
• 1 - Comp. Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine
• 3 - Patient Assessment Form
  Medication
• 5 - Acetaminophen (500 mg), Pkg./2
• 3 - After Bite Wipe
• 1 - Antacid, Pkg./12
• 6 - Antihistamine (Diphenhydramine 25 mg)
• 2 - Aspirin (325 mg), Pkg./2
• 5 - Cold Medicine, Medicidin-D, Pkg./2
• 3 - Cortisone Cream 1%, 1/32 oz (.9 g)
• 6 - Diamode (Loperamide HCI 2 mg), Pkg./1
• 1 - Glutose Paste (Glucose 15 g)
• 5 - Ibuprofen (200 mg), Pkg./2
• 1 - Instructions, Easy Care Medications
• 2 - Oral Rehydration Salts
  Other
• 2 - Dryflex Waterproof Bag, 6" x 9"
• 2 - Plastic Vial, Flip-top, Large
• 2 - Plastic Vial, Flip-top, Small
  Survival Tools
• 1 - Matches, Waterproof
  Suture / Syringe
• 1 - Scalpel, Sterile, Disposable, #11 Blade
  Wound Care
• 6 - Antiseptic Wipe
• 2 - Cotton Tip Applicator, Pkg./2
• 1 - Instructions, Easy Care Wound
• 2 - Povidone Iodine, 3/4 oz
• 1 - Scrub Brush, Sterile
• 1 - Syringe, Irrigation, 20 cc, 18 Gauge Tip
• 1 - Tape, 1" x 10 Yards
• 3 - Skin Tac Adhesive Wipes
• 4 - Triple Antibiotic Ointment, Single Use
• 1 - Wound Closure Strips, 1/4" x 4", Pkg./10

It's not bad for some starter items but $200 is allot for a bunch of band-aids IMO. The haemorrhage control items include 2 larger trauma dressings which are good to have on hand but it's lacking the the functional stuff like a tourniquet and hemostatic gauze.
I also don't like to buy and manage meds in these small QTY packages. For me it's much easier and more cost effective to just refill a porable container from my home medicine cabinet.
There also looks to be a bunch of pointless filler items to bulk the kit up. Things like mole skin, matches and antiseptic wipes are ok to have but a little soap water in a spray bottle will clean better than any "wipe" and duct tape does a better job of preventing blisters IMO.
It does mention some useful instruments that I forgot to mention in my earlier post so I'll try to update with an instrument and diagnostic tool list.

Bottom line imagine pulling this kit out to treat a severe injury. I'd bet most people would yard sale it looking for the few items that might actually help in an emergency. The rest of the stuff is gonna end up lost or in the dirt.

 

Keep this in the back seat pretty much all the time. Between guns, mountain bikes, skiing, etc somebody's bound to get hurt sometime. Cost me less than the ready made kits and much better.

Only really had to use it once during an MVA in So Cal last year, plus doing minor trailhead surgery after a friend OTB'd big time in Park City.

Big bleeder / penetrating stuff on the front along with chemlight + IR strobe:


Front pouch carries my quick grab stuff that I don't wanna open the pack for: CPR Mask, Boo-boo / Ouch Kit, gloves, notepad, TCCC cards


In the main compartment: less urgent med supplies: light, safety pin, tape, shears, gauze, irrigation, hot/cold treatment kits, and splints big and small with vet wrap.
Grey pouch is an IV bag pouch turned into a hypothermia grab bag. 2x Space blankets, handwarmers, tape. Lastly some light reading / references JIC.


close up of main compartments:

 

Holy sh*t, well done. You put some thought into that

 

I operate on the principle that IFAK / Med Kits are to treat ME. I figure a little extra effort is gonna pay off if a friend ever has to start reaching for chest seals & CATs...

 

If you guys go to FB and like the skinny medic page, he posts some good short training videos
I have the basics plus quickclot, TQ's, chest seals, Sam splints,c- collar.
Duct tape and superglue can fix a lot of things. If you use the above pictured duct tape closures apply a small dab of superglue to each end of the closures for added adherence in wet conditions

 

Nice write up!!! Very informative for medical novices.
I do miss the set up I had on the engine.

 

Awesome thread! Looks like I'm missing a lot in my bag.

I appreciate what you do as a fire/emt

 

Sub'd
Cause I need to get on this very soon.

Thanks OP

 

Great looking setup!

 

Chest seals and quickclot? You guys aren't going to war lol.

 

Hunting and shooting negligence, vehicle and equipment crashes, and horse or mule wrecks can all result in terminal bleeds and suckling chest wounds. In my world all are a possibility.