Posted: 3/17/2008 12:51:28 PM EDT
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So would any of the items found in a blow out kit be practical in a back packing first aid kit? I'm sure i'm going to want some of those old od green rags for arm splints, but other than that? Here's what i'm thinking so far: paracord (in order to make splints) C.A.T. Isreali bandage rolled gauze rubbing alcohol 4x4s maybe one of those silver shock blankets. |
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Why would you possably want a tourniquet much less an Israli bandage? Are you backpacking into combat? A couple of4x4s one 4 inch ACE bandage one SAM splint couple of bandaids Training! Basicly your looking at twisted ankles or a broken wrist from a low level fall or cutting yourself with a knife. No need to pack a bunch of crap you don't know how to use properly or even need. |
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Here is what I carry... Alcohol Wipes - 6 Anti Bacterial - 6 Rolled gauze - 1 4x4 - 6 Burn Relief Gel - 2 Chemical Ice Pad - 1 Emergency Blanket - 1 Standard Band-aids - 6 Ibuprofen - 12 Prescription Pain Killers - 8 Anti Diarrhoeal - 6 Razor Blade - 1 Tweezers - 1 Scissors - 1 Suture Kits - 2 (Different Types for different conditions) EPI-PEN - 2 Duct Tape - Wrapped around medicine bottle containing pain pills Glow Stick - 1 (Green) Medical Gloves - 1 Moleskin - 1 Elastic Wrap Bandage - 1 That's my list. Weighs in at approx. 1 lb. I can take care of just about any medical emergency with this kit. If I solo I add a few items to the list such as a Radio or GPS locator. I did this from memory so If I think of more i'll add it later. If you have questions about the contents of my first aid kit, please don't hesitate to ask. |
unless you need epi for yourself or a family member you probably shouldn't bother carrying it....especially if you don't know how and when to admin it. Not only is it expensive and needs to be replaced often, but you can kill someone if you give it at the wrong time. Training is also important, might sound silly but you don't want to know how many times Ive seen someone in the heat of the moment whip out an epi and slam it into someones leg only to shoot a big honkin needle through their own thumb  talk about painful  as far as antibiotics for infections, be careful with what you get. Some become toxic with age and others have a very short life. As far as treating an infection, it will take a day or two for it to set in in the first place, your best bet is to prevent it by keeping all wounds clean and changing dressings frequently. |
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If you need a CAT and Israeli bandage, I hope you brought in enough ammo and the freqs to call in CAS a well. A good place to start would be to carry things you're most likely to endure. i.e. burns, scrapes, stings, bites, cuts, bruises, nausea, diarrhea, joint pain, blisters. 1. Bandaids 2. Neosporin 3. Durapore tape 4. 2x2s 5. Burn gel 6. Sting cream 7. Ibuprofen 8. Alcohol pads 9. Tinctures of benzoine 10. Comb, fine bristle type 11. Tweezers 12. Pepto bismol, chewable 13. Moleskin You can get by with alot less than that in my opinion. I normally just carry moleskin, tape, 2x2's and some pills. If anything were so bad, I hope you'd be equipped in other areas where you would be able to improvise and call for help. |
Rule number one: First do no harm Rule number two: Never EVER put goo on a burn. (OK jackasses, aloe works on sunburn, but dont try to twist this). Comb? DO share please, not being a smart ass this time. Why? |
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If you don't know how to use it correctly, it's dead weight in your pack. Dead weight and misuse of medical supplies = much more possibility for harm than good. Sad fact is, most people know far less than they think they know about injury treatment (I include myself in that group). Go light, go basic, stick with what you know how to use. Think of what kinds of injuries you're likely to encounter. If you happen to be a trauma nurse or EMT on the side, maybe you carry more specialized gear if you feel it necessary. Do you have severe allergies? Take an epi pen or whatever you keep around for such emergencies. Do you plan on hiking in rugged terrain? Ace bandages and/or a light splint might be a good idea. Snake country? maybe a snake bite kit (I have lived and worked around various poisonous snakes all my life and don't carry one... never had a problem avoiding them, but it's up to you) Climate: Extreme heat? pack electrolytes (hell, take them anyway) Cold? Space blanket at least. Swampy wet stuff? anti-fungal stuff. Travelling with women? bring period stuff... and contraceptives if either of you are fertile. Meds? I stick to the basics (ibuprofen, loperamide, benedryl), but I don't require any special meds on a daily basis (lots of folks do). Band-aids, moleskin, couple of larger (4x4) bandages, sterile gloves, and that's about it. Pack light, move fast. Avoid unnecessary risk. No room in my bag for solar-powered defib units, full-on trauma bandages, big packs of drugs I don't know how to use correctly, intubation kits, blood clotters, catheters, rib spreaders, do-it-yourself-colonoscopy kits, or whatever, though I can offload stuff like that to my squad of insta-grow dehydrated sherpas. You do have insta-grow sherpas, right? |
Mine is similarly simple; I don't carry a SAM splint (or any splint) but do have a triangular bandage, also moleskin and liquid bandage (I strongly recommend this for anyone who doesn't walk great distances with any regularity). Also small amounts of a few drugs (iodine tabs for water, Benadryl, ibuprofen, Immodium) and a couple foil packs of antibiotic ointment. These few things will allow you to handle many problems and the weight and space is minimal. Also I would emphasize training as previous posters have done. "NOLS wilderness first aid" book is outstanding IMHO, also many hospitals and schools offer basic firstaid and CPR courses. |
So what you're saying is the burn stuff in my issue IFAK is a no go? Maybe I should have been more specific, water gel, I think it's called... Secondly, I'm from the desert. A comb is a useful tool in the assisstance of removing needles when one decides to have up close and personal relations with a cactus. |
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Ahh, i see. Try duct tape, work mo betta... Water gel, whatever, the Tx for 2nd and above burns is to cool them then cover them with dry dressings. 1st degree, cool and leave em be. I rember a small asian child I was called help, about 3. He had pulled a pan of boiling water off the stove ( no, it was real, not child abuse, I have a radar for this) and had nasty 2nd degree burns on his front half. His Hmong parents, tried to help by putting goo on a burn, could only find red clear closeup tooth paste! So now I have red blisters as well as gobs of red tooth paste to deal with. Try to figure which is burn and which is tooth paste in the dark? It was real fun for all involved. |
Like any first-aid treatment, first rule is do no harm and this one I have intimate experience with, so please, please, learn what you are doing before treating any type of burn. |