Attn medical people MM,Groin,Ash etc | Page 4 | Emergency Preparedness | Forums

I looked and looked, that ship apparently sailed with one of my many moves. The list above is decent.

Just think about things as 2 different kits
1st kit would be a BLS level jump bag that supports the ABCs
BLS airways (OPA) is never a bad idea to have in a kit. I am not a fan of NPAs, they don't really do much for a PT but make the EMT feel like he did something.
A Pocket mask is essential unless you ONLY plan to render aid to family members. A BVM is great, makes long term support more attainable, but takes up alot of space.
Bandaging materials for bleeding. Commercial stuff is good. Maxi pads work just fine too. A clean t shirt or towel makes a fine LG trauma dressing.
SAM splints are great. You can even fashion a c collar out of one.
Tape, lots of tape.
Triangle bandage- good for slings/crevate. BUT a couple safety pins turn a tshirt into a sling and don't take any space at all.

SO thats your basic first aid kit. Keep it simple and focused on supporting the ABCs for the first hour.

Then you have your 2nd kit (Major Medical)
In this kit you have items to support longer term care
Its mostly going to be drugs and wound closure/long term management.
Sutures are easy, but take a bit of practice. Super glue works, but most people mess it up bu closing the wound completely, which leads to infection. Every time. So if you go that route, remember to leave an end open for drainage. Butterfly bandages work well, you can buy them or make them out of tape.
DRUGS- A touchy area.
In my personal major medical kit I carry
EPI, both cardiac and for allergic reactions
Benedryl
A couple different antibiotics
Versed (a powerful benzo. I keep it in the vent that I need to reduce a dislocation or fracture)
Hydromorphone (7 times stronger than morphine and lasts longer. For MAJOR pain, basically a shattered femur requiring a prolonged evacuation).
Tramadol (A mid level pain medication that, usually, the patient can still function on and participate in their own rescue).
Tylonol for fever
Ibu for mild-moderate pain.
Zofran (Anti nausea, dehydration kills)
Loperomide (Anti diarrehal, dehydration kills)
Betadine swabs (One swab goes into a quart of water, solution should look like weak tea. This is used to pressure irrigate wounds before closure with either a 60cc cath tip syrringe or a bike water bottle.)
IV supplies
These are drugs I can LEGALLY aquire and know how/when to use. What you get & how you get it is on you. I would only caution that NOTHING should ever be in you kit if you aren't trained on how to use it and you arent prepared to face any legal action that comes out of deploying these items. Good samaritan doesn't cover gross negligence.

For wound closure I carry sutures, stables, glue. They all have their place.

I strongly reccomend folks to take a Wilderness First Responder course. Its 10000 times more useful to the average person then an EMT course. EMT courses train EMTs to work off of an ambulance, under the supervision of a physician, and usually assumes that at some point care will be transferred to a higher level provider. For the types of scenarios we discuss around here none of thes things can be assumed. so take a WFR! They are usually a 3-5 day affair. Totally worth the money. I can reccoment both the Wilderness Medical Association (more prominent in the east) and the Wilderness Medical Institute(more prominent in the west). I have taken courses from WMA and can vouch for their quality approach and product. I formerly worked for WMI and can say the same thing. After that you are on your own, There are alot of people offering classes and many are not qualified to feed my dog, despite what they may tell you.

I am trying to be on the boards more lately so feel free to hit me up with any specific questions.