Fishing in Brazil I thought that a first aid kit would be a great edition to the dry bag.

In Africa at least the guys I hunt with have a full first aid box in the truck.

But do people carry like a first aid kit in their pack ?

Needs to be something small and light. Any brands or ready made kits I should buy. Will buy few and leave in my truck and car too.

Thanks for any info,

Mike

http://www.survivalfirstaidkit.../shop/first-aid-kits

Check these out mate.

I find most of the ready made kits are overly expensive and loaded with things you will never need for a small kit. I carry the usual bandages, antimicrobial, Doxycycline, pain meds, liquid stitches, quick clot, Israeli bandage and of course Duct Tape - great for those sucking chest wounds...

I haven't been able to find quick clot. Sure would like to have some of that in mine.
I used to keep a 1000mg bottle of Lidocaine, but, can't get it any longer. I've been told there's just too many idiots doing self piercing that Uncle Sam got involved and put a stop to selling it over the counter for anything.
I even tried to get some from a vet for a wire cut horse and he said "not a chance unless he's doing the doctoring".

Only way to buy it from a drug source is with a script. No one will write that, so it's SOL.

I do keep a fair sized multi compartment tackle box as my first aid kit in the car, truck and boat and a small one in the pack.

Good to read this, as we're planning on a hunting trip next week out of state and I need to double check things in it first.

George

Mike - I always cary a couple of clot packs in my vest - anything else would be for a somewhat less serious injury and can be carried back in the cruiser. When you need a clot pack, you REALLY need it, so that is why I carry a couple all the time. You can buy them on E-Bay in a couple of different sizes.

For the stuff that really matters the truck is too far away. Israeli bandages, and a tourniquet along with some gauze to pack the wound. I've done ems for 40 years and people die quickly from a bad bleed.

Talk to Mary Lynn, Mike. She has found a place that will customize a kit to her liking and it is not all that expensive. Of course, she can give you some advice.

Jeff got a pretty good one at Gander Mountain in Lake Mary. He added a few things from his office.

quote:

Originally posted by wwgreener:
For the stuff that really matters the truck is too far away. Israeli bandages, and a tourniquet along with some gauze to pack the wound. I've done ems for 40 years and people die quickly from a bad bleed.

I couldn't agree more. CAT style tourniquets (the best ones have a METAL windlass versus the plastic ones the old CAT's had), an israeli bandage, and a quick clot sponge don't take up too much space and can be a real lifesaver. Add in an asherman chest seal and a decompression needle (10-14ga 3.25-5" angiocath) and most bases are covered for firearms related injuries that are life threatening and possible correctable. (along with proper training that goes with....)

Having done 100's of field surgeries in my fledgling years. I always laugh at most of the stuff I see in commercially available First Aid Kits.

I have made my own...of course it is easy for me...I just go to the office and pack it.

The point of my post is though...unless it was put together by an experienced professional...most kits are a false sense of security.

The kit should also be conformed to the experience of person using it. As a surgeon...I would be able to utilize things that would be a waste of space to others.

This is a really useful thread. Thanks, Lane, for thinking of this. I do a lot of western hunting by myself or with just my son, and after reading this thread, I definitely need to change what I carry for first aid. Fortunately, I've never had an urgent need to use a first aid kit but need to heed the advice of some of you, just in case I ever do.

Don't laugh but I carry a couple tampons. In an emergency like a gun shot they can be used effectively.

quote:

Originally posted by Johnny reb:
Don't laugh but I carry a couple tampons. In an emergency like a gun shot they can be used effectively.

I won't laugh, that's an excellent idea.

I always carry one-one in vehicle and a small one in a day pack.

Thesis not a bad start--add quick clot and duct tape and its pretty good till you figure out your own precise needs.I personally ad some meds, both pain and anti biotic. and like lane said--you can get many of the same things from a vet, just a lot cheaper than the pharmacy.

You can buy all sorts of quick clot-powder , pads or the new injectable sponges on-line easily.

Its my understanding that the Idea of the tampons came from Navy SEALS, but thats only anecdotal evidence.

Adventure Medical makes about the 'best' kit you can buy without actually making one yourself.

https://www.adventuremedicalkits.com

My rule of thumb when deciding what to take in a small kit: Medication is impossible to improvise in the field, while bandages, dressings, splints, etc can almost always be improvised.

For those traveling to Africa, I strongly suggest that you carry a course of Doxycycline. You are far more likely to get tagged by a scorpion or bitten by a fiddleback spider (Brown recluse) or contract tick bite fever than you are a sucking chest wound or loss of a limb. I got tagged by a scorpion last year and almost again last week. If you immediately start on the Doxy (remember to double your first dose) you can significantly lessen the complications due to infection. Unfortunately, Doxy does nothing for the pain. A few hydrocodone and a shot or six of scotch help that...

Your PH will generally have the bandages and tourniquets, however few will have antibiotics and pain meds.

Remember to check the expiration dates on everything, including QuikClot and Israeli bandages.

There have been many iterations of the QuikClot products. Currently the sponge makes most sense to me for packing a serious wound, and I still have a couple of the tri-fold impregnated bandages - the earlier roller bandage type are next to useless, as is the original powder which generated heat, but these may all be expired by now.

All can be purchased at REI and via internet, as can Israeli bandages and G.I tourniquets.

A handful of the antiseptic soaked wipes, is very nice for cleaning up the inevitable scratches on one's legs, especially if wading in the water has been part of the day.

A small bottle of peroxide or Hibiclens is also not a bad thing.

Anybody have any experience with the collagen "hemostats". 2"x 2" squares, supposed to slap 'em on and bandage over them, they'll dissolve and stop anything short of arterial bleeding (supposedly).

What about tampons in the kit? Yes, that's a serious question.

The tampons can be used too plug a hole(gunshot) and thy can absorb quite a bit of blood. Maxi pads can also be used with a pressure bandage of some sort.