For a proper survival kit, what about First Aid?

August 13, 2009 | self

[Bean Counter]

I have participated in some limited discussions here at FR about preparedness issues and I have always found the responses to be extremely helpful, so I thought a focused discussion issue would be appropriate.

What is an adequate level of preparedness when it comes to First Aid?? Where do you strike an acceptable balance that is right for your situation, fits your budget and fits your personal skills and comfort level?

When it comes to preparedness issues, the first thing any expert tells you is to make a plan that fits your needs and personal situation. A retired couple has different needs than a couple in their late 20's with 2 kids and a third on the way.

My personal focus has been on acquiring and stocking our pantry, addressing home safety and arms issues. Our plan is based on survive in place for one year.

How much First Aid should I plan for? We have a decent first aid kit in the house with different bandaids in it, and both of our cars have a good First Aid/Survival kit in them. For the 1 year emergency kit I am considering something like the following:



Without divulging any websites or brand names, that is what is generically referred to as a "First Responder Kit". It contains:

Contents Include:

* (3) 1"x3" Fabric bandages, 16/bx
* (6) 3"x3" Gauze dressing pads, (3) 2-pks
* (20) 4"x4" Gauze dressing pads, (10) 2-pks
* (3) 5"x9" Trauma pads
* (2) 8"x10" Trauma pads
* (1) 12"x30" Multi-trauma dressing
* (2) Super Stop� bandages
* (2) 4" Conforming gauze roll bandages
* (1) 6" Conforming gauze roll bandage
* (4) 36" Triangular sling/bandage, w/2 safety pins
* (24) Alcohol cleansing pads
* (12) Povidone-iodine infection control wipes
* (2) 3"x5 yd. Latex free elastic bandages
* (1) 1"x10 yd. Waterproof tape, plastic spool
* (1) 3"x10 yd. Porous cloth athletic tape roll
* (1) 4"x5" Instant cold compress
* (2) 6"x9" Instant cold compresses
* (1) Water-Jel® Burn Jel� burn relief, 4 oz. plastic squeeze bottle
* (4) Sterile eye pads
* (1) Eye wash, 4 oz.
* (1) Eye wash, 8 oz.
* (1) 24"x24" Biohazard bag, 10 gallon capacity
* (4) 10"x12" Ziplock bags
* (2) CPR one-way valve faceshields, latex free
* (1) 52"x84" Emergency blanket
* (8) Exam quality vinyl gloves, 4 pairs
* (1) 7-1/4" Utility shears
* (1) 3-1/2" Deluxe tweezers, stainless steel
* (1) First aid guide


This particular kit retails for about $180

It appears to me to be a good start for the basis of a decent emergency response kit, and we are talking about use in an extreme emergency. The fact it is in a flexible bag means it will likely hold at least twice as many supplies that come in it. We have several good medical supply outlets here, so additions are available.

What to add??

I would consider this kit (or one like it) a good place to start or a plan to deviate from. For example, I would augment it with any number of additional supplies like suture kits, and as many surplus stainless steel instruments (forceps, tweezers, etc...) as I could find at the local County Fair or Flea Market.

Is there a better way to go?

For example, you can buy an empty bag and put your own custom kit together if you like.

Is it easier to start with the basics like this, or would you be paying too much money ($180 US) for things you may never use?

Would you be better off putting a kit together yourself, or is it wise to rely on someone else's expertise in order to get started?

[killjoy]

http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/

[taxcontrol]

I use aloe vera for treating burns. Works for me.

[smokingfrog]

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/clay60.html

Don’t forget the vodka.

[concentric circles]

The kit you listed is a good starting point for discussion but it is over priced and incomplete.

I can’t believe there is no antibiotic cream included. There are not nearly enough gauze pads for cleaning wounds. You’re over paying for a small number of alcohol wipes when you should really just buy a few bottles of alcohol and a good supply of gauze pads. What will you use for a splint if someone breaks a bone?

I would purchase a Boy Scouts of America first aid merit badge booklet, find the list of supplies recommended there, and make a trip to a pharmacy or discounter. The booklet is a great, inexpensive primer on first aid as well.

[blackbart.223]

"Suture material and needle are handy to have. Just like the scalpel. You’ll know when you need them."

And if you don't bad things can happen. Do you know how to make a suture knot? It isn't easy if you don't. If you pull it to tight you just defeated the purpose. Too loose the same result. A butterfly bandage is a better risk.

[Keith Brown]

Boxes of maxi pads,
a flashlight for your kit,
two blankets that can be washed
bleach
Quik clot http://www.z-medica.com/quikclot/hemostat_quikclot.asp
Tweezers.
Lots of rubber gloves.
A lathe sheild mask or goggles.

[Keith Brown]

listerine
floss
a mirror
instant cold packs

[blackbart.223]

"I use aloe vera for treating burns. Works for me."

At what point do apply it and what degree is the burn? Let's look at grilling a steak. You take the steak off the grill. Most cooks think "tenting" the steak is a good idea because it keeps on cooking. Anything that keeps the heat in a burn only does more damage.

[Prodigal Son]

Whatever man. Hospitals are all gone. Doctor is not for a week’s walk in any direction. You need sewing up. Or maybe it’s just your horse, or dog or whatever. Best to have sutures.

Maybe you’ve just had a limb amputated. You know? Maybe you’ve got an injury that tape just isn’t going to cut it with. If you’re in a ‘civilization no longer exists’ sort of scenario, you’re better to have the sutures than not. If you don’t feel comfortable using them, you don’t have to. But if you get in a situation where you’re absolutely certain what you need is sutures and you don’t have it- you’re screwed yeah?

[taxcontrol]

First or second degree burns, after the surface temp is returned to normal... i.e. post incident topical pain relief.

[blackbart.223]

"If you don’t feel comfortable using them, you don’t have to."

I know how to use them. Most don't. Advising someone who does not is not very responsible on your part. Having said that if you have said suture items you may encounter someone who knows how to use them.

[blackbart.223]

"First or second degree burns, after the surface temp is returned to normal."

That is what I was looking for. But just not surface temp. Below the surface. Cold water has worked for me the few times I suffered a minor burn.

[Prodigal Son]

Having said that if you have said suture items you may encounter someone who knows how to use them.

Exactly. It's always better to have something than not. Yeah? For want of a safety pin, the ship was lost. (or however that particular one goes) I mean, I wouldn't want an amateur cutting on me or trying to sew me up, but if it was my only shot at survival I'm going to take it.

I hate it when professionals say 'just leave that stuff to the people that know how'. It's condescending. Maybe the American settlers should never have ventured west because it was irresponsible of them to go without doctors, dentists, mechanics etc etc. You may as well say people shouldn't have guns if they haven't gone through an acredited course on using them and safety. Better to have a gun and never need it than to need it and not have it. Same with the sutures.

It's like, if someone is laying there not breathing and their heart is stopped, should the bystander just shrug his shoulders because he hasn't been to the CPR class or should he try to fake the funk if it's pretty clear there is no other option? Me, I say fake the funk- you might get lucky and get a choke and a pulse. Better than letting the person die.

And to be clear, we're talking about situations here where hospital and doctors are not an option.

[taxcontrol]

aloe vera as a gel has an evaporative cooling effect if applied in a then layer and exposed to the air (not bandaged). This can lower surface temperature a degree or two. That is one of the ways it provides “fast” relief.

But again, not until the heat is removed and temp has come down.

[blackbart.223]

"You may as well say people shouldn't have guns if they haven't gone through an acredited course on using them and safety."

I said no such thing. I just said think before you act. As to weapons the same thing applies. I own quite a few. There if I need them but I know how to use them if the need arises. Government did not teach me that, My father did.

[blackbart.223]

"But again, not until the heat is removed and temp has come down."

My point. Cool the burn first. What you do after that is up to you.

[goat granny]

I have also read that having a supply of the thick sanitary napkins are good to have it one has a large bleeding wound..They are clean but not sterile....Could be used as dressings or to stop bleeding......

[reformedliberal]

We are preppers. One of the things we have been discussing is security in place.

Now, we live on a county road, in a valley and there is no way we could ever have security on our perimeter. We were talking with a friend who lives alone, on a dead end road on ridge. We spoke enviously of his position. He pointed out that there is one of him, he has to sleep, like everyone else, and he, too, can become ill. At that point, anyone could approach his place overland or through the one road access and he could lie there dead for days before anyone had any idea anything had happened.

So, we question a bunker miles from anywhere as a safe haven. Even with co-operative neighbors and a road easily blocked in two places, we can see many vulnerabilities in protecting ourselves.

As to the First Aid packs, the convenience may justify the price. However, when I checked out several prepared packs, it seemed to me they were heavy on inexpensive bandages and the entire kit could be made better if one bought the items individually.

As to sutures and dealing with major trauma, I would echo those who say get paramedic training. For us, we have a group of friends, several of whom have pre-1964 vehicles that would survive an EMP, one of whom is former Ranger Corpsman, now a vet and another is a rancher who is also an MD. My husband and I have CPR training, we know anatomy and understand controlling bleeding, antisepsis and temporary bone setting. We understand butterfly bandaging, but have never had to do it. I am much smaller than him and could never move him in case it was necessary. Stroke, heart attack, kidney stones, ruptured appendix or gall bladder....there are simply a lot of medical situations where even a trained medical professional will be hampered by lack of tools, images and all the infrastructure they are used to at present. So, we are all relying on a network for things beyond our ability to handle. We have decided that a communication system for all of us is very important, but are unsure what might still work in extreme cases. I have read that a nuke causes a lot of local static as the cloud moves over various areas, not to mention the EMP situation.

I have to add that times could become very tough, no matter what any of do. One physician told me that even freeze-dried penicillin only has a 3-year shelf life and that he thinks his major contribution to a survival situation would be cutting firewood. Granted, he was being overly negative, but it is something to keep in mind.

There is no way to guarantee anything, even if we can shift the odds a tad in our own direction. Tools and the ability to use them, along with the creativity to improvise with a variety of skills, might be the best way to think about preparations. It is easiest to stockpile whatever you can, but, in a long emergency, knowing how to use what you have, can find to salvage or trade, might be the best way to prepare. The initial situation will absolutely be changed as time goes on by weather, illness, accident, acts of violence by others or acts of war. All the arms/ammo in the world are useless if you get taken out first, for example.

[Cold Heart]

I was trained (and authorized, shipboard) to do suturing but always used butter fly with great results. The palm of the hand is a tough one for butterfly but with a little enginuity (it was on an engineer too:) I achieved near scarless results.

[Cold Heart]

Pre 1964 vehicles, I think Obama just bought up & scrapped a bunch of them.

My horses & mountain bikes will have to fill in:)