[Bean Counter]

What I am looking for are suggestions on what constitutes a proper First Aid preparedness kit if one were preparing to go it alone for a year in a real emergency, and where the best place is to get one.

Something between the First Aid kit in the pantry and a full blown M*A*S*H is where the answer lies, and that is what I am seeking here.

I should state that I have had a number of good, basic First Aid courses through out my professional career, and I would be pretty comfortable handling an emergency.

Keep in mind we are talking about what are considered relatively minor injuries today, that in a real survival situation could be life threatening without basic treatment. We're talking general wide application of "routine" emergency medical treatment, including suture of wounds if needed.

If you have a specific product you want to recommend please feel free to PM me so we keep any advertising out of the thread. I think this a great issue to discuss, and I suspect there is a lot of practical knowledge out there to share.

Price is always a consideration, but I do not want to "cheap out" on something this important, either.

Thanks!

[JimBianchi11]

While the kit is invaluable, get the most advanced training you can. CPR, Advanced First Aid, and wilderness survival training will focus on it also. Train, Train Train. It will save your life when it counts.

[Secret Agent Man]

Get dental care items, especialy painkillers and temp fillings.

[lack-of-trust]

while FR is a great resource...

learn from experts.
Contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross. become a volunteer with them and get all the free training you have time for.
same goes for your state equivalent of FEMA.

you will know what to pack in your first aid kit based on the training you will have received.

[Lawdoc]

I would take a trip to your local fire station/EMS station and look at what they carry on their ambulances. Not only what they carry, but how its packed. Talk to an experienced medic. They usually love to help people with stuff like this.

[TheArizona]

I have a place in the Arizona mountains where I used to deer hunt as a kid. I have enough food, vitamins, supplements, and water to keep my wife and 2 kids alive for about a year. Also included is medical supplies, antibiotics, and disinfectants.

I also have an arsenal of weapons and a huge stockpile of various munitions. I believe we could survive for several years between the stockpiled provisions and the ability to live off the land.

Your emergency kit should include more than medical supplies. You need a place to go that is secluded and remote to keep the enemy (the government, Mexicans, Russians, Chinese, Central and/or South American Communists or Muslims) from coming after you. Not to mention the hordes of unprepared people (left wingers) who will try steal your food. At some point, I hope to move my “safe room” to Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, or Alaska. However due to weather concerns, Arizona may be the better choice.

My dad told me long ago that some day they will come for me and to always be ready, vigilant, and take responsibility for my family. I always thought going hunting was just fun thing to go do when I was a kid. I have feeling my father was really preparing me for what was coming.

I hope this helps.

TheArizona

[Cold Heart]

Anti-fungals,anti-septics, anti- diareals, electrolytes, anti-histamines, cold medicines,,,,,

I see someone added dental.

Injuries are not the only health concerns

[taxcontrol]

In order of precedence:

For now:
Medic / EMT / First Aid training from a competent instructur
Medical DVD (http://www.amazon.com/Basic-First-Aid-Artist-Provided/dp/B0006MGQSM) or similar
First Aid book (http://www.amazon.com/American-Cross-First-Safety-Handbook/dp/0316736465)

SHTF kit:
Sports bag / duffle bag. Put the M3 bag inside.
M3 medic bag - about $60 from military suplus / US Calvary etc

Ziplock square storage containers to hold medicines
Over the counter meds (pepto-bismal, aspirin, fiber pills, diarrhea pills, Benadril, calamine lotion, burn cream, saline, etc) in zip lock containers
Prescription meds in zip lock containers

1 gallon zip lock bags for the following:
Small hand towels
antibacterial soap
Rubbing Alchol, Hydrogen Peroxide
Extra bandages, tape, neosporin, etc
Extra sprain bandages
Duct tape (big roll)
extra scissors
pen, paper

[blackbart.223]

What I would do is take that list and see what the individual items cost if you purchased them on your own. The burn gel bothers me a bit. I don't think you need that. The best way to deal with burns as a first responder is to cool it down with a dressing and cool water. Sterile saline solution is even better. Some burn “remedies” hold the heat in causing more damage.

The items missing here are slpints. You may very well need one in case of fracture. They are however easy to improvise if needed.

I worked as a paramedic so I know what I am talking about.

[killjoy]

Look into the kits offered by Adventure Medical Kits . In particular, the larger kits offered. They are much better stocked with usable equipment than the one you posted. Also look into either Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder courses. A Red Cross First Aid course is close to useless in a survival situation.

[MamaDearest]

You might want to read FReeper Appalachian_Dweller’s homepage for excellent survival mode info.

[beaversmom]

I read somewhere, probably on FR, to include Maxi-pads to use as bandages.

[Prodigal Son]

Maybe I didn’t see it in the list but...

Scalpel. If you’re needing this survival kit because civilization is sort of broken down, I think you need a blade. It’s not like you’re wanting to do surgery on yourself or others yet if it comes to it, you’d rather have it than not.

Also, IV catheter needle. My ex-wife was a surgeon (well she still is- she’s just not my wife anymore lol ;-) Anyway, she always kept one of these on her person. It’s really almost a hollow scalpel, the end of it is really a wee blade. She used to do all sorts of on the spot mini-surgeries with these things. It got to be where I was afraid to show her a splinter in my hand because she’d whip this IV needle out and commence to dig it out.

But yeah... Something to cut with. And as long as you’ve opted for something to cut with, might as well get something to suture with as well. Roll of catgut and a couple of suture needles.

[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.

[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

[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.

[csmusaret]

What would you use for emergency water purification? Boiling might not always be an option.

[Ramius]

I went through this exercise a couple of years ago. I wanted a good SHTF medical kit to carry in my vehicle... more than just a first-aid kit. Most first-aid kits are just too lightweight.

I got some professional-level supplies, battle dressings, field surgery stuff... quickclot... honestly I overdid it a little and have pared the kit back since my first try. I’ll see if I can find my list and post it. But I’ve got a killer med kit now.

[Brytani]

How does one acquire prescription medications for a home med kit give the reluctance of doctors to write prescriptions for undiagnosed problems?

antibiotics
pain relievers
For women especially, changes in water/sanitary conditions etc can lead to yeast as well as UTI’s. While the OTC stuff is good, prescription meds do the job much better especially when talking UTI’s.
Topical anesthetic for stitches/burns etc. (imagine trying to stitch your dog or small child without numbing the area first)

I realize there are many natural cures for most ailments however a good supply prescription meds should be part of a survival kit.

So, how do does one go about getting these items?