What first-aid items are you stocking up on, and how much?

[Nickelless]

I realized a couple days ago that I had a year's worth of food but not a heck of a lot in terms of first-aid type items. I'd bought a first aid kit for about $20 from Sam's Club a while back but realize now that I'd better stockpile a lot more than that. What are you guys stocking up on first aid-wise and how much?

[argentos]

I've said this before many times on many boards, but maybe not here:
The best First Aid Kit is a pair of hands connected to a brain that has been taught First Aid, so sign up for a course if you haven't already done so.

A bloody, messy, living person is a much better outcome than a beautifully disinfected, splinted and bandaged corpse. I know it takes time, effort and money to learn First Aid, but if you do not know at least how to open an airway you will lose people unnecessarily. The idea of having a book to work from when a serious illness or injury occurs is not often effective. If you do try to work from a manual rather than from your brain, it will all take too long and you will tend to follow the daft suggestions that ignorant onlookers seem compelled to make in an any emergency situation.

[5150female]

We found alot of supplys at good prices online at California Veterinary Supply. Think outside of the box when looking around there. Eye and ear medications, syringes, foreceps, bandages, as well as things like 250 / 500 mg Amoxi. and other antibiotics for your fish (of course).

Also aside from the standard, we picked up a Field Suture kit from Emergency Essentials. It was right around $40.00.

[Thornapple]

Since this is medical I don't want to suggest anything as I'm not a doctor or medical person. But I will tell you my list and thoughts on first aid and you can take what you like from that.

My thoughts on most first aid kits is that they are a total joke and rip off. If you look in most first aid kits all you get is a bunch of boo boo bandages, a tube of neosporin, and maybe a small bottle of alcohol. That being the case if you do decide to go with a pre-made kit, get a really good trauma kit and expect to pay $100-$200 for it.

Another thing to consider is that modern medical supplies often have pre-packaged one use items that are designed to keep things sterile but also to jack up the price and charge more. Do you really need pre-packaged antiseptic wipes? When you can just use alcohol or iodine on a cotton ball or swab and make 500X what you get in the pre-packged wipes? Keep that kind of stuff in mind. Better to stock up basic items that are multi-use than to buy lots of pre-packaged things that are one use then you’re out. Think like a doctor stocking stuff 50 years ago, not today. (Not that I’m against the modern pre-packaged stuff, its fine and might be handy for a backpack or car trunk. Just overly expensive and extra to store.)

Next thing to consider is the intention of the kit. A first aid kit is just that, first aid. Its usually intended to do something very basic so that you can get the person to a doctor/hospital where the real medical work will be done. But in a SHTF situation that’s not possible. Even if you have a doctor or medical person with you, you’ll have to have the supplies to do the full medical job. What you want then is to have general purpose medical supplies and a medical kit that can do the full job if needed. With that in mind here is my list below. Its not exhaustive, and there are likely other items to add. (Note I avoid modern digital stuff that requires batteries if possible so that they’ll always work.)

1. US Army Medical Handbook - This is a great book loaded with information. Its kind of a compressed bible of medical knowledge. If you have nothing else make sure you have a book like this. It contains how much of what drug to give someone, images of what to look for under a microscope to ID germs, infections, diseases, etc. Its great reading for a basic handbook. You can get it at Amazon.com for $25 or so. Might be a good idea to buy 2 or 3 copies even and keep them in multiple places.

2. Two bright headlamps (LED might be good as they last longer), at least one bright lamp/flashlight that can be held manually or hung overhead so it shines straight down, and a cheap pen light for checking eye dilation, throats, ears, and other orifices.

3. Blood pressure cuff, non digital
4. Two thermometers, non digital
5. Stethoscope
6. Stopwatch or ordinary watch, mechanical wind up type

7. Surgical Kit - Make sure it has a scalpel with extra blades, tweezers/forceps, 2 or more hemostats, scissors. If its got extra stuff like probes or suture stuff that's gravy, but I wouldn’t say no to them. (Sportsmans Guide or Cheaperthandirt has them)

8. Suture needles of various sizes. If you can’t find these then standard sewing needles are just fine, get a large pack of various sizes including quilting sizes (Walmart has a nice sewing section)

9. Suture thread if you can find it, otherwise pure 100% silk thread

10. Alcohol and Iodine Disinfectant, you won’t get more easily so large bottles or multiple small bottles. Also witch hazel astringent is handy to have.

11. Bag of cotton balls and a large pack of Qtips or cotton swabs

12. Razor with extra blades, also having a couple of nice straight razors is nice as you can use them for medical purposes as well as shaving.

13. Needle nose pliers and locking pliers (multiple uses)
14. Small hunting bone saw
15. Sponges large package.
16. Masks and you can use them for airborne contaminates as well.
17. Syringes, IV tubing, and glass IV bottles if you can get them.
18. Splints or material to make splints out of
19. Box of latex gloves and a box of plastic gloves.

20. At least 100ft paracord to use as tourniquets as well as a variety of other uses during an emergency. You can also buy off the shelf medical tourniquets. Paracord can also be used to tie someone down if needed.

21. Asprin, Ibuprofen, antidiarrheal, benadryl (or other antihystamine), anti-Itch lotion (calamine), and triple antibiotic cream. You may of course, find other off the shelf drugs you want to store. I won’t go into a long list of them, but these are the minimum. Also note that if you can store better pain killers and particularly oral antibiotics it would be great. But that's not off the shelf so you’d have to find a way to get your hands on some. Some of that you might be able to get from Veterinarian supply.

22. Large package of plain Dial antibacterial soap. Keep this for medical use only. If you want soap for other daily usage then have a separate supply.

23. Two wool blankets, try to get 60% wool or higher. You might have these for other general usage too. Those metallic emergency blankets are nearly useless unless you can get them right up on your skin. Having a couple couldn’t hurt for pack or trunk usage in an emergency, but don’t depend on them for anything.

24. Surgical bandage tape. You can use this for taping up hands and feet too so you might want to get extra. If you’ve got people walking long distances, taping up balls of feet and heels will prevent blisters on folks not used to walking so much.

25. Bandages. Ok I’m not going to list everything here because this is a huge selection of items. So use your common sense in picking out what you need. Once again might be better to go with large pad and spools of bandages and gauze that can be cut to various lengths and sizes than specific pre-packaged sizes. You might want to look at the listing of a full size trauma kit to get a good list of bandages, pads, gauze, etc. Plaster is also good to have to combine with them to make casts.

26. QuikClot Blood Clotting kit and liquid stitches. Did I say not to buy pre-packaged stuff? No, I said to buy multi-use stuff when you can. Here are two pre-packaged items that are great for stopping bleeding fast or closing wounds with no sutures.

Is that it? Probably not there are other things to consider. But that's my list. I too would be interested in other suggestions to add to the list.

[argentos]

I too would be interested in other suggestions to add to the list.

On the First Aid, rather than the Medical side: a dozen old fashioned triangular bandages, or the idea of making some out of whatever cloth is around. They can be used, singly or in combination, to bandage any part of the body, to make any sort of upper limb sling, or as padding.

[Jimfrancisco]

Celox. I carry one in my car for crashes, and one in my chainsaw bag, and one in my general bag. A little pouch, takes nothing to carry, but can save a life. Not the cheapest, but the best. And the usual first aid stuff.

[Jimfrancisco]

Oh and a hacksaw with the blade in an alcohol soaked cloth - you never know when you might have to. But let's think of happier times!

[brewer]

Thornapple, thanks for a great thread, it looks like you covered many of the basics needs..
I have to wonder if folks realize emergency home treatment is just the first step to healing and recovery for an injury.

[ONG]

Folks my wife and I have taken several classes, one of which was put on by Ohio State. That being said we are no means pros. We would be your last choice today, but SHTF you may be glad to see us coming over the hill. Anyhow I have compiled an outline as I plan to teach a class to friends and family in October. I thought you might like to see the outline. If you have any questions please ask away, it will help me prepare for the class.

ONG

Austere Wilderness Medicine


1.) First aid priorities. In a civilian environment. (when would we typically be needed to help?)
a. Airway is the 1st priority, is it open?
b. Breathing, is it relatively normal?
c. Circulation, is the patient bleeding?
d. Call 911 (at least by now)
e. Cervical & spine, is a neck collar called for?
f. Comfort, is the patient as comfortable as we can get him?
2.) Combat or Wilderness priorities. (No 911 available or they are not going to show up for a very long time.
a. Circulation, bleeding to death is the #1 cause of death on the battle field.
b. Pneumothorax, any guesses what that is?
c. Airway is it open?
d. Comfort, treat for shock, stabilize fractures.
e. Cervical & spine, is a neck collar called for? 92% of the time no treatment is necessary

3.) A. Stop the bleeding.
a. Direct pressure, lots of pressure! Lace your fingers and squeeze for 10 or 15 minutes. Or if on a larger surface area put the palm of one hand on the back on your other hand and press down, using the weight of your body. Of course place a gauze pad over the wound if one is available. If the wound is still bleeding, Practice applying pressure.
b. Israeli bandage. Practice applying Israeli bandage.
c. Tourniquet as a last resort, if pressure does not work. If there is spurting blood, arterial, stop it with a tourniquet, apply pressure for 10 to 15 minutes….slowly release tourniquet has the bleeding stopped? If not repeat. When placing tourniquet place it 2”-3” above the wound not on a joint. If you use a tourniquet for less than 2 hours there is minimal damage to the tissue below the tourniquet. If there is medical care available do not remove tourniquet let the hospital do that. Of course if bleeding has stopped you can loosen the pressure. If there is no medical care available our goal is to convert to another type of dressing with in 2 hours. If still bleeding you may retighten up to 6 hours, after 6 hours do not loosen as waste products from the dying cells can cause toxic shock. Tourniquets are very painful, if you have any non aspirin blood thinner pain relief make it available to the patient. Practice applying tourniquet.both store bought and home made.
d. If due to wound location you can not use a tourniquet use a haemostatic agent.
e. Quick Clot 1st generation
f. ACS (which is more powerful) 2nd generation. The problem with Quick Clot and ACS is that they generate huge amounts of heat. Techs have received 2nd degree burns while holding the covered sponges in place. Then the wound needs debridement.
g. Celox powder, 3rd generation, no heat is generated. Made from potatoes.
h. Celox gauze, 4th generation. Best so far. Pack Celox gauze into open wound and apply pressure.
i. If no haemostatic agent is available, simply pack wound with compressed gauze and apply pressure.
j. Practice applying pressure.

4.) Sucking chest wound or Tension Pneumothorax
a.)Recognize the symptoms of a sucking chest wound, which is usually at least 1” hole or larger. This injury is caused by an object that enters the chest wall and possibly the lung; such as a bullet or knife, even being impaled by a stick. The symptoms are the obvious penetration of the object, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and blood that has a frothy appearance. The frothy appearance comes from air mixing with the blood. You may also hear a sucking sound, which is why it's named "sucking chest wound." Air is being sucked into the lung cavity and trapped inside putting pressure on both the good and injured lung, if not treated death may result. Breathing is becoming harder, skin is turning blue. You may notice tracheal deviation, the adams apple movers away fro the injured side.
b.)Call 911 immediately so help can be on it's way while you are treating the sucking chest injury.
c.)If 911 is available, or if you can get the injured person to medical help, leave the penetrating object in the chest, do not remove it. Removing the object can cause further damage to the chest or lung
d.)Cover the sucking chest wound with an airtight seal. This is the most important thing you can do to save the life of the injured person. Find Saran wrap, cellophane, foil, petrolatum gauze, or anything that will not allow air to enter the chest cavity. Cut the material you are using for an airtight seal at least two inches larger than the wound. The airtight seal needs to be larger than the wound so it doesn't get pulled into the wound.
e.)Tape the top and both sides of the airtight seal to the skin. Leave the bottom part of the seal untaped to allow air to escape but not enter the wound. If the chest injury is in a form that you can't tape in this way, seal the sucking chest wound with the airtight seal and tape all around, leaving a flap open near the bottom.
f.) If 911 is not coming or you think they won’t get there in time we need to decompress the chest cavity. Count down and find the space between the 2nd and 3rd rib. Find it on your own chest, it takes a bit or pressure and is uncomfortable. Next take a IV catheter at least a 14 gauge by 2” best is a 12 gauge by 3”. Insert the needle all the way, underneath the 2nd rib. You should hear the compressed air whistling out of the chest cavity. Remove the needle leaving the softer outer covering to hold the wound open. If needle clogs with gunk before the decompression is completed, you may need to reinsert the needle.
g.) a less effective way to decompress the chest is to burp the chest. Insert finger into wound, (to keep it from sealing off) and push on chest forcing the trapped air out.
h.)Apply a clean bandage to the wound if possible, this will keep the chest injury as clean as possible. If you don't have a bandage nearby, use a clean towel or wash cloth. Stabilize the protruding object with towels or a heavy material to keep it from moving and causing further injury. Don't tape the bandage to the object, just stabilize it.
i.)Use direct pressure on the wound after a dressing or towel has been applied. Be careful not to move the airtight seal while applying pressure. Applying direct pressure for five minutes will help slow the bleeding; don't use too much force.
j.)Turn the injured victim onto his side, placing the injured side closest to the ground. By placing the victim on his injured side, the good lung will be protected and it will be easier for the victim to breathe. If this position is uncomfortable, help the victim into a sitting position with something to lean on. This will help the victim breathe easier.
5.) Airways.
a.) Patient is not breathing. Tilt the head back lift the chin. Make sure the tongue has not been swallowed. Have someone lie down on floor and demonstrate. If the person is breathing but having problems move the person around to find the position that provides the best/easiest breathing.
b.) If there is face or sinus injuries insert a nasopharyngeal airway kit. Ask for volunteers. John Farnam recommends inserting one of these when ever the patient is not strong enough to fight you off.
c.) A horizontal chrichcothyrotomy.
• Can't intubate (insert nasopharyngeal tube)
• Can't ventilate
• Severe facial or nasal injuries (that do not allow oral or nasal intubation)
• Massive midfacial trauma
Locate the adams apple. Feel the bump on top, the bump on the bottom in between these bumps :
1. With a scalpel, create a 1 cm horizontal incision through the skin and the cricothyroid membrane between the two bumps.
2. Open the hole by inserting the scalpel handle into the wound and rotating 90 degrees or by using a clamp
3. Insert a 6 or 7 mm Internal Diameter tracheostomy tube or endotracheal tube
4. Determine if ventilation was successful (bilateral ausculation and observing chest rise and fall)
5. No attempt should be made to remove the tracheostomy or endotracheal tube in a prehospital setting.

6. Wound Cleansing.
a.)Flush with copious amounts of clean water. You can use a large clean syringe or even poke a small hole in a water bottle.
b.) Flush with Properly diluted iodine type cleansing agent.
C. Flush with water again.
7. Wound Closures.
a. Steri strips for shallow cuts where no flesh has been removed as in a chain saw cut. These work like butterfly bandages only better.
b. Apply Benzoin Tincture around but not in the wound. This will allow the Steri strips to stick much better.
c. A staple gun if one is available make sure that a staple remover is available, if not you will need to cut each staple in half to remove. While this is by far the easiest way to close a wound you may have a larger scar than using the steri strips or sutures.
d. Sutures. If available use ldocaine 1ml per lb. if the ldocaine that you have contains epinephrine do not use on extremities as this may cut off blood circulation and your whatever may fall off. Inject every ½” just under skin until bump is raised. I ldocaine is not available you can inject Benadryl under the skin or use ice to numb the skin surface.
e. Pick up the book Wounds & Lacerations by Alexander Trott. Recommended in several of the classes that we took and interesting reading.
f. Do not close deep puncture wounds or bites. Does everyone have their tetanus shots current and up to date?

8. Shock, keep patient warm, and elevate legs.
9. CPR…they are now suggesting that best results are provided if the rate of the compressions is 100 per minute. Practice procedure gently. Mouth to Mouth, show the class the check valve.
10. Back board.
11. http://www.shopmedvet.com/ or http://www.lambriarvet.com/
12. Good site for medical gear…. www.chinookmed.com
13. Sugar and Betadine make a very good disinfectant. Betadine Solution contains 10% povidone-iodine and is the foremost documented, broad spectrum topical iodophor microbicide..
14. Keep some Probiotics in the house. If you are on antibiotics the bugs that you naturally have in your gut are killed or weakened, the probiotics will replace those bugs.
15. Primatene mist for bee stings.

[Goldfinger]

Celox. I carry one in my car for crashes, and one in my chainsaw bag, and one in my general bag. A little pouch, takes nothing to carry, but can save a life. Not the cheapest, but the best. And the usual first aid stuff.

Should be in every first aid bag!

[ONG]

Should be in every first aid bag!

yep and some Celox gauze too. You can pack it into the wound and it does a better job of stopping the blood flow in the deeper wounds.

[noworries]

Super Glue,
gauze,
variety of non-stick wound pads,
betadine,
hydrogen peroxide,
variety of band-aids
suture and field surgical kit
Homeopathic and herbal remedies
OTC aspirin and antihistamines
magnifying glass
athletic tape
moleskin for blisters


Lots of superglue as it can work in place of a suture.

[Fullpower]

Whiskey and Condoms

[minimus]

Oil of Clove for toothaches

[AMforPM]

Lots of great posts here. Since my wife's diabetes is controlled by a prescription, and well controlled, but w/o it she would eventually go blind, we have stockpiled extra in case supplies of medicines are interrupted. If any family members's health depends on a medication a doc will usually let you buy extra to cover an overseas vacation, for example, though your insurance won't generally pay for it, and you can put it away if you change your vacation plans, ahem.

Besides that I have many mentioned items: an army surplus field surgery kit, antibiotics for the fish tank, um, TB ward grade masks, assorted bandages, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic and antifungal creams, those fancy new splints, potato blood clotting stuff. But the information on how to deal with a sucking chest would was great. I would have had no idea how to treat that. Maybe I'd better get better educated, but thanks for that post.

I think they took them off the market, but for little injuries that just need a bandaid of assorted sizes I got every size of some silver impregnated band aids curad made because they work one of silver's wonders and keep infection away. We certainly would not need a little cut or scrape going septic.

Vet suppliers and feed stores have everything up to and including penicillin for injection. As mentioned above they are a great resource for your livestock that if there were no other option, well....

I also am making no medical suggestions to others except to take stock of your family's prescription needs. People died in Katrina from not getting their prescriptions.

[GOLD DUCK]

Lots of great posts here. Since my wife's diabetes is controlled by a prescription, and well controlled, but w/o it she would eventually go blind, we have stockpiled extra in case supplies of medicines are interrupted. If any family members's health depends on a medication a doc will usually let you buy extra to cover an overseas vacation, for example, though your insurance won't generally pay for it, and you can put it away if you change your vacation plans, ahem.

Besides that I have many mentioned items: an army surplus field surgery kit, antibiotics for the fish tank, um, TB ward grade masks, assorted bandages, hydrogen peroxide, antibiotic and antifungal creams, those fancy new splints, potato blood clotting stuff. But the information on how to deal with a sucking chest would was great. I would have had no idea how to treat that. Maybe I'd better get better educated, but thanks for that post.

I think they took them off the market, but for little injuries that just need a bandaid of assorted sizes I got every size of some silver impregnated band aids curad made because they work one of silver's wonders and keep infection away. We certainly would not need a little cut or scrape going septic.

Vet suppliers and feed stores have everything up to and including penicillin for injection. As mentioned above they are a great resource for your livestock that if there were no other option, well....

I also am making no medical suggestions to others except to take stock of your family's prescription needs. People died in Katrina from not getting their prescriptions.

QWAK,Celox is GREAT but as mentioned EXPENCIVE -- it is always good to know of things that can be used in an emergency as servicable SUBSTITUTES and a box of "INSTENT mashed potatoes" can be used to help clot and stop the blood flow!

Monofiliment fishing line can be used as SUTURE material too!

When you can NOT afford or GET the very best -- it is good to know that SUBSTEUITS will work in a pinch!

It could well save a life!

the DUCK

[hypervel]

Crap meds, either to promote or prevent. Caffeine pills. Sleep pills. I know it sounds drug-alicious---and I'm not really into that kinda thing. BUT.....In a bad situation beyond the "I got a cut" moment, you might want to be able to take care of basic functions that might be disrupted.
I carry caffeine in case I have to transport N.O.W. I carry sleep meds for the obvious-same with crap meds. Disruption weakens a body sometimes.
I carry DEET and sting meds. My bag has a AAA flashlight and some kind of granola-ish bars. I have a water filter pen.
It sounds more like a BOB list, I know. I just figure first aid to extend beyond a given trauma.

[Lt Dan]

Been skipping my meds for a while now building up a surplus for when time comes the VA runs out. Gonna have a party one of these days.

[GOLD DUCK]

QWAK,Lt Dan,The VA damn near killed me with there MEDS -- I do MUCH better GROWING my own MEDS or using hurbs I buy bulk packaged.

Antidepresents are VERY DANGEROUS -- some times I wanted to KILL my SELF other times I felt I could KILL some one else -- NOT GOOD!

I do NOT trust the VA !

the DUCK

[Lt Dan]

QWAK,Lt Dan,The VA damn near killed me with there MEDS -- I do MUCH better GROWING my own MEDS or using hurbs I buy bulk packaged.

Antidepresents are VERY DANGEROUS -- some times I wanted to KILL my SELF other times I felt I could KILL some one else -- NOT GOOD!

I do NOT trust the VA !

the DUCK

Actually, I switched to safer alternatives than what the VA offers. They had me on a couple different pain medications and I tried to quit those cold turkey. Didn't work out, so instead I cut back until I could quit altogether. Little by little I'm dealing with the pain and getting along fine, took some doing. Also, with the anti-depressants, I cut back on those until I finally switched to St Johns Wort, a herbal alternative, actually feel much better than I did on their drugs. Mornings are the worst with the pain, but once I get moving, I'm able to work the kinks out. I still need the diabetes pills, but not to the extent they prescribe. Neuropathy is a vary painful complication and is one of the things I was taking pain pills for. I don't know of any herbal alternative for that, so I do my best to ignore the pain.

[GOLD DUCK]

QWAK,Lt Dan , "I finally switched to St Johns Wort, a herbal alternative" --- Me too I start my day with "St Johns" and asorted other herbal pills and Coffee!

The VA is a BUCURATIC MONSTROCITY and makes me feel like a DUCK in a BUFFALO STAMPEAD!

It would be my LAST choice for help and I figure they would likely KILL ME -- not on purpose of corse -- just death by BUROCRACY!

I have been trying all my life to avoid DEATH by STUPIDITY -- it is bad enough when I do it MY SELF!

the DUCK

[GOLDZILLA]

First and most importantly, you need a good nurse !

[Lt Dan]

First and most importantly, you need a good nurse !

Is that an alternative for the pain pills I was taking?

If so, I think I need a new heart, cause mine would surely give out.

[GOLDZILLA]

Is that an alternative for the pain pills I was taking?

If so, I think I need a new heart, cause mine would surely give out.

Well then don't even look at my nurses assistant ...

[Lt Dan]

I used to work at a hospital, I don't think they allowed the nurses to dress like that. Not on my watch anyway. Maybe things have changes since '01.

[Thornapple]

Heeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nurse!

[j-son]

Check out the bandages from silverlon.com
They seem great.

I ordered a box and they gave free shipping.

Everyone should have a box in their home.
silver bandages are good for silver stackers and infections too.

[j-son]

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewt...p?f=43&t=31455
Great thread on this stuff

[stAGgering]

Make or buy colloidal silver to place upon bandage before applying.
Works far superior to petroleum based antibiotics, which only eliminate wounds ability to breathe(thus infectious growth) and strangle the skin as well.
Colloidal silver performs both needed aspects, and wounds heal far more rapidly. Extensive personal experience with wounds and healing of.
Certainly the bandages listed perform similarly. Soaking the wound with colloidal silver, then applying bandage dampened with, maximizes all beneficial properties.
Give it a try on a trivial scratch or cut. You win.

Check out the bandages from silverlon.com
They seem great.

I ordered a box and they gave free shipping.

Everyone should have a box in their home.
silver bandages are good for silver stackers and infections too.

[GodspeedMetals]

I realized a couple days ago that I had a year's worth of food but not a heck of a lot in terms of first-aid type items. I'd bought a first aid kit for about $20 from Sam's Club a while back but realize now that I'd better stockpile a lot more than that. What are you guys stocking up on first aid-wise and how much?

Aside from the band-aids and bandages and such... I bought a bunch of small tea tree oil bottles. A natural antiseptic, though expensive. And packs of Boiron, for cold and flu symptoms.