The First Aid kit: part I.

Recently, Geek with a .45 wrote to ask me about what I would suggest putting into a first aid kit since the stuff you get in your first-aid kit at the local drugstore is just a wide variety of band-aids. Having been mulling over that very idea myself, I thought that we may be part of a larger trend of people who are thinking about getting a real first-aid kit together, and finding that there is little out there, are going to do-it-yourself. btw, D-I-Y first-aid kits are better, IMHO, because they take into account the specificities of your lifestyle, activities and such so that you can get something where everything is useful, and nothing is dead weight.

I am going to actually outline a few kits. One is something you can carry in a larger sized fanny pack, and contains the absolute essentials. This will be for if you are going backpacking or conoeing, or some other activity where you might have use for some first aid, but are not going to expend a lot of money, space and weight on it. One is going to be a home kit, which focuses mostly on medical first aid (as opposed to trauma first aid). The other is going to be a truck kit, or trunk kit for those of you who live outside of Texas. It will be trauma focused, since it is likely to be what you have access to if something happens when you have access to your car quickly, but where an ambulance or doctor may be quite some time and/or distance away. Also, since I am not the fount of all medical knowledge by even the most egotistical of standards, please feel free to add in your own observations and practices.

It is strongly advised that should you decide to do so, put together a kit which is most appropriate for your individual circumstances. The medical supplies most likely used by a family of four are going to be entirely different from the four college students, even if they are living next door. They will only grow more divergent as their circumstances regarding support services, isolation, training levels, geographic location, medical histories, and other variables increase. I also want to state that these are guidelines, and not strict advisories. Feel free to mix and match components and contents for your personal requirements.

First, you will need to find a physical container. While one can go to a company like Gall's for all kinds of high-speed, low-drag gear, they tend to be pricey for what they offer, IMHO. If you are willing to accept something less than what is carried by the Navy SEALS into combat(and please note the price is just for the bag, not the gear inside of it) to treat the scrapes and bruises your kids suffer while running amok in the backyard, you can get a box of some sort from the container store, or even use tupperware and ziploc bags.

For the individual kit, you will want to use something like a fanny pack, or even a lunchbox. small, easily carried, and no fuss. Compartments are always nice to have, but keep in mind that it also constrains you as to what you can put in there. The purpose of this kit is to be able to deal with a variety of injuries while actually using a limited amount of gear. This is not a kit to provide a lot of care with. Break an arm? Covered. laceration? Covered. Providing CPR while waiting for an ambulance? Covered. Sucking chest wound? Barely covered. Flail chest? Minimal coverage. Advanced airway management? Not gonna cut it. This is also not a kit for long-term care, either. This is to provide a minimal amount of support until the cavalry arrives.

Here is what I would advocate packing:

• CPR mask: The most simple, portable and affordable item you can buy. About $10 gets you a decent one.
• OPA/NPA: it takes five minutes to learn how to use these, and they are invaluable for protecting the airway of an unconscious patient when intubation is not feasible. $5. Pack just one or two sizes that will cover most people.
• Band-aids.
• butterfly bandages
• 1" or 2" bandage tape
• neosporin/bacitracin.
• gauze pads
• a couple of occlusive dressings
• kerlex. (you can cut it into pieces if needed).
• alcohol preps
• latex gloves
• penlight
• trauma shears
• cravats or other fabrics usable for bandages/slings
• Wire Mesh/SAM Splint
• Epi pen
• glucagel
• Water purification tablets (hat tip to commentor GaryS; these things can be used to make potable drinking water, and also to provide clean water to irrigate and clean a wound:"the solution to pollution is dilution")
• Aspirin in 2 tablet packets (hat tip to Reader Jon W.)

Granted, this can end up totalling about $50 or even more with the epi pen, but it is still a damned sight better than what a lot of first aid kits are asking for, and delivers a Hell of a lot more. This is what I would put into a fanny pack if I can cram it all in. I think that just about everything else that could be added would be considered taking care to the next level. The only thing you miss out on is the neat cordura nylon bag with a cute red cross  and the words "First Aid" emblazoned on it. With proper training in bandaging and splinting, this kit can actually cover a fairly wide variety of situations from skinned knees to many fractures and lacerations (as long as there aren't many fractures and lacerations at once), anaphylactic cases, diabetic cases, and will be invaluable should you need to start CPR.

Part II will cover the truck first aid kit.

Respectfully Submitted,

doc Russia