First Aid: Lets have a Talk

[LR Max]

I'd like to preface this with the information that I am a former boy scout and always try to carry my first aid kit. That said, its been years and years and years since I've taken any kind of formal instruction and my first aid kits are typically geared toward health concerns that would be categorized as extremely minor.

So lets say your friend fell and now has a 3" gash on the side of their leg. After securing the immediate area, applying pressure to the wound, and treating for shock, what would you do next? What would you carry in your kit to help with such an event?

I feel like this would be a likely scenario that spending $10 at a CVS would greatly assist in dealing with such an emergency. Especially when in remote areas. Such a wound can be made easily and could be a problem without the right knowhow or tools (just like anything else).

Not trying to build a medic back that is the size of my roller board luggage bag. But expanding what I've got to include other useful items would be good.

Also I know there has been a lot of advancement in bandages geared more toward the military that might also be applicable for such a situation (the Israeli Bandage or ?). What are your thoughts on that?

Also lets just say that I was helpful in said emergency, but I'm sure I could've done better.

Lastly, lets talk knowledge. Does anyone recommend a pretty basic first aid refresher class? Not trying to be an EMS, but I definitely need a refresher because no one ever complained about having a general idea of how to handle a situation when it arises.

Thanks guys.

 

[RememberTheFallen]

I'd like to preface this with the information that I am a former boy scout and always try to carry my first aid kit. That said, its been years and years and years since I've taken any kind of formal instruction and my first aid kits are typically geared toward health concerns that would be categorized as extremely minor.

So lets say your friend fell and now has a 3" gash on the side of their leg. After securing the immediate area, applying pressure to the wound, and treating for shock, what would you do next? What would you carry in your kit to help with such an event?

I feel like this would be a likely scenario that spending $10 at a CVS would greatly assist in dealing with such an emergency. Especially when in remote areas. Such a wound can be made easily and could be a problem without the right knowhow or tools (just like anything else).

Not trying to build a medic back that is the size of my roller board luggage bag. But expanding what I've got to include other useful items would be good.

Also I know there has been a lot of advancement in bandages geared more toward the military that might also be applicable for such a situation (the Israeli Bandage or ?). What are your thoughts on that?

Also lets just say that I was helpful in said emergency, but I'm sure I could've done better.

Lastly, lets talk knowledge. Does anyone recommend a pretty basic first aid refresher class? Not trying to be an EMS, but I definitely need a refresher because no one ever complained about having a general idea of how to handle a situation when it arises.

Thanks guys.

Depends on where you are at. Is the subject able to walk? How far away is the car? Will EMS be able to get to you? Are they a volunteer service?

I think a syringe is always good to have with wound care. If there is going to be a delay to the ER then irrigating the wound would be nice if it isn't an arterial bleed. Get as much of the dirt and debris out early.

Steri strips are pretty nice to close the wound if it isn't very dirty. Gauze to "deep packing" if the wound will not stop the bleeding. The war has shown that we can use tourniquets far longer than originally thought before limb damage. 5-6 hrs with TQ on. Several good one on the market. Learn when to use it and when not too.

A blow out kit from a tactical company treats most of the critical stuff. My small kit contains an H bandage, TQ, 14g decomp needle, Nasal airway, SAM sprint, shears, and tape. You can fix most problems that are able to be fixed with those. Band aids and Imodium are not part of a serious trauma bag and should be in a separate part of the bag or not carried at all if worried a out size and weight.

I have not taken it yet but have heard great things about the Wilderness First Aid or First Responder courses. Fits what we do best. Regular EMS courses focus too much on ambulance operations, short transport times, tons of gear available, and plenty of help.

The Special Operations Force Medical Handbook is a great resource to have available. Targeted towards a medical professional but still very useful. Printed on waterproof paper, spiral bound, and fits in a cargo pocket. Expensive at @ $60-70. iTunes has downloadable version for $9.

 

[RememberTheFallen]

I am up in Cartersville. I can look into seeing what would need to be done if you ever want to take ride along with my EMS service. Can show you some of the supplies we use, treatments, and blood if you want.

 

[Scott B.]

Let's not forget - most of the "first aid" classes taught these days (in the city) are geared toward "call an ambulance". Obviously, any class like this would be a waste of your time.

You are more than welcome to look at my trauma pack - we can pick an evening/weekend or wait until CFW. Not that you would want everything in my pack, but you might get some ideas.

 

[vicali]

At work we keep our First Aid tickets current, I've got OFA Level1 which is basic emergency first aid. I've kept current since I started in forestry in 1998.

It's nice to have the training, and I keep Basic First Aid kits in our cars and trucks. I've just added a kit to our travel trailer for camping season.

It's really basic stuff, mostly bandages and blankets, plus a breather mask if I need to help a stranger.

 

[I Leak Oil]

In that specific scenario you need to have supplies to control bleeding first, blanket to help with shock and most importantly, get them to qualified help!

 

[java]

Id recommend a woofer course if your wanting to do one. Its a course geared to being in the wilderness and a long ways from help. Lots of practical simulations, ie simulated wounds with sausages for guts and what not. They also are pretty cut and dry with multiple injury situations as to who is actually savable and how to make a good decision. Its grim, but something to think about when your a long was from emergency care.

http://www.nols.edu/portal/wmi/courses/wfr/

 

[El Solis]

You can carry all kinds of things but if you don't know how and when to use them you can hurt people. I have a ridiculous kit but I am a trauma surgeon. I teach people in my Rover club simple Boy Scout basics (not pushing rocks over....idiots) because that is what I still use, even at work. Bleeding kills, pressure stops it. I have a CAT tourniquet and a few Israeli bandages. I think these work the best. I do have some quik clot and they work well too. Blanket for warmth (ie treat shock) which can happen on a hot day. Most of what you will find in the wilderness is blunt trauma so bleeding, long bone fractures (femur/thigh bone) which need to be reduced if possible, shock and that's really it. Yes there are lots of other things that can happen but really getting to help is priority number one. Even in advanced trauma life support courses the main point is get the patient to a qualified surgeon at a qualified hospital. So in list form here is what people in my opinion must carry to make a difference (no particular order):

Tourniquet
Pressure dressing (Izzy or other)
Blanket
SAM splint and duct tape (never worry about fractures first, gives you something to do while waiting for help)
Emergency beacon (not HAM radio, not CB radio, no smoke signals, etc. Something that when the SOS button is pushed help is immediately on the way)
CPR mask (although in reality blunt trauma causing your heart to stop is almost always fatal and doing CPR waiting for help is very tiring but would I do it....hell yes)
Fire extinguisher

That's really it. Should take care of most things that you will encounter at an acceptable level.

oh, and this is just for trauma, the lil boo boo kit is different. I have a jump bag for trauma and a base camp med kit with band aids, over the counter meds for most ailments (not a plug but the chinook med medication module is pretty sweet for this but you can put together the same thing for cheaper from your local drug store, CVS etc)

 

[craig333]

I carry a small trauma kit. Still hope I remember stuff from my EMT days. I was on a four wheel drive run a few years back, guy rolled his Jeep five times. Not one person other than me had more than the smallest first aid kit. Fortunately he wasn't seriously injured. Carry some trauma dressings at least.

 

[4x4BNB]

Here's a YouTube link to "Medicine for the outdoors". I bought this book. I do agree with the YouTube reviewer that it's a great value....I disagree that it was a memorable read. Well worth the twenty bucks tho. It gets kinda of technical in some areas.



http://youtu.be/fibUG_OVVGk

 

[Hilldweller]

Andrew has good kits and is a member of the forum: http://www.remotemedical.com/
This is another good store that I get a discount from: https://www.tacmedsolutions.com/store/index.php

 

[nwoods]

Let's not forget - most of the "first aid" classes taught these days (in the city) are geared toward "call an ambulance". Obviously, any class like this would be a waste of your time.

The Wilderness First Aid course was NOT like this. It was a fantastic program, and only two days long. Affordable in time and money and probably the best training per dollar and definitely the best training per hour I've ever received. Hugely valuable.
- http://www.nols.edu/wmi/courses/wildfirstaid.shtml

 

[MadMedic]

As a paramedic i try to keep my first aid kit stocked to technician level but with out going to over the top and becoming a full blown paramedic to my family and friends on my days off when i would wish to be relaxing instead.
In my kit i stock the basic dressing stuff and some clotting pressure bandages and emergency clotting agents, as well as carrying equipment to enable IV access (no,drugs carried) and irrigation fluid for cleaning,and, disinfecting wounds. Plus some other things.

That's all i,can think of now, if anyone's got any questions feel,free to ask.

Sam


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[Scott B.]

The Wilderness First Aid course was NOT like this. It was a fantastic program, and only two days long. Affordable in time and money and probably the best training per dollar and definitely the best training per hour I've ever received. Hugely valuable.
- http://www.nols.edu/wmi/courses/wildfirstaid.shtml

I guess I should have written that better. I was not referring to WFA classes, just the standard First Aid classes. As an instructor for WFA, I must agree with you - a very good training per dollar investment!

Way back when, when I took my first First Aid class, I had to learn to bandage, set splints, treat for shock - really learn how to care for a patient/victim. Today, they don't teach any of that at that level. The no-breathing CPR falls in that same category...

 

[Scott B.]

Two supply houses that I have used:

AirGas
Moore Medical