Overland Medicine
- Thread starter Tac Goat
- Start date
Dave in AZ
Well-known member
I've got a kit I put together for rock climbing when I was younger, where you might have hiked in and be well away from aid. Critical traumatic bleeding injuries was my fear, and still so camping and hunting. So mostly about stopping critical bleeding injuries. The items in there for I don't see in a lot of kits:
Suture kit
Blood clot powder
Superglue
Wound closure strips
Wound antibiotics like Erythromycin, had some extra, in case multi day egress.
I also carry an asthma breath squirter thing with albuterol, maybe Primatene mist? Have seen several folks with breathing issues need that under strssful situations.
Nowadays there are a ton of Youtube videos and blogs from survivalists with small Individual First Aid Kit, IFAK, or Advanced FAK. These all contain tournekits, sometimes 2, and usually a chest wound closure. So I have added these to my personal carry IFAK, and the car kit.
Tons of great videos on this, I like some on Youtube channel Garand Thumb, he is a USAF pararescue survival guy, and does a ton of tactical gear reviews and setup. He covers IFAKs well.
Everything else in my kit is standard, with an emphasis on large 3x4 inch type pads, bandages, flexible sti ky wrap etc to allow covering of large wounds.
Suture kit
Blood clot powder
Superglue
Wound closure strips
Wound antibiotics like Erythromycin, had some extra, in case multi day egress.
I also carry an asthma breath squirter thing with albuterol, maybe Primatene mist? Have seen several folks with breathing issues need that under strssful situations.
Nowadays there are a ton of Youtube videos and blogs from survivalists with small Individual First Aid Kit, IFAK, or Advanced FAK. These all contain tournekits, sometimes 2, and usually a chest wound closure. So I have added these to my personal carry IFAK, and the car kit.
Tons of great videos on this, I like some on Youtube channel Garand Thumb, he is a USAF pararescue survival guy, and does a ton of tactical gear reviews and setup. He covers IFAKs well.
Everything else in my kit is standard, with an emphasis on large 3x4 inch type pads, bandages, flexible sti ky wrap etc to allow covering of large wounds.
Good stuff Dave. I lean towards broad spectrum antibiotics (always consult your doctor before taking medications) for example doxycycline. Its broad spectrum for treating bacteria and can be taken orally. Tourniquets are a must, also splints e.g. same splints, and emergency warming blankets. Thanks for the feedback.
NEVERENOUGHAZ
Member
The most important part of any kit is training. There are a lot of great companies out there that offer wilderness first aid. Also in a lot of places you can get a free stop the bleed class. My kit has a tourniquet, chest seal, gauze, quick clot and 4" emergency bandages. Also not all gear is created equally, and this is a area you don't want to buy cheap. Make sure your tourniquet is a CAT and not a knock off. I do keep my IFAK kit separate from my regular first aid kit. I don't want to be searching when I need something.
Thanks for the feedback. Training is indeed essential in order to use the gear correctly in a time of stress. While you don't want to go cheap, there are several high quality products that are effective and affordable; the CAT tourniquet being one of them. Other great tourniquets to consider are the TMT tourniquet from @combatmedicalsolutions , the TX2 and TX3 tourniquets from @Revmedx, and the SOF-T from @tacmedsolutions . The TX3 is much wider (3") and longer, this may work well for very large people, the length can allow it to work as a pelvis stabilizer, again each of these require training.
Remember practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. Thanks again and happy trailing.
Sounds like you are off to a great start. Antibiotics really depend on how remote you are going. There is a good amount of research to support early use of antibiotics in the field, but this depends a lot on type and severity of the injury. Other things to consider adding is basic over the counter (OTC) items. Consider NSAIDS, anti-emetics (prevent vomiting), Pedia lyte (for dehydration), some form of splint e.g. SAM splints, anti - itch topical, emergency blanket (mylar) etc. A finger pulse oximeter will give you the percentage of oxygen as well as the heart rate. These are inexpensive, small and portable. As always check with your doctor before taking medications and get trained in techniques like splinting , vitals signs, and such.
ITTOG
Well-known member
Where do you get the antibiotics? Are there some that are OTC? I take NSAIDS daily so I have that covered. Also have pain pills for use if needed. For hiking I do take anti-dehydration tablets to drop in water. My fitbit has the pulse oximeter.
Training on the use of some of the more critical items, ie like stitching or creating an airway, would be my biggest gap.
Antibiotics would need to be doctor prescribed, some OTC vitamins are helpful but aren't the same as antibiotics. Stitching is good to know but unless you are in an extremely austere environment w/o access to healthcare within reasonable distance, be cautious with suturing. In most cases wounds need to be meticulously cleaned and free of debris before stitching. Stitching wounds shut can lead to infection, bad scarring, and other potential complications.Other alternatives may be "butterfly " bandages, pressure bandages, and the iTClamp. These interventions are secondary in the case of hemorrhage. For arm / leg hemorrhage (heavy bleeding, bright red blood, and / or spurting out, use a tourniquet). All medical interventions and products should be trained on and training taught by medical professionals. Be sure to seek advice from your doctor.
This is a good topic and one that is often missed. We seem to have no issue spending a lot of time and money on gear for our rigs to go and play outside but the number of people roaming in the back country with little or no training is a bit scary.
Here are a few pointers coming from a former WEMT SAR Tech, and seasoned instructor for Wilderness Medical courses and current Trauma nurse in the ER.
1. Get training from a well known provider I suggest the Wilderness First responder it an excellent course but it is 80 hours/ 9 days long. Look into NOLS Wilderness Medicine, SOLO or WMA
2. Focus on building a first aid kit based on what you know how to use and what you are likely to encounter, focus on items that can not be improvised in the field and items that can be used for multiple things. EX: You can made a excellent splint from what most people have in their back but it is really hard to improvise athletic tape.
3. Statistically, the most common injuries in the back country are soft injury cuts and scrapes, sprains and strains and GI distress. AKA basic wound care, rolled ankles, and people sharing germs via group cooking and poor hand hygiene.
4. Use of Antibiotics and advanced wound closure methods in the back county are contraindicated. The most important part of wound care in the back country is cleaning it. Pressure irrigation with water that is safe for human consumption is the basic standard of care along with good ole soap and water. This is basically what we do in the ER when people come in needing wound closure. In fact, most people needing sutures to close wounds in the ER do not automatically get antibiotics.
The single most common medical allergy is related to antibiotics, unless you are a provider with prescriptive authority who knows how to use an antibiogram to chose the most appropriate medication you most likely should not be using them unless under the directive of a medical provider, and you certainly should not be using them on other people.
5. Steri Strips, occlusive dressings and benzoine can close most wounds, if they cant they should be packed open. Glue/sutures in the back country represent an issue if they are closed poorly, or trap infection.
See first comment on training where even in the most basic Wilderness First Aid class taught at the local REI will teach you all of these things.
When looking at your first aid kit think about this play the game of what would I bring if I only could take five items ?
Build out from there.
For me it would be
1. Gloves
2. Athletic tape
3. Multi Tool
4. Aspirin and benadryl/ diphenhydramine
5. Personal Medications.
Stay safe out there and have fun!
Here are a few pointers coming from a former WEMT SAR Tech, and seasoned instructor for Wilderness Medical courses and current Trauma nurse in the ER.
1. Get training from a well known provider I suggest the Wilderness First responder it an excellent course but it is 80 hours/ 9 days long. Look into NOLS Wilderness Medicine, SOLO or WMA
2. Focus on building a first aid kit based on what you know how to use and what you are likely to encounter, focus on items that can not be improvised in the field and items that can be used for multiple things. EX: You can made a excellent splint from what most people have in their back but it is really hard to improvise athletic tape.
3. Statistically, the most common injuries in the back country are soft injury cuts and scrapes, sprains and strains and GI distress. AKA basic wound care, rolled ankles, and people sharing germs via group cooking and poor hand hygiene.
4. Use of Antibiotics and advanced wound closure methods in the back county are contraindicated. The most important part of wound care in the back country is cleaning it. Pressure irrigation with water that is safe for human consumption is the basic standard of care along with good ole soap and water. This is basically what we do in the ER when people come in needing wound closure. In fact, most people needing sutures to close wounds in the ER do not automatically get antibiotics.
The single most common medical allergy is related to antibiotics, unless you are a provider with prescriptive authority who knows how to use an antibiogram to chose the most appropriate medication you most likely should not be using them unless under the directive of a medical provider, and you certainly should not be using them on other people.
5. Steri Strips, occlusive dressings and benzoine can close most wounds, if they cant they should be packed open. Glue/sutures in the back country represent an issue if they are closed poorly, or trap infection.
See first comment on training where even in the most basic Wilderness First Aid class taught at the local REI will teach you all of these things.
When looking at your first aid kit think about this play the game of what would I bring if I only could take five items ?
Build out from there.
For me it would be
1. Gloves
2. Athletic tape
3. Multi Tool
4. Aspirin and benadryl/ diphenhydramine
5. Personal Medications.
Stay safe out there and have fun!
craig333
Expedition Leader
These guys will sell you antibiotics. https://jasemedical.com/ Whether you want to use them...
1leglance
2007 Expedition Trophy Champion, Overland Certifie
cdthiker makes some excellent points...
Please don't go taking antibiotics in the US or even most of North America as your risk of messing things up is more than the risk of infection.
Same with closing your wounds yourself, that is how an abscess forms.
I have seen plenty go wrong in the hospital from folks self treating what would have been a simple Urgent Care issue.
Please don't go taking antibiotics in the US or even most of North America as your risk of messing things up is more than the risk of infection.
Same with closing your wounds yourself, that is how an abscess forms.
I have seen plenty go wrong in the hospital from folks self treating what would have been a simple Urgent Care issue.
Thanks for the great input. The one point that is foundational is get the training before you go. Also good point about some things are tough to improvise. Thanks again for the input, be safe out there.
ITTOG
Well-known member
Interesting that some has stressed cleaning the open wound so much. While I agree with you, my two most recent open wounds were hardly cleaned before the ER doc closed it up. The injury on my leg, which most people have seen in my camper build post, had saline solution dumped in it once and then closed. I also busted my lip open, which was pretty cool. I didn't know your upper lip is hollow. Anyway, they didn't clean it at all. On both injuries I was prescribed antibiotics. For the leg injury I think it was for three or four weeks.