Basic First Aid Kits

[Buzzcut1]

I was asked to put together a short piece on first aid.

My Background, Retired Santa Cruz County Firefighter, Current EMT & Serivces Director of Arcadia Ambulance

I am not going to try and teach you how do do things. What I am going to do is show what I carry and why. I am going to split it into two parts; a kit that I carry in my day pack away from the TC and extra gear that stays in the camper.

All the gear in the world will do you no good if you do not now how, why, and when to use it. Most first aid kits come with a manual the time to read it is not when you or your companions is injured. You need to read it the day you buy the kit and go thought the kit as you read the manual to understand the tools and techniques.

Take a basic Red Cross or Wilderness first aid course it could save a friends life.

My thoughts on First Aid kits: if you buy the big deluxo kit it will never leave the TC and you will not have it with you on that hike when someone gets hurt as it is too big, bulky and a pain to carry.

Get a small compact one that will not take up too much room in the day pack and keep it there. Most kits come with a few bandages, scissors, some ointments, material for a sling, tape and an elastic wrap.

I like to add a few extras.

For lacerations: you have blood and a large area, Feminine Mini pads and Kotex work wonders, they are sterile, designed to absorb blood and can quickly be placed on a wound and taped into place.

Splints: I carry one, a SAM Splint. It is flexible and can be molded to fit any extremity

ABD or other large dressing to cover larger areas, CVS carries these

Medications: this is not a one size fits all. you should carry the basics, aspirin, ibuprofen, antacids, antihistamines. In addition carry meds ( clearly labeled) specific to any member of your party and know what they are for and proper dosage and how to give them.
(insulin, nitroglycerin, epi pens)

Gloves: to protect you and to protect your friends. Mine are Nitrile, many people have latex allergies don't use latex gloves. Hands have cuts, people can have diseases in body fluids, always wear gloves.

Gauze roll bandages: why because sometimes tape just doesn't stick and you can put a pad over the wound wrap it into place with the gauze roll and tie it off



LED headlamp: ever try to clean remove a splinter or bandage a cut in the dark? You need two hands to bandage use a headlamp rather than sticking a flashlight that your hands touched into you mouth



This is my First Aid Kit. It goes in the day pack, in the kayak, in my camelback, in the tc. Where I go it goes ( you feel kind of dumb when you get hurt and its an hour away sitting in the TC).




now I may or may not carry an instant Icepack. they add weight and I have had them go off in my pack before.

You have noticed that my portable kit is rather sparse and that is so I will take it with me.





Now as far as in the TC, I carry the kitchen sink but then again I am an EMT and I want to have my gear with me to deal with anything but what should you have?



Sterile water: to rise off anything chemical that is burning your skin or to flush the eyes.

Instant Ice Packs: for swelling, heat related issues etc

more bandages, pads, tape

Cortizone cream for stings

Now everthing here is available across the counter at a CVS, wallmart, Rite Aid

but if you are not comfortable putting together a kit by all means go buy the premade deluxe kit and keep it in the TC and get a small kit to put in your daypack.



Ivy block and technu to stop the rash from that evil green plant.

But most of all know that your first aid kit is for minor cuts and dings. For anything more call 911 and get the pros coming. Your kit with proper knowledge may just hold the fort until EMS gets there. Don't be afraid to make the call. It will not inconvenience them, its what they get paid to do. In these days of budget cuts, stations with many calls get to stay open instead of getting shuttered and the guys there know it

I will add more to this but feel free to pepper me with questions either here or by pm

Eric

[Mello_Mike]

Emergency Preparedness is critical no matter where you are and a FAK is an important part of your preparedness plan. Buzzcut is the man when it comes to first aid. When I started building my first aid kit last year, I approached him on what should be included in mine and he didn't hesitate to help.

[Camper_Jeff___K]

Since I work in construction, I always have a relatively new first aid kit in my truck just incase of an on the job accident which we have never had in 25 years now. There are some everyday items you can use for first aid for instance I always have a couple bottles of Sterile saline solution for my contacts that can be used to flush out the eyes. I use I think it's lubriderm moisturizer on my hands because of concrete work. The calcium in the cement is hard on skin and it helps with that and could be used for sunburn and perhaps mild burns. I'd defer to Buzz's recommendation on that.

So Can anybody suggest everyday things that could substitute for first aid in an emergency situation?

[Reddog1]

Thank you Buzzcut1 (Eric) for this thread.

Although this thread is not unique to TCs, I am hesitant to move it. Eventually. it probably will be moved. I think the information is important enough it should be posted in all of the RV.NET forums.

I encourage everyone to post your thoughts and/or questions. Keep in mind, the OP's intent is not to teach first aid, but to give some ideas and thoughts on the subject. He is making his experience and training available to all of us.

Wayne
Moderator

[Steelhog]

Lots of great thoughts and suggestions. I like to keep a couple Benadryl on hand. A mild antihistamine can work wonders if used appropriately. A few plain uncoated aspirin are also handy should someone exhibit signs of a heart attack.

[bb_94401]

For abrasions and lacerations I carry different sizes of Tegaderm film in my kit. Great for road rash or trail rash after a bike crash. Compact, lightweight, protects the area while healing, wound area stays flexible.

While Tegaderm film is waterproof, it is permeable to isopropyl alcohol so you can disinfect the wound through the film.

[Buzzcut1]

Ramp Digger wrote:
Thanks for your expert advice.Could you please elaborate briefly on how the Sam Splint is used.Also what do you suggest in case of posionous snake bites?

First Snake bite.

It helps to take along the recently deceased perpetrator of the bite so that the proper antivenom can be administered. Keep the bitten person calm and the bite as low as possible compared to the rest of the body. Call 911 for immediate transport to a hospital. If you are in the boonies with no cell service either send someone for help and do the above while waiting for help of if near the vehicle self transport to the nearest facility (fire station, hospital, doc in the box ) call 911 as soon as you have cell service. I don't have a lot of faith in the old snake bite kit.

SAM Splint It is closed cell foam over a semi rigid internal frame. It can be rolled, molded, twisted etc. With a break or bad sprain it can be molded to match the contours of the affected area ( do not try to straighted out the limb as that may cause further damage) and then taped or wrapped to hold the SAM splint in place and stabilize the limb

[Ramp_Digger]

Thanks for your expert advice.Could you please elaborate briefly on how the Sam Splint is used.Also what do you suggest in case of posionous snake bites?

[Buzzcut1]

mdpay wrote:
Great post Buzzcut

As a current Paramedic/Firefighter (also know as EMT-P), I am frequently asked about first aid kits. Now I can just send them your post.

Loved the comment "I cannot apply it, paramedic skill (roll eyes) but you as a civilian can." 🙂

same for blood glucose...
And they just decided that your average EMT is capable of using a pulse oximeter ( not like they aren't standard on every BLS engine in Cal Fire) that the consumer can buy at Big 5

[Yeti_plus]

Only thing I can add is to check stock in your first aid kit regularly.
When I was involved with a Scout Troop I checked the first aid kit in the fall,restocked as necessary, but I personally hadn't used anything out of it all year. Needed to use it for a small cut and all of the "Band Aids" were gone. Other leaders had used them and not refilled the kit.
The youth with the cut didn't like the gauze pad and 1" wide adhesive tape wrapped around his finger.It worked and he actually met some new friends wondering what had happened that he needed such a large bandage!
Most of us only have ourselves and spouse to blame now if the kit is missing pieces.
DW also wants to add CPR face shield to the kit.Both of us have first aid training which here in Ontario includes CPR.
The other thing for those of us in Ontario and Michigan would be a tick removal tool. Little brown ticks carry Lyme disease (NASTY STUFF) and it is becoming more prevalent.

[mdpay]

Great post Buzzcut

As a current Paramedic/Firefighter (also know as EMT-P), I am frequently asked about first aid kits. Now I can just send them your post.

Loved the comment "I cannot apply it, paramedic skill (roll eyes) but you as a civilian can." 🙂

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I'll add that aspirin, Benadryl, gauze, and blood-stop powder are handy to have along for your pets!

[bka0721]

What a great time to post this, Eric. Many are putting away their campers and doing some things like this will aid using their campers in the next Truck Camping season. As I was a past State Certified EMT-P I always enjoy seeing what others might come up with. Kits like yours are often much better than can be purchased commercially. It might help better if you took your photos closer and group less in the photo and have more photos. That way the observer will be able to see what you have brought together.

Also, a few months back, Mello Mike also put together a very comprehensive First Aid Kit and information in the below linked clicky.


Mello Mike Emergency First Aid Kit Clicky

[Bedlam]

For those of you that already have kits, take note of expiration dates for items. I had one in my enclosed trailer that had items dated from the 90's. Not only were the creams and pills out of date, but most items with adhesive no longer stuck.

[jfkmk]

Excellent advice. First and foremost, protect yourself! Nitrile gloves and, if you need to do rescue breathing, a barrier device. A friend of mine was at a football game this weekend when someone became really sick. He was being treated by two other fans, one claiming to be a nurse, one an EMT. He was shocked that neither had any gloves on.

[sharkman]

Thank you Buzzcut, good write up, will put together 1 for the TC.