View Full Version : Maximum £20 for a medical kit
Ok peoples, I have a sharp knife but no medical kit, so I'm thinking I should buy one, before I cut off too many fingers so that I can't even open a plaster to put on my stumps... :o
I have a maximum of £20 (but would idealy not like to spend all of that), and with that need to buy the things to go in the kit, and also the bag/pouch for the things to go into.
I'm thinking just a small, simple kit, with the basics for a two day trip max... Please, please, please, help me know what to get and where from!!!
Thanks,
Dan
I use the life adventure ones and add to them, personally if you're on a budget you can't go wrong with making your own up from scratch. At least it'll personalised to you AND you'll know exactly whats in it and where to find it.
Are the life adventure ones the ones you get from millets, cotswolds, etc??
Yup those are the ones, they do different packs to suit the individual and the potential usage.
Graham_S
10-08-2005, 21:03
they are not bad kits, the scissors are ok and the plasters stay on
Bardster
10-08-2005, 21:14
This place might be worth a try http://www.adventurefirstaid.co.uk/supplies.htm .
Personally i have 3 or 4 kits of different sorts inc a beltpouch one. But the main one is a BCB Life Saver 3. Although to fit in your budget you would need to go down to the 2
http://www.bcbin.com/Default.aspx?cid=19
I'm pretty sure its outside the realm of this thread in terms of costs but Stuarts got a fantastic first aid kit that acts a thigh pouch, similar to the Maxpedition systems. The beauty of this is that when you kneel down it unzips onto the floor so that everything is close to hand.
Not sure what its called or where you get it from though.
I'm having trouble visualising that... What happens if you just need to kneel down, or if you stumble and land on your knees, does the entire fak go all over the floor??
Nope its not open like that. Basically its folded in half and zipped up. You then kneel down and unzip it from top to bottom and the front half folds foward onto the ground and the back half stays on your leg so that everythings accessible.
Ah I see, I thought you meant by kneeling down the contents are automatically emptied out onto the floor in front of you...
macthemaths
10-08-2005, 22:41
I suggest that you buy a waterproof box (kitchen type) and fill it yourself.
I would think that for a weekend expedition involving knife use you might need the following:
=
Plasters (whatever type you like best)
One No 1 Ambulance Dressing
One larger Ambulance dressing (Number 3)
Finger dressing (difficult to tie on yourself)
Antiseptic wipes or Steripods (you can dispense with these if you are carrying soap and water - really, soap is better than these wipes)
Compeed blister plasters (unless you NEVER get blisters)
Paracetemol (or pain killer of preference)
Two triangular bandages (if you get sterile ones they can double up for covering cuts)
Burngel dressings (If lots of water available and you don't want the extra weight (minimal) then don't worry about these)
You might like to have a crepe bandage for sprains and strains.
Available from:
www.stjohnsupplies.co.uk
www.spservices.co.uk
or by Google Search
You'll probably only ever use the plasters though :rolleyes:
Hope this helps,
Chris
Yeah cheers Chris that has helped!! I think probably putting my own kit together would be the cheapest option!! Cheers!!
ebay is your friend
just search for first aid and find the amount of kit that you think you may need
Beer Monster
11-08-2005, 10:50
I have the Gregson Pocket Pack first aid kit. Can't remember where I bought it but it cost about £16. Has all the basic day to day items. I've heard good things about the larger packs to (they come in various sizes i.e. pocket pack then No. 1 Pack through to No.4). There is enough room inside to add any extras that you might need and has a very good little first aid reminder sheet inside.
Edit: Just found this site - Adventure Kit (http://www.adventurekit.co.uk/acatalog/Medical_Kit.html) - which seems to stock them. It also has a contents comparison table (http://www.adventurekit.co.uk/acatalog/000-mab-lifesaver-kit-contents.html) on it (although this doesn't include the Pocket Pack ......although they do sell them ...... bizarre).
Steristrips are very light and good for closing incised wounds. For some reason ordinary first aid kits never seem to have them but expedition kits sometimes do.
I can send you a few free if you PM me your mail address.
arctic hobo
11-08-2005, 12:01
Steristrips are very light and good for closing incised wounds. For some reason ordinary first aid kits never seem to have them but expedition kits sometimes do.
I can send you a few free if you PM me your mail address.
I've used micropore and even insulation tape (which I carry for the feet) for this before, would steristrips be a better idea?
macthemaths
11-08-2005, 12:26
Steristrips are very light and good for closing incised wounds. For some reason ordinary first aid kits never seem to have them but expedition kits sometimes do.
I can send you a few free if you PM me your mail address.
Isn't it because nurses (more so than doctors I've notcied) throw hissy-fits about knowing about proper wound cleansing techniques prior to using items like steri-strips?
dave750gixer
11-08-2005, 13:21
my first cheap FAK was just a list of the things I always ended up going to the chemists to buy every time anyone cut themselves. So it should be a good start.
micropore tape
2"x2" non adherent dressings
steristrips
antiseptic cream
and add various plasters for minor stuff.
just use water for cleaning.
But the main one is a BCB Life Saver 3.
http://www.bcbin.com/Default.aspx?cid=19
Looks like it might be good kit for the price, any idea what is actually in it?
Cheers
Grez..
P.S. There is also the "Highlander Maxi First Aid Kit" from SOF for £19.99 http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/military/index.htm
Beer Monster
11-08-2005, 14:41
But the main one is a BCB Life Saver 3.
http://www.bcbin.com/Default.aspx?cid=19
Looks like it might be good kit for the price, any idea what is actually in it?
Cheers
Grez..
I have a sneaking suspision the BCB make the Life Saver Gregson Packs I was refering to in my last post (I didn't scroll down on the BCB link :rolleyes: ). I think this is a list of contents for each pack:- Contents (http://www.adventurekit.co.uk/acatalog/000-mab-lifesaver-kit-contents.html)
Morrisons had First Aid Kits for £2.99 last time I was in the store in Carlisle (though that was last month). It's very basic but there was enough room in the pouch to fill it with more stuff and tailor it to what you need. Don't know if they're still £2.99 though.
Cheers for the link Beer Monster!! :) :)
I'm currently torn between either of these :confused: :confused:
Civilian/Military Maxi First Aid Kit (£ 26.75),
Lifesaver First Aid Packs Lifesaver 3 (£ 26.20) .
I also noticed that last time I was in boots they were having one of their 3 for 2 offers on first aid stuff.
Cheers
Grez..
My other half and I do a fair amount of walking so I'm toying with buying some instant cold packs as well for my kit. Only thing I'm concerned with is that they're activated by squeezing hard and mixing the contents and I'm a tad worried that they'll go off in the bag and be useless when they're needed.
Povarian
11-08-2005, 16:50
We use a lot of these to fix up our jousters after a show. They take quite a bit of force to break the inner pack - needs a twisting motion like wringing out a flannel. I don't think you'd have a problem with them in a pocket of a 'sack. They're particularly good where freeze spray can't be used (like fingers).
Beer Monster
11-08-2005, 17:57
Cheers for the link Beer Monster!! :) :)
I'm currently torn between either of these :confused: :confused:
Civilian/Military Maxi First Aid Kit (£ 26.75),
Lifesaver First Aid Packs Lifesaver 3 (£ 26.20) .
I also noticed that last time I was in boots they were having one of their 3 for 2 offers on first aid stuff.
Cheers
Grez..
Probably worth PMing Doc and asking his opinon which one is better equiped? Or are there any other medical people out there?
Not sure why but the civilian Maxi First Aid Kit is only £16 here (http://www.outdoorscotland.co.uk/shop/fa03_maxi_first_aid_kit.htm)?
swamp donkey
13-08-2005, 21:13
Heres some purposeful wanderings around the personal first aid kit. Its not supposed to be egg sucking just my own thoughs born out by experience, It may A bit late for this thread maybe but just might interest someone :rolleyes
IMHO All of us that work alone or go down to the woods ;) alone should have a personal first aid kiit. It also needs to be on our person or very close . This may seem obvoius but it can often be hard to get it right.
They do not need to be very large small belt pack will surfice. They do need to have 2 other attributes :-
1.`You must be able to open it with one hand. Pound to a pinch of salt when you need it you will be hanging on to something that hurts or is leaking :eek:
2. It needs to bein truely waterproof container. First aid kit that got wet last week will be absolutly useless when you want it.
So heres what I carry and why and some alternatives .It should be ok for most people but check allergies
1. A good strong pair of nail scissors not clipers. problems with toe and finger nails can cause misery. I use fiskars nice and strong.
2. Some thing to remove splinters . could be splinter tweezers , a wide bore hyperdermic needle (my choice) or even a good strong sharp sewing needle.
3. Something to plug a big wound . Army first field dressing , bloodstopper or even a couple of sanitary towels and a 3 inch /75mm crepe bandage (easiest to put on with one hand) Do not go for the ambulance dressings you get in HSE kits as they are very compressed and hard to get out with one hand.
4. Betadine paint, a good all round anteseptic comes in a tough little bottle (squash proof).
5. .Assorted plasters, Good quality fabric ones, cheap ones just do not stay on. I use the strip type and precut into a different sizes.
6. a plastic bag big ehough to put a burnt hand in .
7. A J cloth to mop up and clean.
8. a small roll of 1 inch / 25mm zinc oxide tape . White not skin colour as it sticks so much better. lots of uses,
9. a couple of squares of melalin wound dressing or simalar.
This collection will it into a pretty small container.
This collection has not let me down so far , mind you I always seem to be using it on other folks who dont have a first aid kit :rolleyes:
Hope this helps some one other than me.
underground
17-08-2005, 19:29
If anyone has a local Morrison's supermarket it might be worth popping by- I just got a kit in a green bag for £2.99, which is a bargain. I would have liked a couple but they only had one, so maybe others will have more luck The bag has plenty of space spare for you to add and customise, and to be honest if the bag proves durable it's worth the price just for that alone.
Contents:
A First aid leaflet
Absorbent lint
10 Washproof plaster
Cotton wool buds
1.25mm x 1m Micropore tape
5 cotton wool balls
2 50mmx50mm non adherent dressings
2 antiseptic wipes
1 pair vinyl gloves
5 safety pins
1 pair scissors
1 pair plastic forceps.
All are europlast / Frank Sammeroff Ltd. branded, so proper stuff. Get shopping!
This collection has not let me down so far , mind you I always seem to be using it on other folks who dont have a first aid kit :rolleyes:
Hope this helps some one other than me.
I will just add a couple of extra things
Resus mask
GLOVES (best if you get the lytex freee ones)
macthemaths
18-08-2005, 10:50
If anyone has a local Morrison's supermarket it might be worth popping by- I just got a kit in a green bag for £2.99, which is a bargain. I would have liked a couple but they only had one, so maybe others will have more luck The bag has plenty of space spare for you to add and customise, and to be honest if the bag proves durable it's worth the price just for that alone.
Contents:
A First aid leaflet
Absorbent lint
10 Washproof plaster
Cotton wool buds
1.25mm x 1m Micropore tape
5 cotton wool balls
2 50mmx50mm non adherent dressings
2 antiseptic wipes
1 pair vinyl gloves
5 safety pins
1 pair scissors
1 pair plastic forceps.
All are europlast / Frank Sammeroff Ltd. branded, so proper stuff. Get shopping!
You should try to avoid using cotton wool/lint directly on a wound because it leaves bits behind.
Also you will need to add some kind of bandage (perhaps a White Open Weave) to apply pressure to a serious bleed. From the kit you have bought it would be non-adherent-dressing over the wound, then a padding of lint then... ...here comes the bandage to apply some pressure to the wound.
Chris
marshall4771
18-08-2005, 22:23
Just ordered my civy / maxi from highlander - thanks for the head up.
Shaun
My other half and I do a fair amount of walking so I'm toying with buying some instant cold packs as well for my kit. Only thing I'm concerned with is that they're activated by squeezing hard and mixing the contents and I'm a tad worried that they'll go off in the bag and be useless when they're needed.
I picked up a pack (2) of these this afternoon in Poundland! Tried one out of curiosity and it seems to be excellent. They had heat pads, 2 in abox, for a £ too.
Cheers,
Toddy
Minotaur
22-08-2005, 10:28
Steristrips are very light and good for closing incised wounds. For some reason ordinary first aid kits never seem to have them but expedition kits sometimes do.
I can send you a few free if you PM me your mail address.
I think it has something to do with the fact that if it needs Steristripping, you should be going to hospital. It is the HSE/First aid at work thinking coming over, got to worry about being sued above all else. You have to bear in mind we do not even check for a pulse anymore.
I think everyone has basically covered what to do, buy a cheap kit and add to it. You will find over time that certain things get replaced because you do not like them.
Second purchase, check the plasters stick, I have gone over to the blue ones because they at least seem to stick to things other than themselves. Steri stripps are a must but expect verbal at A & E, and pain, lots of pain, they call it cleaning but it is punishment for trying to avoid A & E.
Last bit of advice, check use by date on plasters and midi wipes, if it has something in it that will degrade, replace it. They are a bit of a con on most items but they seem to serve a purpose on these things. For example, a triangle bandage is going to work regardless(We use calico handmade ones so we get a bigger size) but plasters dry out and do not stick.
l hoppstubbe m
06-09-2006, 00:35
my first post on this website - howdi all of ya..
re footcare: my essential for firstaid kits are blister plasters (hydrocolloid dressings), moleskin too and a sterile needle. oh yea and a sense of humour helps too
go where you will feel the wind in your hair and the hat on your ears....