First aid kit

[Sniper]

I'm fully with you on this Martyn.

[Bothwell_Craig]

I may be wrong however my job keeps me bang up to date with all things first aid and to the best of my belief it is still illegal outside the emergency services ie Air Ambulance, Paramedics, hospital A&E Units, and the military to use this stuff.

Sorry Sniper, that’s not correct. Illegality doesn’t venture into it however they way to keep yourself safe is to only practice what you have been taught.

I dont mean banned as in you cant buy it, I mean banned as in hospitals and ambulance services have ordered their employees not to use it. I cant use it even if I wanted to and I do hold a professional registration.

Depends on your Trust I suppose however the IHCD FPOS – Int. course (Updated protocols and manual May 2010) includes the use of tourniquet to control catastrophic bleeds and at basic level has also updated its ABC’s to C ABC, the initial check in the Primary Survey at that level being for Catastrophic Bleeding before Airway.

My concern …snip…. is that civilians will emulate soldiers and military medics and use them without training, skill or knowledge as a first option, rather than a last option

I totally and utterly agree 100% with that sentiment. It is blatantly obvious by way of some of the equipment being touted as “must haves” in first aid kits on here and some of the techniques being discussed such as self-stitching of wounds that some, not all, people are living in a dangerous fantasy land.

Craig

[bushblade]

Hi folks, I've updated the kit and I've been using this slightly different one for a while now, so thought I would post here. I've adopted the transpore tape suggested in this thread and have to say I'm very impressed with it.
I've also included the FFD in the pictures this time

1. 1 pack of 5 gauze swabs 7.5cmx7.5cm. - Cleaning wound site, applying medications, padding dressings.
   
2. 2 pantiliners - Blood absorbing compress for wounds prior to dressing.
   
3. 1 Opsite Flexigrid - waterproof breathable film dressing ideal for burns and grazes.
   
4. Dressings pack:-
   3 large compeed blister dressings
   2 small compeed blister dressings
   Elestoplast cut to size fabric strips x 3
   2 packs of steri strips
   3 elestoplast waterproof dressings
   3 Melolin 5cmx5cm pads.
   
5. Cotton buds (Q tips) - applying medications, aids in removing foreign body from the eye.
   
6. 10ml syringe with 18g needle stored inside - wound irrigation using clean water/iodine solution.
   
7. 4 x Savlon antiseptic wipes - cleaning of minor wounds and hands.
   8 x Alcohol swabs - cleaning of tools prior to blister draining/ splinter removal, cleaning of skin prior to blister dressing.
   
8. Fixings:-
   5cm wide flat packed roll of Transpore tape by 3m - Securing dressings, improvised butterfly sutures, blister prevention (over hot spots), stays put when wet.
   3.5cm wide roll of Metolius brand finger tape (zinc oxide tape) - Securing dressings, strapping of sprains and strains.
   Mr Bump cohesive bandage 5cm wide - securing dressings, strapping of sprains and strains, reusable, good when frequent dressing changes are needed.
   
9. Medications:-
   2 x Benadryl Acrivastine capsules - allergy relief.
   8 x Ibuprofen 200mg - Pain relief, anti inflammatory, can be taken with Paracetemol for additional pain relief.
   8 x Paracetemol 500mg - Pain relief, fever reduction.
   6 x Caffeine 50mg - Pain relief, temporary relief of tiredness.
   
   
10. Povidone Iodine (10% available iodine) in 10ml droper/application bottle - antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, mixed with clean water for wound irrigation (approx 10 drops per cup of clean water), water purifaction (8-16 drops per 1litre).
    
11. Friars Balsam (tincture of benzoin) in 5ml dropper/application bottle - topical antiseptic dressing for minor wounds and mouth ulcers, topical adhesive for dressings and steri strips, add a few drops to hot water and inhale as a decongestant.
    
12. Victorinox classic and safety pin - scissors, tweezers, toothpick, nail file, small blade.
    
13. 1 pair nitrile gloves - can also be used as improvised mouth to mouth barrier.

[aus bushcrafter]

well thought out kit mate. a bit off topic but thinking of wound dressings i know for a fact that you can use tampons to stop bleeding if you or some one else has received a gun shot wound. not useful rely to bushcrafters buy i thought it might be a interesting fact.

[Alfox94]

Hi all, new guy here

As a trained first aider, I thought I would just say you have a good, compact, well put together first aid kit! you have it so well organised that should someone else need to use your kit, they would be able to do so with ease.

Again good kit! I'll maybe post mine soon

[aus bushcrafter]

is the uk first aid training levels the same as aus? in aus we have Emergency First Aid (also known as Workplace Level 1), Apply First Aid (also known as Senior First Aid or Workplace Level 2), Occupational First Aid (also known as Workplace Level 3) and other miscellaneous. my one just ran out

[Genty]

We have First Aid at Work which is a 3 day course, approved by the Health & Safety Executive ( HSE ) - this sounds like your Occupation First Aid/Workplace Level 3 - and the Emergency First Aid at Work which is a lesser, 1 day course. What level of training you need and how many first aiders at each level depends on your level of risk. The HSE have a useful 'ready reconner' to advise on this:

Here

Outside of the workplace there are 101 courses from almost as many awarding bodies. Whilst they may be sold to different markets or presented differently there is some similiarity between all of them: Some offer very short 4 hr courses which is just Unconscious person and CPR. They all offer a '1 Day' course and a more involved '2 Day' course. These are typically called Basic or Emergency courses (although some call the 1 Day 'Basic' and the 2 Day 'Emergency'...and vise versa so forget about the names just worry about the number of days the course is.

Some providers or awarding bodies offer Advanced courses and these do differ quite a bit in terms of content and intended market.


So.. No prescribed uniformity or continuity between providers/awarding bodies but you will find introductory a 1/2 day, 1 Day or 2 Day course being offered by them all.

The 3 Day course is the only one recognised by the Health & Safety Executive in the Workplace. At this stage there is very little between any provider.

On advance courses you should look to a provider which specialises in your interest.

Hope this makes sense.


Getting back OT. Here is my perspective on First Aid Kits. Comments welcome.

[aus bushcrafter]

cool thanks for that. the differences are quite interesting

[Realbark]

I have one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Medium-First-A...item53e59b2aa7 to which i have added an eye dressing, paracetomol, piriton (anti-histamine), alka seltzer, diacalm, changed the tweezers for some steel ones, leather needles and cotton, micropore tape, antiseptic cream and a plastic bag (for burns) and a medical torniquet (sharp stuff we play with). I carry a duplicate on my motorbike.

[plastic-ninja]

[QUOTE some of the techniques being discussed such as self-stitching of wounds that some, not all, people are living in a dangerous fantasy land.

Craig[/QUOTE]
I can testify to that one!Self-stitched my right leg 20 years ago after a slip with a sharp knife.Obviously I made a hash of it but did close the wound.Cleaned and dressed it when I got home but it went septic real quick and A&E visit followed with wound reopened and cleaned properly and antibiotics.Apparently I could have easily done lasting damage to the leg even if I'd survived the septicaemia.It hurt like a b****ard as well.I now carry butterfly sutures and steristrips!
Simon

[aus bushcrafter]

hi Realbark, just a suggestion but you might want to change those scissors for a pair of nurse ones.

[daryl]

Bushblade

Just a suggestion, from personal experience (use around 10 pairs a day) it would be worth having at least three nitrile gloves, preferably two pairs, the reason for this being that I tend to find that if ive only got one pair to hand (excuse the pun) i usually end up tearing one of the gloves.

Nitrile are tough, however when they tear they end up pretty much disintegrating, leaving you with one unprotected hand. If your really eager to use universal precautions when dealing with someone else, which i would thoroughly reccomend then keep more than one pair with you.

daryl

[TeeDee]

Bushblade , thanks for the Update.

I realise that this is YOUR FAK and so , tailored for your needs and anticipations of probable accidents without going overkill on weight and size.

From a thread on this Forum which nearly resulted in a death from a Horsefly Bite , and as several qualified medical people seem to be contributing to this thread can I ask what peoples opinions are in ref to carrying an Epipen?? Is it OTT ? Too difficult to understand ( for the average layman ) possible causes that would require Epipen use??

[Genty]

You can't simply go out an buy an Epi-pen as it is a POM - Prescription Only Medicine. You would need to get one prescribed from your GP. I you do have a particular sensitivity and your GP deems it appropriate, stress you work in remote environments. Epi-pens do not 'cure' some one of an anaphylactic reaction, only suppress the reaction. After 15-20mins expect the adrenaline to wear off and the symptoms will continue to worsen. Are you going to get an ambulance to you in 15-20 mins.

Carrying an Epi-pen 'just in case' is not advisable. While a person is allowed to administer an Epi-pen to anyone they believe is having an anaphylactic reaction (even it if it is neither the pen of the first aider or the casualty) it is not legal to carry a POM with the intention of administering it.

If you are taking groups out into the woods it really is the individuals responsibility to a) inform you of their condition and b) carry their own medication.


Ref scissors: A pair of Tuff Cut shears are always with me when working. For more delicate tasks ask your pharmacist if they have 'blunt/sharp' scissors. These a re nurses scissors which have one sharp point (useful for peircing packaging etc.) and one blunt point (this is the edge you slide under clothing or dressings when cutting around a casualty without cutting the casualty!)

[bushblade]

Bushblade

Just a suggestion, from personal experience (use around 10 pairs a day) it would be worth having at least three nitrile gloves, preferably two pairs, the reason for this being that I tend to find that if ive only got one pair to hand (excuse the pun) i usually end up tearing one of the gloves.

Nitrile are tough, however when they tear they end up pretty much disintegrating, leaving you with one unprotected hand. If your really eager to use universal precautions when dealing with someone else, which i would thoroughly reccomend then keep more than one pair with you.

daryl

Hi, thanks for the advice. It's tempting to add one more of this, or one more of that, but then it would soon get too big an easily go beyond my intended use. The pair I included are the thick heavy duty type. I use the same gloves almost daily in the workshop and have found them to be very durable.
I have other larger kits intended for group use and I do stock multiple pairs in those.
This is just a personal first aid kit, and it is impossible to fill it with items for every possible situation encountered.
Sometimes **** happens, you deal with it as best you can with what's available and the best knowledge and training available to you.

[Matthew.Passmore]

Great kit Will, think I will make some changes to mine based on yours, I like the idea of carrying an irrigation syringe rather that the disposable pods; just make the solution as you go.

[bushblade]

Cheers Matt, much appreciated, glad you found it useful.

[gordonmac]

Cheers Matt, much appreciated, glad you found it useful.

This is a great post, Will. I've been thinking about putting together my own first aid kit instead of buying them and your kit seems excellent!

[Martyn]

...The pair I included are the thick heavy duty type.

That's a good point. Not all nitrile gloves are the same. Those found in hospitals are very thin and friable, but they are made to be a thin as possible to allow the palpation of veins and wotnot (...and hospital gloves are probably also the cheapest you can get). I have used nitrile gloves from B&Q and found them to be much thicker and more durable. Not so good for putting in IV lines, but ideal for a general duty outdoor first aid kit.

[mrcairney]

I posted this before I saw this section!

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/sho...53&pagenumber=

Should prove useful

[Dreadhead]

Reading through this...i DEFINITLY need to put a FAK together with this as a rough guide as im often a lone trekker with poor first aid skills but enough common sense (i hope!). Two questions:

1. are there any good sources of information relating to the use of some of this equipment. i really mean the solutions etc as i am interested in what different solutions are for such as iodine etc

2. are there any cheap resources for this equipment or is my best bet ebay?

Thanks, Hamish.

[mrcairney]

I've been updating mine Hamish and can PM you links to sites where some of the harder to find stuff can be bought. Chemists are actually really good if you're not afraid to ask for specific things. Other things I've found at Vet stores and the poundshop (believe it or not!)

My FAK is very much like the one in my link above, but it's a good idea to look at different set ups and consider what is best for you.

EDIT: Actually, would it be a good idea for people to post links as to where they picked stuff up (if they did online, of course)? That might be a good idea...

[Dreadhead]

good link, cheers. aye iv managed tae find several things on ebay (first being the israeli ffd in a "what if?" panic haha). My knowledge is most rusty on the liquids i see so many carrying in their kit seeing things such as betadine, iodine solutions etc? it would be great to have a rough guide on the application of these things as common sense can (mostly) dictate on how to keep a wound clean physically but when fighting infections/bacteria etc the unseen is really the unknown in my case

[Genty]

Dreadhead; ref: antiseptics and solutions, there is a brief guide on good old Wiki

Antiseptics


That said there is a growing fashion away from Antiseptics in remote areas, certainly the more potent solutions because antiseptics 1) can cause cell damage 2) can inhibit healing.

In hospitals, saline solution (clean but slightly salty water) is being favoured for all but the dirtiest of wounds (contaminated material or bites (animal or human!)).

Another reason for the move away from antiseptics is that in a hospital setting it is easier to keep a wound clean; this is much more difficult in the outdoors. A wound which has been treated with strong antiseptics can be more susceptible to infection if it is 'too clean' because the skin's natural, good, bacteria has been removed leaving an open portal for infection to enter.

Soapy water will do the job (I read somewhere but can't find the original source that clean water can remove up to 40% of infection). Here is a slightly different link to some evidence.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15995106


Ideally you would flush the wound out with 'high pressure irrigation'. For this use a 20ml syringe (or lager) with a wide-bore needle. Something like an 18g (pink) 'mixing needle'. Mixing needles have blunt tips as opposed to needle for injection so there is less chance of a sharps injury or injecting the water into the flesh. If you have it, try and get 1.5 Ltrs of clean water flushed over the wound.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...61112476801608
http://www.journals.elsevierhealth.c...01608/abstract

I hope this helps. Long story short: Keep it simple - clean water and plenty of it! I am writing an article for the website on wound cleaning and will post a link when done. If anyone has a strong opinion on the above, please feel to comment - either publicly or by PM.

HTH

[Dreadhead]

thanks for the quick and useful reply it helps alot as to my curiosity of the use of antisceptics.
luckily as im recovering from an operation that needs nurse attention everyday i keep ending up with a small supply of saline pods and dressings which will come in handy

i still think a handy antisceptic could come in handy in small doses certainly as things often end up mucky in the bush but overall saline and soapy water should keep me satisfied

as to the soapy water, any ideas if using soapy water made from birch/horse chestnut leaves would be ok? or just a regular bar of soap (have a bar of pine tar soap in my pack usually)

[Genty]

I couldn't say as I've never used soapy water; I'm a big fan of plain, clean water.

I'm also a big fan of carrying things that have more than one use: Does anyone know anything about Potassium Permanganate as an antiseptic? What are the indications / contraindications? It is convenient to carry as a powder but to what concentration is it mixed?

[bushblade]

Reading through this...i DEFINITLY need to put a FAK together with this as a rough guide as im often a lone trekker with poor first aid skills but enough common sense (i hope!). Two questions:

1. are there any good sources of information relating to the use of some of this equipment. i really mean the solutions etc as i am interested in what different solutions are for such as iodine etc

2. are there any cheap resources for this equipment or is my best bet ebay?

Thanks, Hamish.

Hi, a really good book to pick up is Wilderness and Travel Medicine by Eric Weiss that gives a good guide to what the different solutions are for and how to use them.
Another good rescource if you're putting together a FAK is Paul Kirtley's Blog
Most stuff you can get from the chemist, though you usually have to order povidone iodine, ask for videne antiseptic solution

The Friars' balsam is mainly used as a topical adhesive to get dressings to stick (can be a pain outdoors), but can also be used as a antiseptic dressing on its own a bit like the liquid bandage type stuff, stings though. It can also be used inside the mouth and works great on mouth ulcers. A few drops added to hot water and the steam inhaled makes a great decongestant.

The povidone iodine can be used neat, just like you would use an antiseptic cream. It stings less than iodine tinture (which is suspended in alcohol). Its a very broad spectrum microbiocide effective against viruses/bacteria and fungal infections, works well on athletes foot. Its main use is adding a few drops to water to ensure it's clean for irrigation. When used neat it stains the skin so you know where you've applied it. You can also use it to purify water for drinking (8-16 drops per litre depending on water quality/clarity).

Both the Povidone Iodine and friars' balsam are fantastic multi use items that are pretty potent so there's no need to carry lots of it. Being in liquid form they are easy to dispense into small bottle for carry in a compact kit.

[BrianM]

I couldn't say as I've never used soapy water; I'm a big fan of plain, clean water.

I'm also a big fan of carrying things that have more than one use: Does anyone know anything about Potassium Permanganate as an antiseptic? What are the indications / contraindications? It is convenient to carry as a powder but to what concentration is it mixed?

Potassium permanganate is a good oxidant but a poor disifectant. If used on the skin, the concentration is 0.01%. Any stronger can be irritant or even cause burns, and best not used on open wounds (it will leave a deposit of manganese dioxide in the wound).

The old medical uses of this include treating athletes foot, as long as you don't mind mahogany-coloured feet!

It can be used to sterilise water, but there are better alternatives these days, such as sodium dichloro-isocyanurate.
Useful as a fire starter - sprinkle on tinder to which glycerol has been added; as an emergency marker on snow - but best not used medicinally, I suggest.

BrianM
(Advanced first aider and chemist)

[Scottishwanderer]

Duct tape, cayenne pepper, mini bottle of vodka.

Need to make my FAK bit better me thinks.

Got quite a bad cut the other day in the forearm was bleeding a lot, pour vodka over cut, sprinkled some cayenne on, put some sphagnum moss over then ducked taped in place. Jobs a good un.

Hurts like hell though.

[Genty]

Thanks for the info BrainM. Being told 'yes' or 'no' is one thing, being told why is so much more useful. Cheers.