Jump bag/Trama bag/First Aid Bag.

[Dogman]

I just noticed that this forum does not have many threads about first aid/trauma kits and such.

I have had extensive first aid and EMT training over the years. I have been lucky in that everyplace I have worked have supported my training because it helped to have a trained first responder/EMt on the job, not sure if it helped their insurance but having someone on site to respond is always a good thing. Tho I never have worked exclusively in medicine.

Just got finished updating my Jump kit/first aid/trauma bag and thought it would be interesting to post what I carry in my vehicle with me at all times.

Everyone should have some kind of kit in their home, but also in their vehicles, you never know what will come your way!

I am not going into how big or how many of each of the items I carry, just a general list. Over the years I have used this kit that has evolved as time goes by to help at several accident sites and wrecks.

Battle compression bandages
ABD dressings
Non stick pads/dressings
Tourniquets
Tape, dressing retention
Sam splints
Tongue depressors (can be finger splints)
Elastic bandages, ace style and self stick.
Bandages of all shapes and sizes,
Gauze different sizes.
Cleaning pads and gauze.
Triangular bandages/slings
Thermometer
Blood clot/stop dressings and powder
Non stick pads/dressings
Tape, dressing retention
Heat packs
Cold packs
Burn jell
Benzocaine Hydrcloride powder 99% pure.
Lidocaine 4% cream
Topical antibodies
Benadryl cream and tabs
Cortizone cream
Assortment of aspirin/ibuprofen
Iodine
Alcohol wipes
ammonia squibs
Sting kill squibs
Tincture of benzoin ampules (for steri strips)
3M steri-strips skn closures.
Skin stapler (disposable 30 staples)
Minor surgery kit
Emergency blanket


And other items that all fit in a jump bag roughly one cubic foot in size. A bunch of these items I have vacuum packed to reduce bulk and assorted items per pack so I have a choice depending on need. Also vac packing adds another layer of protection so they remain sterile until needed.

Humm.

Post under construction.

Need to look at what I have in my bag/s and the reasons

[Glass]

good idea.

Can you offer any advice about how long some of these things will last for before needing replacing. I'm thinking of lotions, saline washes, wipes and that kind of thing?

I picked up a construction site FAK and packed about half of it into a molle pouch then into the BoB. Its probably 7 years old now.

[Dogman]

good idea.

Can you offer any advice about how long some of these things will last for before needing replacing. I'm thinking of lotions, saline washes, wipes and that kind of thing?

I picked up a construction site FAK and packed about half of it into a molle pouch then into the BoB. Its probably 7 years old now.

Good question, but sorta hard to give a good answer, bunch depends on the environment the kit is stored in.

I have some tapes and pads that are over 20 years old and still good.

Dry items in zlock bags mainly to protect from humidity can last for many a year.

Creams and such, ? really do not have a good answer tho what I do may help stretch shelf life a bunch.

Most everything in my kit is subdivided into smaller kits and are in z lock bags and then vac sealed in a vac bag. Even tubes of liquids and creams that are sealed in their own containers get vac packed into the mini kit.

So depending on the situation I can chose what is needed by package.

I do keep small quantities of common needed items just in z lock bags for immediate use. And the vac sealed bags are in reserve until needed.

So a answer, of shelf life on the product can come into play if it is in a tube/cream or so, is only a recommendation.

Who knows? I can guess a very long time if protected from extreme heat and humidity. Mostly for a kit heat can not be helped but humidity can be fought by z locking those items in a bag. And more so by vac sealing. So storage time is extended. Bandages and gauze and tape will keep decades if protected.

Hope this helps.

Edit!

It never hurts to gather all of your supply's and kit and then see what's you have,need to replace or to think what to add.

Buying a bit at a time is good, if I had to replace my kit, would take several hundred bucks! But everything has been added over 30 years and not all at once.

Now can I can handle minor boo boos, to gun shots and loss of limb and maybe keeping some one alive until better treatment can be done.

Every one needs to evaluate their set up at least once a year if not sooner!

[Glass]

I have some small containers of saline solution for washing wounds and so on. They come in these capsules of maybe 3 or 4 oz with a small tab that can be cut off one end. Need to take a look and see if they have a use by date. I think some of them are suitable as an eye wash. Don't want to be using anything out of date in the eyes.

The rest of the stuff I have is fairly stable. Adhesives loosing their stick might be the other thing. Pretreated dressings?

[Dogman]

I have some small containers of saline solution for washing wounds and so on. They come in these capsules of maybe 3 or 4 oz with a small tab that can be cut off one end. Need to take a look and see if they have a use by date. I think some of them are suitable as an eye wash. Don't want to be using anything out of date in the eyes.

The rest of the stuff I have is fairly stable. Adhesives loosing their stick might be the other thing. Pretreated dressings?

Try vac sealing them. Or at least z lock bags.

Saline if sealed should keep dam near forever!

[Shami-Amourae]

I started a thread a while back on bugout bags. It may help:

http://gold-silver.us/forum/showthread.php?59543-Building-a-Bugout-Bag&p=535926&viewfull=1#post535926

[Dogman]

One of the things other than antibiotics that I have looked for and was legal to have, unless you have a friendly doctor that can help you with your kit.

Is pain management, mostly skin on the surface, burns, cuts, insect bites, scrapes and gasp the need for emergency sutures or skin staples.

Two that are available, one is Lidocane that is available at a low% in creams, and the other is Benzocaine Hydrochloride which can be had at up to 99.9% powder. Here is one source that I have used. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K3YYQ8A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Its the real deal!

For skin numbing Benzocaine is wonderful, but care needs to be taken on the strength used and where it is applied. Here is the lowdown on it do your own research, I was looking for something to help if the need for stitches/sutures or skin stapling was needed to be used tho at the time, shock would probably keep most people numb to it, until the shock wears off and the hurting begins ,to close large cuts and tears until proper care can be found.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzocaine I like this because if you know how to mix the 99.9% powder can be diluted to any strength, chemistry math is a must, weight by volume and mole's. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_%28unit%29

As noted in the wiki, if you use it wrong you could end up killing someone, but that is true with many things we use everyday. Caution is the word and wisdom to do use it right.

It does fit the bill, seeing it is not restricted, If you know a friendly vet there are other meds that work with people just as good as critters that can be had for a field kit.

Just some thoughts, on relieving pain, on the surface of our body's and at worst field surgery when you can not get to the pros in a emergency anytime soon as in days or longer.

[Glass]

I was in a drug store (we call then pharmacies) the other day and was stunned to see all sorts of analgesics and other variations available across the counter without a prescription.

I was also in a pet store recently and noticed they had a huge wall at the back with all sorts of medications. Pain relievers and many other things. I wondered if you needed to go to a Vet to get a prescription for those but I don't think you do.

People here or earlier GIMs were talking about sourcing anti biotics and so on from per supplies.

[Dogman]

I was in a drug store (we call then pharmacies) the other day and was stunned to see all sorts of analgesics and other variations available across the counter without a prescription.

I was also in a pet store recently and noticed they had a huge wall at the back with all sorts of medications. Pain relievers and many other things. I wondered if you needed to go to a Vet to get a prescription for those but I don't think you do.

People here or earlier GIMs were talking about sourcing anti biotics and so on from per supplies.

Most meds that are for pets can be used on people, just do your research, what is not otc in vet supply's is a way around needing a prescription from a doc. But those need special care, like kept in a refrigerator or something and I would note the expiration dates seriously.


Dam man, I thought you blokes down under would call pharmacies , chemists like mother England!

But there are ways as noted to at least have some good basic med,s on hand if one looks. Tho the best is having a doc that can understand your needs and wants and knows that what you are doing will not be abused.

[Hitch]

Having a jump bag med kit handy I think is a great idea. I've complained at work because all our first aid kits are bolted securely to bulkheads and not mobile. You've got to have a kit handy you can grab and take with you to the victim.

As with having a good kit, is the knowledge on how to use it. Former EMT here as well. Taking a good first aid course is a must, in my opinion. CPR classes, the real thing is pretty much just like taught on the dummies you practice on, except for the breaking ribs in old folks. CPR does not save lives, AED's do, CPR just keeps folks a chance until you get them to the hospital where the doctors save lives. If you can't get them to a hospital, CPR 9/10 times isn't going to help. Would love to be able to afford an AED. Prices keep going down, so maybe I'll take the plunge and get one as well.

[Dogman]

Having a jump bag med kit handy I think is a great idea. I've complained at work because all our first aid kits are bolted securely to bulkheads and not mobile. You've got to have a kit handy you can grab and take with you to the victim.

As with having a good kit, is the knowledge on how to use it. Former EMT here as well. Taking a good first aid course is a must, in my opinion. CPR classes, the real thing is pretty much just like taught on the dummies you practice on, except for the breaking ribs in old folks. CPR does not save lives, AED's do, CPR just keeps folks a chance until you get them to the hospital where the doctors save lives. If you can't get them to a hospital, CPR 9/10 times isn't going to help. Would love to be able to afford an AED. Prices keep going down, so maybe I'll take the plunge and get one as well.

Exactly training is a must, I have been certified in the past, but no longer, but that does not stop me from taking classes and such to keep up on current ways to treat/handle trauma injury.

A person without training/knowing what to do can cause more harm than the injury itself.

Bolted down kits are fine for general stuff, but a bag is better for right there immediate treatment.

With a tad of study or brushing up you could call me a EMT paramedic. Over the last 30+ years I have a couple of hundreds of hours training, with some hospital time, as most EMT'S . Started my formal training in the late 70's when the EMT concept was first starting and never stopped training, just never been full time.

[zap]

So I will be negative ......CPR wont save all lives, But CPR can save some,,,,,,,, seemed like hours,,,, it didn't change the outcome though ................. I Couldn't save his life!

[Dogman]

Having a jump bag med kit handy I think is a great idea. I've complained at work because all our first aid kits are bolted securely to bulkheads and not mobile. You've got to have a kit handy you can grab and take with you to the victim.

As with having a good kit, is the knowledge on how to use it. Former EMT here as well. Taking a good first aid course is a must, in my opinion. CPR classes, the real thing is pretty much just like taught on the dummies you practice on, except for the breaking ribs in old folks. CPR does not save lives, AED's do, CPR just keeps folks a chance until you get them to the hospital where the doctors save lives. If you can't get them to a hospital, CPR 9/10 times isn't going to help. Would love to be able to afford an AED. Prices keep going down, so maybe I'll take the plunge and get one as well.

Even with a ADE you may still need to know cpr, the combo of both can probably increase the patients/victims ;) chances of living greatly. Big bucks for something that may sit unused for years, but then needed in less than a heart beat.

Unless one is surrounded by people all the time , justifying a ADE is iffy, unless just the knowledge and probably eventual use will save a life.

Hard call other wise.. All my training is mostly before portable ADE's existed.

[Hitch]

So I will be negative ......CPR wont save all lives, But CPR can save some,,,,,,,, seemed like hours,,,, it didn't change the outcome though ................. I Couldn't save his life!

Zap, CPR is all we can do to try and help when the situation is God's hands. I've done CPR maybe 40 times, and only twice has the person made it.

Doing CPR is a time of prayer, and it's when we trust our faith in God the most.

[Hitch]

Unless one is surrounded by people all the time , justifying a ADE is iffy, unless just the knowledge and probably eventual use will save a life.

Hard call other wise.. All my training is mostly before portable ADE's existed.

I just don't have much faith in CPR. It keeps the brain cells alive, keeps blood pumping through the system, but does not revive people. They need to go to the hospital, and you can't stop CPR until they do. CPR does not jump start the heart. An AED, reboots the heart, like a computer, and it works. I want one.

One time I did CPR for so long I could not unlock my fingers. My hands were stuck together. A coworker unlocked my hands for me. That was a loss.

[Dogman]

So I will be negative ......CPR wont save all lives, But CPR can save some,,,,,,,, seemed like hours,,,, it didn't change the outcome though ................. I Couldn't save his life!

There are times when nothing can help, it is gods will. Response time is critical and even then the outcomes are iffy.

Tho, it is wrong to blame oneself for something that can not be helped.

Feel for you and know how you feel, life is funny because non of us knows when our time is up, we have no expiration dates except when the time comes. Which sucks big time for most that are left behind.

Take care lady, you are doing good and be proud that you have the tadpole to carry on both of yours lifes.

[Dogman]

I just don't have much faith in CPR. It keeps the brain cells alive, keeps blood pumping through the system, but does not revive people. They need to go to the hospital, and you can't stop CPR until they do. CPR does not jump start the heart. An AED, reboots the heart, like a computer, and it works. I want one.

One time I did CPR for so long I could not unlock my fingers. My hands were stuck together. A coworker unlocked my hands for me. That was a loss. Knowing how to give a good thump on the chest and then cpr can usually work, Shock ADE takes it further and may be needed for those that are closer to the edge. Owning a personal AED is a choice that is personal. I for one can not see it because I am dam near a hermit, but you are more in public and are exposed way more than I. They can save lifes beyound normal cpr, but they also need to be cared for on a regular bases, mainly to make sure they keep and have a good charge/battery, and not sure of the need for calibration/certification.

[Hitch]

Knowing how to give a good thump on the chest and then cpr can usually work, Shock ADE takes it further and may be needed for those that are closer to the edge. Owning a personal AED is a choice that is personal. I for one can not see it because I am dam near a hermit, but you are more in public and are exposed way more than I.

I think about sailing with folks. I know CPR itself is only good until they can professional help. An affordable AED I'd love to have on board because I know help can't come quick.

CPR really is keeping a dead person biologically alive, until they can get to a hospital. That's the reality of it. Unless in the case of drownings, or airway issues, but heart conditions... CPR is our way of honoring those who leave us most of the time. It's a show of caring for life. There's a bright light shining down from Heaven, I believe that.

[Dogman]

i think about sailing with folks. I know cpr itself is only good until they can professional help. An affordable aed i'd love to have on board because i know help can't come quick.

Cpr really is keeping a dead person biologically alive, until they can get to a hospital. That's the reality of it. Unless in the case of drownings, or airway issues, but heart conditions... Cpr is our way of honoring those who leave us most of the time. It's a show of caring for life. There's a bright light shining down from heaven, i believe that.
yes !