OAUSA Net December 12, 2013 – Build a First Aid Kit II

[toms]

Tonight we want to dive into the contents of a first aid kit. We are looking for suggestions on what you think are appropriate.
If we have time :
How do you feel about storing survival items in the first aid kit?
What if you don’t have a first aid kit? What are the top 5 items you would want in your pocket?

Some links to OAUSA topics
Trail First Aid Kit Topic viewtopic.php?f=29&t=28
First Aid Kit - UT & AZ Expedition 2012 viewtopic.php?f=169&t=3069

First Aid Course
If you need to take a Wilderness first aid course the local SoCal instructor for Wilderness Medical Associates is
Josh Jackson actionjoshjackson@yahoo.com (619) 303-5688 http://www.wildlead.com

If you are not in SoCal jump on the http://www.wildmed.com and find a local instructor.

[KK6GFF]

Love this topic! Here's a cool video that gives ideas on how to get started with a medical bag. I bought the same bag and have almost everything he has in it. I customized to the needs of my girlfriend and me. I want to eventually add an AED to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaLfG0PfKPQ

Also, I agree, training is basic. I got my EMT license for this reason. However, I would advise against giving medicine to people, unless you're qualified to do so, and applying any kind of quikclot. Quikclot is advertised as used by the military, etc... but it's only used in military hospitals, under strict supervision. It can cause more harm than good in the long run, Quikclot is illegal in many countries. Use the RICE method first, and if it doesn't work, use a tourniquet. Tourniquets today are not as dangerous as they used to be and in the last few wars medicine has evolved enough that they're no longer life or limb.

Roger

[toms]

Product Spot Light

You want the kit to be as waterproof as possible and you should try to segment the supplies into separate areas or small bags based on categories of need.

A pelican case could just meet your need for a water tight container. You can get a small case in orange or yellow. The 1200 case is compact but will hold the basic first aid items. If that is not big enough you can move up a size or two. One of their brief case boxes would also be ideal. In the picture, the 1200 case is sitting on a pelican brief case / laptop case so you have some idea of size.

Pelican also sells the 1500 EMS which features a custom interior designed specifically for medical supplies. It is made of high-impact structural copolymer, is airtight, watertight, dustproof, crushproof, chemical- and corrosion-resistant. Keep your medical supplies and equipment safe and secure, no matter where it is needed.
http://www.pelicancases.com/1500EMS-p/1 ... z2nJQS1500

You provide your own contents.

[KK6GFF]

Maybe I got it wrong on the net yesterday, but I understood that the premier membership of AAA included helicopter insurance, in case you have to be evacuated by helicopter. I called AAA and the woman on the phone literally started laughing saying that in the 40 years that she's been working at AAA she had never heard that. She said that maybe if you book a trip through AAA they might be able to assist you, but that they don't cover the expenses. Did I get it wrong?

Also, in Re: to the First Aid Kit, we didn't cover fractures, but an item I have in my first aid kit that I'd recommend to everyone who offroads is a C-Spine Collar, such as:

http://www.amazon.com/LAERDAL-STIFNECK- ... ine+collar

It takes some room, but I'm sure there have to be some foldable ones. It's important that the neck size is adjustable.

Roger

[DaveK]

Roger:

No, you did not get it wrong about the helicopter insurance - that's what we heard as well. I was very surprised to hear that the AAA Premier membership included helicopter evacuation insurance. It prompted me to make a note to call my AAA guy to confirm - but you beat me to it. I'll try here locally to confirm what you have been told, but I suspect that it is accurate.

Regarding the net last night, it turns out that the topic of "building a first aid kit" is a lot more involved that we anticipated and as a result, there was a lot of ground that we were not able to cover. I suspect that there will be a third session of this net coming soon. Your suggestions are good and need to be covered.