8 Must Haves for a First Aid Kit

[Clyde]

These Items may seem obvious others may seem odd, but all sure are needed, and have made me rethingk and redo some of my first aid kits.

Items:

1. New-Skin Liquid Bandage, First Aid Liquid Antiseptic
   
2. Super Glue
3. Tampons and Maxi-pads (Must be unscented)
4. Hand Sanitizer
5. Safety Pins
6. Tongue Depressors
7. Self - Adhering Cohesive Wrap 2" Wide
8. Hemostatic Agent (QuikClot)

 

[jimLE]

Hand Sanitizer and Safety Pins i have..and i also have Wrap 2" Wide,but i dont know if it's Self - Adhering Cohesive or not..

 

[Gazrok]

Antibiotic ointment should definitely be in there.
Also an ACE style bandage. Meds aren't far behind either.
Same with Shears.

Tongue depressors? Why?
Same with Safety Pins...Why?

 

[jimLE]

we was in Walgreen's today..in which i got wound seal powder.4 packets for 4 different applications .and their in a lil plastic box/case..i think i might end up going by there each month to continue buying them,1 or 2 at a time..

 

[jimLE]

oh yeah..i also got 2-4 inch ace bandages with the Velcro thing on one end.this last Monday as well.so i now have 4 of them..

 

[jontte]

got the Fin-army bandage in my med-kit..easy to use as should be.

 

[jimLE]

Antibiotic ointment should definitely be in there.
Also an ACE style bandage. Meds aren't far behind either.
Same with Shears.

Tongue depressors? Why?
Same with Safety Pins...Why?

safety pin(s) and a shirt make a good arm sling
you can use safety pins to pin cut cuts shut

Tongue depressors can be used for finger splints

 

[jontte]

multiuse items

improvise..adapt..overcome....said Gunny who??? in what movie from the Reagan-era..

 

[Kenprep1979]

guess the pins would be good if you had an infant in diapers cus in a shtf sit. you would likely be using some sort of cloth for diapers but other then that i see no need for them or depressors! i have the rest of these items in my kit!

 

[Maverick]

Tongue depressors? Why?
Same with Safety Pins...Why?

"Tongue depressors? Why?"
Makes great splints for the wrist, palm and fingers in a pinch, cheaper than the SAM splint or use in conjunction with a SAM splint.

"Same with Safety Pins...Why?"
if no tape, wet tape safety pins are a good option, if the pants was cut up the leg to access the wound safety pins is a good option to temporarily mend the pant leg they also are good for making a sling, pinning information on someone, removing slivers, rolling a garment up 4" to make a neck brace using the pins to hold together etc... multiple uses

 

[Brent S]

"Tongue depressors? Why?"
Makes great splints for the wrist, palm and fingers in a pinch, cheaper than the SAM splint or use in conjunction with a SAM splint.

"Same with Safety Pins...Why?"
if no tape, wet tape safety pins are a good option, if the pants was cut up the leg to access the wound safety pins is a good option to temporarily mend the pant leg they also are good for making a sling, pinning information on someone, removing slivers, rolling a garment up 4" to make a neck brace using the pins to hold together etc... multiple uses

I agree, with a little thought and creativity, you can multi use many items.

 

[Gazrok]

I do as well, just wasn't seeing them as "must haves", which is why I was curious. I had thought about the splint and sling reasons

 

[Maverick]

I do as well, just wasn't seeing them as "must haves", which is why I was curious. I had thought about the splint and sling reasons

I think there is a fine line between essential (as in being important) and must have

 

[Kenprep1979]

well a sling can be tied back to its self with your standard knot and a needle from your sewing kit or your repair needle could easily be sterilized and used to dig shit out of wounds ! and a splint is simply something rigid that can keep a limb from moving or bending which can be made out of hundreds of things lying around anywere ! yes it would be easier to just carry the depressor and pin in your kit but it isnt a must!

P.S. see what you started here Clyde! HAHA!

 

[Silent Bob]

"Tongue depressors? Why?"
Makes great splints for the wrist, palm and fingers in a pinch, cheaper than the SAM splint or use in conjunction with a SAM splint.

"Same with Safety Pins...Why?"
if no tape, wet tape safety pins are a good option, if the pants was cut up the leg to access the wound safety pins is a good option to temporarily mend the pant leg they also are good for making a sling, pinning information on someone, removing slivers, rolling a garment up 4" to make a neck brace using the pins to hold together etc... multiple uses

I agree, with a little thought and creativity, you can multi use many items.

Here is the big reason that I keep safety pins...on several occasions, I've had to use the safety pins to secure the flesh by binding the affected wound or simply to act as a temporary suture before getting the patient back to more advanced care. I know that they might not be sterile, but then again nothing is in that type of environment. In fact, I'd stake my years of field medicine to clinical/hospital medicine, that their is a lower relation to infection from treatment in the field. Granted I am not opting that we go back to the dark ages of medicine, but their is some truth and laboratory evidence that patients having open wound management care is better for the recovery, rather than the binding of wounds in a sterile field. In any case, I advocate preppers should acquire the knowledge both field/clinical in preparing to do it alone after a SHTF.

 

[Brent S]

Here is the big reason that I keep safety pins...on several occasions, I've had to use the safety pins to secure the flesh by binding the affected wound or simply to act as a temporary suture before getting the patient back to more advanced care. I know that they might not be sterile, but then again nothing is in that type of environment. In fact, I'd stake my years of field medicine to clinical/hospital medicine, that their is a lower relation to infection from treatment in the field. Granted I am not opting that we go back to the dark ages of medicine, but their is some truth and laboratory evidence that patients having open wound management care is better for the recovery, rather than the binding of wounds in a sterile field. In any case, I advocate preppers should acquire the knowledge both field/clinical in preparing to do it alone after a SHTF.

Having a good first aide course should be a given among anyone who considers themselves preppers, parents, or just about anything else. You don't need to make a career out of it, but knowing how to help in an emergency, and not doing more harm while helping is a really good skill set to have.

 

[Silent Bob]

Having a good first aide course should be a given among anyone who considers themselves preppers, parents, or just about anything else. You don't need to make a career out of it, but knowing how to help in an emergency, and not doing more harm while helping is a really good skill set to have.

Can't agree more, I know DPF members have discussed this in other messages, but its not bad to remind people that, a great resource is the local American Red Cross Chapter. They offer a simple CPR/AED course that is about a couple of hours worth of investment, also you can sign up for their basic first aid course, just the basics, but for people who don't have a great skill in this area, its a good course because its hands-on. Another opportunity is to see when your local hospital might host a EMT course, of course, seeking a competent Wilderness EMT course is a great opportunity to help hone those skills that will be practiced when the SHTF. Their are a few for-profit entities that offer herbal medicine courses and a few that offer elite field medical training. You'd have to check online, I have a few contacts if anyone is interested, but I hesitate to post them, as they are commercial entities and I want to respect DPF members and Clyde's site.

 

[Maverick]

Can't agree more, I know DPF members have discussed this in other messages, but its not bad to remind people that, a great resource is the local American Red Cross Chapter. They offer a simple CPR/AED course that is about a couple of hours worth of investment, also you can sign up for their basic first aid course, just the basics, but for people who don't have a great skill in this area, its a good course because its hands-on. Another opportunity is to see when your local hospital might host a EMT course, of course, seeking a competent Wilderness EMT course is a great opportunity to help hone those skills that will be practiced when the SHTF. Their are a few for-profit entities that offer herbal medicine courses and a few that offer elite field medical training. You'd have to check online, I have a few contacts if anyone is interested, but I hesitate to post them, as they are commercial entities and I want to respect DPF members and Clyde's site.

Also some fire departments and colleges offer free First Aid/CPR/AED certification courses.

 

[jontte]

never understood how ingrained some things get to you,for the last 10 years in every occasion me and my group had to do some first-aid,I could always rely that as we were at least 4 persons in the group 1 would call the emergency number,rest could concentrate to do what's needed,now in school it's; call first then do what you have to,totally different mindset..a lot for this old donkey to re-learn..one has to adapt...

 

[Brent S]

never understood how ingrained some things get to you,for the last 10 years in every occasion me and my group had to do some first-aid,I could always rely that as we were at least 4 persons in the group 1 would call the emergency number,rest could concentrate to do what's needed,now in school it's; call first then do what you have to,totally different mindset..a lot for this old donkey to re-learn..one has to adapt...

I was in the medical field so long ago (most of the 80's) that I am sure they changed a lot of things since then. I will say though, even if they teach a slightly different way to do cpr, the old way still works a lot better than nothing at all! We did a pre Cardial thump back then, but too many young and adrenaline filled helpers broke too many ribs while trying to help, so they scrapped that one. Things are always being refined to make them a little better, but the basics are always going to be there once you learn them.