First Aid Kit or Trauma Kit?

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Sentry18

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First Aid Kit or Trauma Kit?
Apr 16th 2018 Kerry "Pocket Doc" Davis

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Is it a first aid or a trauma kit? OR…..is it both? The correct answer is that it should be either one or the other and that you should know, both, the differences AND the limitations of each. A first aid kit isn’t a trauma kit, though it can have some traumatic care items in it, and a trauma kit isn’t a first aid kit, by our definition. So, which is which? I’m glad you asked that question. Lemme ‘splain you….

Having a first aid kit is just as essential as having a trauma kit because they both fill very specific roles. First Aid is what is done immediately after recognition of a sudden illness or injury and can, indeed, be lifesaving depending on what actions need to be taken and what items are on hand. What we want to do is try to separate “First Aid” from “Trauma” and clearly delineate what they are in our line of work. First Aid, to us, is more minor, non-life-threatening injuries, our “boo boos” while trauma is some type of injury which requires immediate actions to be taken in order to preserve life.

We try to separate our kits like that as well. A very comprehensive first aid kit can have some life-saving components in it and that’s cool, but know where they are because in the first instance of trauma, it’ll become a tactical yard sale as crap is being strewn in every direction while that “one” item is being sought out. A comprehensive first aid kit, while nice to have, tends to be on the rather large side, which is another reason we like to keep things smaller, more compact and easier to carry. The smaller, more compact and easier it is to carry, the more likely you are to carry it where it belongs; on your person.

A trauma kit has the basic necessities to help with the things that will kill us the quickest, the first being massive life-threatening hemorrhage. At a bare minimum, you need to have a pair of gloves (non-latex due to latex allergies) to protect you from body fluid-borne pathogens and a PROVEN tourniquet, not the latest “cool guy” tourniquet or a frickin’ knock off from China. Next, you should have some sort of hemostatic gauze like QuikClot Bleeding Control Dressing or a chitosan-based product like ChitoGauze along with a pressure dressing to reinforce the hemostatic agent and hold it in place. Those are literally the basic foundations of a “trauma” kit. If you can, add a pair of compact chest seals in there as well so that you have the ability to “stop the bleeding and start the breathing”.

What your first aid or trauma kit doesn’t need in them unless you are trained AND certified to use them: Suture kits, chest decompression needles, surgical airway kits, chest tube kits, endotracheal tubes or any other advanced, invasive procedure devices. Why? They are a HUGE liability and they take up valuable space that could be occupied with more pertinent devices like tourniquets and hemostatic gauze. I’ve yet to hear of a major trauma victim needing to be sewn up in the field at the site of the injury. Any of the other stuff I mentioned, unless you’re an MD, NP or PA, stay away from it. I don’t care if you watched it on YouTube or took a TCCC class, unless you have those licenses you CANNOT legally perform those procedures and even if you’re a CCEMTP or Flight Paramedic, you can’t perform them unless you’re under direct medical control.

Basically, keep your first aid kits limited to first aid situations and your trauma kit limited to trauma situations. That clear delineation will greatly increase your chances of finding what you need should the situation arise. Only place items in them with which you have been trained on or you are otherwise certified to use. Stick to the basics of trauma management; “Stop the bleeding and start the breathing” and everything else will fall into place.

https://darkangelmedical.com/blog/first-aid-kit-or-trauma-kit/?mc_cid=8bdc3fb1b9&mc_eid=a1d5137709
 
I have a minor first aid kit that I keep handy in the event of minor everyday type injuries. I also have a decent first aid kit in my GHB with a few additional trauma supplies added (hemostatic agent, occlusive chest dressings, and some larger dressings). At home, I have a very comprehensive trauma kit. I don't carry the trauma kit with me around town because we have an excellent EMS service here. The kit is "just in case" EMS is not available or if I am going somewhere without EMS services.
 
I have a full EMT bag in my closet for my family, a full trauma kit I carry in my range bag, and a workplace first aid kit at my home, where I could care for most of my neighbors if the situation arises to this level. I also carry two large hand made first aid kits in my car, which include yellow body blankets, courtesy of my old police department.
 
We have a trauma bag that hubby got when he was his stations EMT. We've replaced things as we use them or think they are getting to be to old. I also have a small pharmacy in my bathroom for everything else and small basic first aid kits in each vehicle and squeezed in the backpack I keep my portable nebulizer in.
 
If you are an "outdoor" type it should be both - never one or the other. First aid kits are used more often but if you do any activity where traumatic damage can happen that first aid kit might not be enough.
I was showing my trauma kit to one of the folk at the range and he convinced the board to get three for the range. The range doesn't have a first aid kit but they now have three trauma kits..??!!
 
@Patchouli I set ours up at home as first responders kit and have a smaller one in the car. When we go out cutting firewood or on country drives we are quite often out of mobile range so we take the first responders kit with us.

I would recommend looking online at what a first responders kit contains and buy the contents yourself as it is far cheaper than buying a ready made one and the same with a basic first aid kit most of the time too at least here in Australia anyway.
 
This thread made me check what I keep in my backpack at work. My employer provides a basic first aid kit in every vehicle, so I pack light with mine:

Aspirin and Ibuprofen. (I end up giving most of that away to guys who have hangovers...)
30 band aids
2 large bandages
A roll of stretchy first aid tape
Single use, tear open packets of burn gel, poison ivy gel, and insect bite gel
Bug repellent wipes
Fingernail clippers
Rolaids
Inhaler

This goes with me in my pack, wherever I travel. The only thing I'm missing right now is first aid gloves.
 
The cars, daypack and my scooter have basic first aid supplies, similar to the J&J. They also have a trauma kit with a quick clot pad, Israeli bandage, tourniquet, gloves, scissors and a space blanket.
 

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The big kit in the shelter room : https://dademoss.smugmug.com/First-aid-kit
Outside compartment is space blankets and a couple triangle bandage, top tray is a tourniquet, shears, 3 Israeli bandages, and 3 Olaes bandages.

The rest of the contents are in the pictures:

I need to add some bug repellant, hand sanitizer and soap.
 
This is a comprehensive list of our "first aid" kit for home emergencies. You can add to or detract from it to fit your needs. If you have kids or pets you need to add for them.
First-Aid Kit

In any emergency a family member or you yourself may suffer an injury. If you have these basic first aid supplies you are better prepared to help your loved ones when they are hurt.
Knowing how to treat minor injuries can make a difference in an emergency. You may consider taking a first aid class, but simply having the following things can help you stop bleeding, prevent infection and assist in decontamination.
  • Several pairs of Latex or other sterile gloves if you are allergic to Latex (nitrile)

  • Sterile dressings to stop bleeding

  • Cling wrap ( to treat sucking chest wound)

  • Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes

  • Antibiotic ointment (honey and sugar) to add to ointment for better healing

  • Burn ointment (water soluble/honey)

  • Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes (include butterfly bandages)

  • Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminate (1 tsp boric acid in 1 cup boiled water)

  • Thermometer

  • Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.

  • Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies
Non-prescription drugs:

  • Aspirin and non-aspirin pain reliever

  • Anti-diarrhea medication

  • Antacid

  • Laxative

  • Stool softener

  • Oral hydration fluid (or kit containing ½ tsp salt, 6 tsp sugar, ¼ tsp of salt substitute) Package dry ingredients in sealed bags and add to 1 liter purified water (store enough for four liters per day for 2 weeks)
Other first aid supplies:
  • Scissors

  • Tweezers (hemostat and forceps)

  • Tube of petroleum jelly and/or other lubricant (KY jelly is water soluble)
Supplies for Unique Needs
  • Denture needs

  • Contact lenses and supplies

  • Extra eye glasses
Ask your doctor about storing prescription medications such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin and other prescription drugs.
If you live in a cold climate, you must think about warmth. It is possible that you will not have heat. Think about your clothing and bedding supplies. Be sure to include one complete change of clothing and shoes per person, including: Boots, Jacket or coat, Long pants, Long sleeve shirt, and multiple pairs of socks and underwear. Mummy bag sleeping bags rated for -20F)




Added medical supplies:

Wrist, arm, finger and leg splints

Eye pads

Mole skin

Cold and hot pack or rubber hot water bottle

Large wound bandages (disposable diapers, Kotex pads and tampons) sterile pads to stop bleeding)

Ace Bandages

Triangular bandages (multi-purpose)

Alcohol and powdered bleach (pool shock)

Powdered Alum (styptic for minor cuts)

Tape ( ½, ¾, 1, 2, and 3 inch wide)

Surgical rubber tubing (¼, 3/8, and ½” x 4 feet long)

Tourniquet and constrictive bands

Dust filter masks and filter respirators

Personal water filter (life straw or similar)

Curved needles and silk or linen thread (emergency suture kit)
 
Talking to my daughter on phone a few minutes ago. She is going through the change of life and doesn't want to take HP meds. But her BP was 170' 103 so I told her she needs to get water pills and that high is dangerous.
I hear B-6 is acts as a duriretic. But she should take the script to get it down.
So maybe add vitamin B-6 to the list?
 
i had already started a basic 1st aid kit for the home. Then i won one in a contest.in which.it's a better kit then the one i started.plus.nothing came out of it.both kits go with me,when ever i get into car to go anywhere.i added a compass/whistle/match storage compartment area.to the one i won.the whistle is just in case i need help,while in the woods.compass for direction.and waterproof matches just in case a fir is needed..i also plan on adding a tarp or pad.and a temporary shelter of some kind.this way i can get a injured person out of the weather if need be.be it heat.snow.or rain.untill the needed assistance shows up. .
 
People are forgetting to add CPR shields and gloves.

If someone goes down and you have to administer CPR the worse thing that can happen to you is to contract an incurable disease or virus because you tried to save someone.
They're cheap and come in a small velcro pouch that goes on your key ring.
You can buy masks in adult and child sized that can go in the first aid or first responders kit.
cpr.JPG
 
We have to take a yearly first aid/CPR / AED refresher every year at work. They always hand out new CPR mask like those. Good to have on hand.

I keep a good supplied kit in each vehicle and have added a TQ & Isreali bandage & clotting gauze to them. I also keep TQ's /bandage/gauze combo in each GHB, Range bag, and chain saw bag. Those things are rarely used, but will save a life if needed. Are not very expensive either.
at home I have a first responder bag that has way more in it than I have the skills to use. I do need to replenish the IV solutions in it.
 
In the book,that came with my new kit.is a detailed section about cpr.in which it not only tells how important it is to use something between the person in need of cpr.and the person giving cpr.but it also tells how to use a powder free glove as a CPR shield as well..
 
Thanks for that link jac.i got it bookmarked.

I got to looking through my kit.nothing there for cpr.so i'll be looking through my 1st aid suppies,that i have in my totes.on account i remember having something for cpr.and,of course i'll have to clean it up first.then put it into a clean baggie..
 
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TEOTWAWKI. Sorry folks. You get a bullet, pitch fork, bat to the head, compound fractured, etc...anything beyond basic first aid treatment, I'm sorry but you are dead as far as I'll be concerned. We are not able to prove a fully staffed medical emergency room with a Doctor on call including all needed pharmaceuticals. We will do what we can, but you and nature are on your own.

The "Walking Dead" example of cutting off an infected leg, cauterizing the resulting wound and preventing infection, the odds are not practical. Worth trying? Depends if MAG has a secured location, man-hours and resources to see it though to the end.
 
Some large sterile trauma bandages would be helpful (remember that things like kotex are not sterile). Also helpful would be some #11 scalpel blades for lancing infections and removing very large splinters. The scalpel blades are packaged separately from the handles usually (or you can get disposable handles with the blade already attached, but I don't care for them much). The blades run a buck and change each, and the handles are also pretty cheap. Elastic bandages are also helpful in a trauma kit- can be used to help stabilize broken ribs, keep large dressings in place, and also used for compression dressings.
 
We have first aid kits for the basic needs.
I am not qualified to provide more than the basics, like dademoss.
Need a band aid for a cut finger or a splinter removed I can help.
I do have some more advance items like scalpels and sterile sutures that were given to me when I worked at a hospital.
It would have to be a no help will ever come situation before I even thought about using those.
Blood glucose lancets also work good for removing splinters.
A blood lancet is similar to a small scalpel but with a double-edged blade or needle.

I need to get out all of my first aid kits and inventory them.
It's been awhile and I really need to check, plus I'm not 100% sure where they all are.
 
Queston for those that know.I have some WoundSeal powder that i had forgotten about .in which it expired 02/2017..is it still good?or am i better off replacing it?
 
That's a idea.but it'd be kept for me only.if i go that route.on account i won't take a chance with it,when it comes to someone else..
 

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