First Aid "blowout kit"

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GMHAYESUSN

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Just wondering how many other people have one on hand and what they had in it?

Mine consists of-
Blackhawk escape and evasion pouch (picked it up on clearance for around 15 bucks)

2- Quik clot sports (the little 3 by 3 pouches)
1- 6 inch by 85 inch bandage
1- 2 inch by 24 inch bandage
2- 4 inch by 7 inch Field dressing
1- 37 by 37 by 52 inch muslin bandage
1- 2 inch by 6 yd compressed gauze
1- roll of cling wrap
1- mag-lite solitaire
1- small splint
4- 2 by 2 sponges
1- roll medical adhesive tape
1- tourniquet

some of the things i need to add/change

I want to upgrade my tourney i want to go to the one handed style also want to add a pair of trauma shears
 
that's nice
but do you have a clue on how to use it?
the quick clot
um it has some BIG down sides
and you forgot the most important piece, commo

cause you can stop the bleeding etc. but it don't do you any good if you're dead 3 days later from exposure trying to get back to civilization.

Oh and some 4" or 6" kerlex can replace all the gauze with a pair of sheers, and 4x4's are more useful and can be cut down into 4 2x2.
I personally like the Isreali field dressing.
 
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My fualt i forgot to add what i do for a living and where i employ this I am a active duty Navy Gunners Mate and this is with me for Range instruction and ATFP watchstanding

and as far as the use of quik clot what i have been told and read online the particular ones i have are apllied with direct pressure until bleeding has stopped and then apply dressing/wrap over i know that it is only supposed to be used on Bowel shaped wounds according to my doc onboard and that it causes more than a little discomfort when used.

all in all ive paid 40 bucks for half decent kit for my needs i think
 
I was introduced to the Israeli Battle dressing earlier in the year. Good piece of kit.

We have a couple opened, that we use for training.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkC0pCiotGM

Quick Clot seems to have fixed some of their 'problems'. I think their 'z' fold combat gauze is the best of their products.

Add to the above 2 items a CAT tourniquet and you have a pretty capable kit for handling major wounds.

Of course, equipment is of very limited value without training. To paraphrase Jeff Cooper; "you are no more a medic because you have an Izzy, than you are a musician because you own a violin"
 
Quick clot is a powder that was poured into wounds, downside is that produces heat (alot of heat) so you ended up with wounds that had to go to surgery to removed the 'cooked' tissue located deep in the wound, there are a number of other types of clotting bandages, most operate by providing a scaffold for the clots to from on with clotting factors to promote clot formation. Down side is they need to be stored correctly and can degrade quickly, so watch the expiration date.

You're a gunners mate, in the Army every soldier is supposed to be trained in the Combat Life Saver course, an advanced first aid/first responder course. Your docs should have something similar. Also I would add petite tampons (5.56) or heavy (.45 and 7.62) as it provides internal pressure.

Also I'd add an Asherman Chest Seal or petroleum gauze for chest wounds
once again, training, I have seen medics who were worthless under pressure and Infantry grunts that were better at IV's than me.
 
OK, so I initially intended this to be a quick post, but it isn't. I was a medic in the 82D ABN, and have treated a fair amount of people in combat - but of course doesn't mean that I am right, and others are wrong. But, I have done it, in places other than classrooms and hospitals. Here are my thoughts:

+1 to training. A lot of it. Training trumps equipment.

The right guy can make Kerlix, petroleum gauze, and 6" Ace wraps do amazing things, FWIW. This is primarily what I used. This stuff is my bread and butter.

I'd get rid of a lot of that stuff personally. The field dressings would be gone, as well as the 2x2 (use 4x4, or a section of Kerlix folded up for the more minor owies). Cravats are worthless, IME, except as slings. Cling wrap for sealing a chest? If so, gone - get some petrol gauze. If not, what do you use it for? 2"x6 yard gauze would be replaced by Kerlix.

Is your tape 1"? I like at least 2", and I don't recall anyone preferring the 1" stuff. It has its place, but that place isn't for serious trauma.

Not familiar with that Maglight - is it a headlamp? If not, away it goes. You can get good, inexpensive headlamps from Walmart for about $15. Two hands and light are really nice to have when someone is bleeding in front of you.

What kind of splint? Do you know how to use it? Is it a SAM splint, or what? If your goal is to make someone not bleed to death till more qualified folks show up, I'd DX that too.

What kind of tourniquet? IME, the one handed ones suck, at least the ones I've used have. It didn't take long to realize that. Do you know how to use it?

Definitely get some trauma shears.

Have you actually practiced with this stuff? In somewhat realistic conditions? Here's a hint, get someone and practice on them. A lot. On all parts of them, including armpits and groin, and places that would be inconvenient to treat. Then wet them down to somewhat simulate blood. Blood is slippery. Then do it in the dark. Then do something to elevate your heart rate and get yourself excited. Make it suck, and make it difficult. Then make it harder. Then add more patients. You get the idea. If you practice for 20 minutes, and think you're good after that practice session, you're mistaken (no offense).

Is all your stuff wrapped up like it came, or have you done anything to make it easier to open stuff? Don't use your mouth, unless you like blood and other nastiness in your mouth. There is a lot of stuff you can do to set yourself up for success, like bending your tape back on itself to create a tag. Try getting that tape loose from itself when your hands are wet. Sometimes seconds don't really matter, but sometimes they do.

Do you know where all your stuff is within your kit, and what it feels like?

Being prepared is far more than just having stuff available for you to use, IMO.
 
Blow out kits aren't full med kits. Their intended to treat traumatic wounds to allow the victim to survive until medical help arrives. They need to be small enough to carry all the time and the person that uses it needs to be well enough trained and in practice to use it. You better put the time in to learn how to use all of it in all the ways you think you might. That means you'll take more than just the CPR/First Aid the Red Cross offers. Best if you take the Certified First Responder course, but you can take an advanced first aid course and a couple of 2 day courses with Ian McDevitt and Hugh Coffee and be pretty well ahead.

This is the mini kit I carry at the range.
Quick Clot Gauze
Quick Clot Dressing
4.5 " Kerlex
2" Durapore tape
Asherman
CAT tourniquet
mini EMT shears
 
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