First aid kit w/ bullet trauma in mind

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sevenpoint62mm

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Looking for ideas on making a first aid kit for my truck with gunshot wound trauma in mind. I have a small range bag but its not always with me and this is more for a first responder situation, holding things together til the medics come.
The average kit of 4 inch band-aids isn't going to make for a pressure dressing so I think I need to make my own (unless someones made a kit with this in mind already). While I have the past EMT experience you can't fit a whole ambulance into a neat 8x10x6 (or so) nylon bag. Considering the small space what all would you good folks recommend. So far I got:

3 - 3 in x 75 inch gauze rolls
6 - 4x4" gauze pads
3 - 5x9 surgical dressings
1 - roll medical cloth tape
1 - roll duct tape
1 - 4 oz of antiseptic
1- 1 cpr mask
1 - pair of gloves
1 - sharpie, black
1 - surgical scissors
1 - 24 inch nylon rope (1/4" thick)

What else? Any ideas?
 
Something for an occlusive dressing - saran wrap or the like.

~W

(Edit: Asherman Chest Seal is a ready made occlusive with a one-way valve. Pricey, but worth it if it's needed.)
 
If you want to deal with trauma you need trauma packs. IIRC they are around 8-12" square, pretty thick, and can absorb a lot of blood. I had one on my forhead when I was 16 (backseat in a T-bone). I think they doubled it over to fit better and then wrapped the gauze rolls around to keep it in place and put pressure on the ground flesh.

I seem to remember someone here recommending tampons for gunshot wounds. Not to sure if they're the best idea though.
 
Some good ideas. I only listed 4x4s because we used them my the fistfuls for gun wounds but with limited supplies and space a more direct approach to filling the wound (as suggested) might be in order.

I heard theres a soft rubber insert you can put into bullet hole paths for blocking blood loss, anyone seen these and how much?
 
If you keep your eyes open, sometimes you can find surplus medic kits for sale pretty cheap. Places like Cheaper than Dirt, and Sportsmans Guide often carry them.

The only problem I've seen is trying to repack them after you open them to see what's inside!

Hope ya never need it.
 
Get a hold of a public safety magazine like galls and get some stuff called QuickClot, it is saving lives in the middle east right now. I have a complete kit, and it only cost $50.00. Money well spent if I never need it.
 
You might want to see if you can add one of those sticky flapper valves for open chest wounds with lung damage. They allow air to escape the cavity and when the wonded breaths in it seals to allow better airflow to the lungs and help the lung from collapsing.
 
Duct tape, a zip-loc baggie and feminine pads. A tampon has been used before to slow bleeding from a non-exit wound. I carry adult diapers also. They work for occlusive dressings along with the duct tape. They work well for traumatic amputations also.
 
The thing to remember is that you don't, AFAIK, stuff the tampon into the wound, putting anything into an open wound is a major no-no. Tampons and feminine-pads are used because they're highly absorbent. Tampons are for places where the pad might not work as well, like joints, where the cylindrical shape might work better. There's a good article on MadOgre.com about first-aid-kits.


~Slam_Fire
 
When I was young and foolish and still running the streets as an EMT, we used feminine pads for major trauma. Much cheaper than the stuff they sell for that purpose. Just don't get the "scented" kind
 
I believe that I would include one of the pocket-sized emergency Space Blankets, used to treat the victim for shock. A small book on First Aid might be usefull even if you are trained in basic first aid.
 
Not tampons, pads.

They work just like field dressings and some come with adhesive.

Disposable betadine ****** for antiseptic, it is cheap and you get a lot in a sterile container.

Buy some sling material, you can use it to secure dressings.

A ladder splint or two.

Tape.

scissors.

Pain killer.

Super glue, you can use it to close small wounds.

Suture set, needles and thread, DO NOT CLOSE UP A PUNCTURE WOUND, bandage it and let a doctor clean it.

Gloves.

Lots of gauze.

Ace bandage.

Tweezers.

Magnifying glass.

Matches. An alcohol lamp will work for sterilizing instruments also.

Alcohol.

Antibiotic cream.

Burn ointment.

Space blanket. You will want to keep the patient warm, helps prevent shock.

Water. Don't give anything by mouth if it is an abdominal wound.

Do not give any pain killer to a patient with a head wound.

The steps to follow.

1. Clear the airway. It doesn't help to stop the bleeding if the patient suffocates. Perform CPR if necessary.

2. Stop the bleeding, direct oressure, if that doesn't work use a restricting band (like a tourniquet but you loosen it every 10 minutes.

3. Imobilize the fracture, if any.

4. Keep patient warm, calm and as comfortable as possible while you wait for help or transport them to help.

There is so much more. Go to a first aid class from the Red Cross and you will learn a lot. You can probably get your employer to pay for it.

DM
 
http://www.revdisk.net/medkit.html

This is a small write up of my medi-pak I used to keep in a vehicle when going around. I used a beat up spacious backpack instead of a custom jobbie that'd cost an arm and a leg.

I add things here and there. Especially when I pick up a tip from a nurse, doc or medic.

Over time, I plan on adding more items. Maybe working on the catagorizing and add links to where one can purchase said items cheaply.
 
Wow great info guys. I'll splurge for a Asherman (never hurts to buy quality bullets, condoms, or medical supplies).

Short of a defrib unit I should be able to deal with the situation until help arrives. I hope I never have to face using it but better to be ready.

Anyone have experience with QuikClot or compariable product?
 
While I have no direct expereince with Quik-Clot (thankfully), several close friends do. All are fans. I have two packets in my blow-out kit.
 
I need to ask this:

Why if you are preparing a first aid kit, would you not focus on other more likely types wounds, injuries, ailments, etc.?
 
More likely ailments aren't going to be as life-threatening. Also going to have a face mask for airflow/CPR but other then that I can wait to get home to treat minor issues. Anything requiring more professional threatment I can either get to medical help or wait long enough for help to get to me. Car wrecks and weapon wounds are about the only treatable trauma you will die from before you can get to medical attention.
 
While it is certainly better to have some medical supplies on hand rather than none, the best advice is to get some experience in treating injuries. To do this I would strongly recommend if youre time and budget allows it to take an EMT class. Most community and tech schools offer one. Sure it takes time but in a year or less you go from having a glorified firstaid kit to having a fully, properly stocked jumpbag and most importantly the skills to use it effectivley.

Like double Maduro said, there is so much more. GSW's in the real world almost always never do what you would expect. Such as accurate count of entry/exit wounds, why only 2 in front but more in back? sometimes no exit wounds. { these are bad!} is the person obese? what kind of clothes are they wearing? heavy jackets? I once had a patient develope a tension neumo from a GSW to chest. She was an innocent bystander who was heavyset with a large bosum, entry under left breast, no bleeding, lowlight conditions, Look at victims hands, sometimes they raise their hands to fend off attack and sustain wounds to hands. Bystanders will always give you conflicting stories while you try to get a primary assessment done. Some folks can walk away from the scene and drop dead on the frontporch when they get home, remember, once you start to treat someone you CANNOT stop untill someone with equal or higher training takes over that is abandonment and will get you in lots of trouble. Know youre state laws!

Do have a basic understanding of human anatomy? where are the major vessels? pressure points? do you know the signs and symptoms of shock? compensated? they may look fine then uncompensated shock kicks in. UH-OU. Why does the victim have muffled lung sounds on the affected side? I put an occlusive dressing on the chest wound? try burping it! ah much better. Can you take a basic set of vitals? Blood pressure is the main thing to watch. Blood loss leads to low B.P. Remember to raise there feet. What about fluids? I.V. fluids can keep the victim hemodynamicaly stable long enough to get to an E.R...........maybe.

As you can see there is SO much to know and learn about trauma and field medicine. I strongly encourage you to get some training. EMT intermediate is a good goal to shoot for. Most programs take a year or less and you could volunteer or work partime somewhere to get the experience. The life you save may be a loved one or good friend!

BTW, Good advice Double Maduro. you a medic?

Also If 444 is floating around out there somewhere I'm sure he could give you more advice.
 
I'm a surgeon, and my advice is to spend as little time as possible screwing around in the field with first aid kits, and get whoever is shot to a hospital ASAP. Most gunshot wound victims can be saved if you will just get them to a hospital.

Unless you have a lot of training, having a bunch of medical gear isn't going to be helpful. You will not be able to stop bleeding in the abdomen or chest no matter what you have. Putting a 4x4 on a belly wound is useless.

Hold direct pressure on anything squirting blood, and give CPR as necessary, but most importantly get to a hospital.

Also, remember if you are treating strangers to be aware that HIV and Hepatitis are pretty prevalent these days. I don't recommend getting a stranger's blood on you if you can help it.
 
QuikClot is rapidly falling out of favor because of the exothermic reactions mentioned in the above links.

This file talks about some of the currently available topical hemostatic agents currently available; however, the last line of the presentation is noteworthy: "No evidence these agents are superior to direct pressure!!"

As has been stated above, direct pressure (combined, I would say, with a bulky dressing) is the way to go.
 
med 10

66-68. One of the jobs my favorite uncle gave me.

I have forgotten so much. Time for a refresher course.

DM
 
I have lurked on this thread for a while. I agree with Lone_Gunman the only true cure to trauma is a trauma center (not neccessarily the closest hospital but that is a whole nother kettle of fish). Thinking back through the gunshot wounds I have treated over the years, except for shotguns they really don't bleed a whole lot. I feel comfortable with a couple of 5x9's and some gloves in my range bag.
 
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