Medical training

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Many shopping malls now have a CPR kit onsite. Walmarts seem to get more shootings than other stores, maybe every Walmart could have a trauma kit onsite. But certainly if you're organizing a security team for your church a trauma kit and appropriate training should be part of the plan.

I also once saw a video where the presenter had the minimum basics in a pouch about 4" x 4", the type with a velcro strap to attach to the same belt you carry your gun on.

Maybe. People sometimes focus too much on the kit and not enough on the skill. The old boy scout teaching of holding direct pressure is really one of the best options out there. CPR is of limited utility if a patient has cardiac arrest after penetrating trauma. If there isn't any blood in them, chest compressions don't do much.
 
A tourniquet, triangular bandage to pack a wound, and SOL duct tape for a sucking chest wound (with cards already in your wallet) do not take a lot of space.

For a bad bleed or sucking chest wound, applying pressure may noy be enough.
 
Maybe. People sometimes focus too much on the kit and not enough on the skill. The old boy scout teaching of holding direct pressure is really one of the best options out there. CPR is of limited utility if a patient has cardiac arrest after penetrating trauma. If there isn't any blood in them, chest compressions don't do much.
I only mentioned the CPR kits to show that public facilities are already doing something for the health of their patrons in an emergency. The idea of the CPR kit is for the case that a patron gets a heart attack.
 
I haven't read the replies so far. Tampons are great bullet-wound-pluggers.
Other than that, direct pressure over the wound and keep the patient as calm as possible. Phone the professionals - should be your first response.
DO. NOT. Torniquet.

Arterial wounds you probably have at best 5 minutes to get a professional.
If gut shot and it's bleeding black, that's liver. 10 minutes.

Most knife wounds will be stabbings and generally gut/lung. You can survive a collapsed lung as long as you vent it so you don't drown in your own blood. Most gut stabs are trivial. A kidney hit will put you in shock within 3 minutes.

You may be surprised how many bullets the human body can take and survive.
It's my understanding that tampons are a terrible idea because they encourage blood flow, when someone is shot that's exactly the opposite of what you want.
 
A tourniquet, triangular bandage to pack a wound, and SOL duct tape for a sucking chest wound (with cards already in your wallet) do not take a lot of space.

For a bad bleed or sucking chest wound, applying pressure may noy be enough.
Exactly.

These doesn’t take up a whole lot of room in a pocket.

Patrol Officer Pocket Trauma Kit
SWAT-T Tourniquet
Z-Pak gauze dressing
Gloves
3 foot duct tape

Dimensions: 3.75"W x 5"H x 2"D (vacuum sealed)
Weight: 6.5 oz

https://www.rescue-essentials.com/patrol-officers-pocket-trauma-kit/


••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

CONTENTS

2 Pair Talon® Nitrile Trauma Gloves (Black)
1 CAT® (Combat Application Tourniquet®)
1 S-Rolled Gauze
1 Emergency Trauma Dressing (4")

Dimensions: 4" H x 6.5" W x 2.75" D
Weight: 7.7 oz
https://www.rescue-essentials.com/nar-ipok-individual-patrol-officers-kit-generation-7/

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Kit Contents Include:
1 Pair Talon Nitrile Gloves (Black)
1 CPR Face Mask
1 SWAT-T Tourniquet
1 Emergency Trauma Dressing (4")
1 Trauma Pad (5" x 9")
1 Compressed Gauze
1 Triangular Bandage
1 Petrolatum Dressing
1 Combat Medic Reinforcement Tape

Dimensions: 7.5" H x 3.5" W x 2" D
Weight: 10.3 oz

D7AEB675-5B8A-4302-A2B6-D9A4C9B40D74.jpeg


https://www.rescue-essentials.com/tactical-first-response-kit-basic/

DHS . Gov report on these kits
https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/Trauma-Kits-MSR_0416-508_0.pdf

If you don’t know what to do or are unwilling to step forward though the kits are useless. Get some training and decide now what you’re personal dividing line is on when you’re willing to help and when you’ll worry about you and yours.

Not a whole lot of time to reflect on it while an event is in progress.
 
It's my understanding that tampons are a terrible idea because they encourage blood flow, when someone is shot that's exactly the opposite of what you want.
That's part of the reason. Tampons don't stop blood flow, they just absorb it. If stuffed into a GSW, they just soak up the blood and expand in the wound while doing nothing to actually stop the bleeding. So now the patient is still bleeding to death and they also have a ball of cotton wadded into the wound which will end up getting in the way when the surgeon goes to fix things up, (if they're lucky enough to survive the incompetent care long enough to get to a surgeon).
 
Here is a size comparison of 2 kits I have put together. The smaller kit generally resides in my wife's purse at work, and I carry it in cargo shorts when we are together. It includes tourniquet, triangular bandage, gauze, duct tape, and gloves. The red kit goes with me to my classroom in my pack, and then home. It includes tourniquet, chest seal, compressed gauze, control wrap, white tape, duct tape, triangular bandage, gloves, nasopharangeal airway, CPR guard, and scissors. I also have an extra tourniquet, duct tape, and bandage to pocket, if I can't carry either kit.

Pictured with a Ruger Lcrx and Glock 30.
 

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How big is your kit? What is in it?
I carry a SOFTT-W TQ and a Hyfin chest seal in my pocket all the time. If I'm going out in a "higher threat area" I add combat gauze. I also carry the older version of this kit: https://darkangelmedical.com/d-a-r-k-trauma-kit/ in my vehicle along with a "boo boo" kit, which includes Ibuprofen, tweezers, a mirror, duct tape, gauze and super glue. It is worth noting that I have a higher chance of needing these items than the average person because of my job. I run chainsaws, climb trees and run chippers, loaders, cranes etc. so the chances of traumatic injury are higher than average. I still think it's worth carrying though and I know it can be done because I do it. :thumbup:
 
For use on someone else a RAT or SWAT-T tq fits into your pockets so well you'll forget their there (for self application they aren't ideal). A package of quickclot is about the size of an empty bifold wallet. Between those two items and a little bit of knowledge, you have a good chance of stopping/slowing life threatening external bleeding to a level that is survivable for 30 minutes or so (usually more than long enough to start evac'ing or getting EMS in).
 
I highly recommend the wilderness first responder class.
 
I am a bit put off by the inventors somewhat dubious "marketing."
Same here. The RAT has quite the spotty record for reliability and personally, I really don't see the advantage. The SOFTT-W (a well proven design) that I carry folds down into a package that's no bigger and actually has a flatter profile than the RATS, making it more convenient to carry.
 
I personally find the RAT a little easier to tote, simply dropping it into a pocket. The SOFTT is my prefered choice for an aide bag, where I'm putting it on someone else (I find them difficult to self apply to arm injuries compared to the CAT). The only issue I have with the SOFTT is for pediatric and geriatric situations. The SWAT-T works pretty well in both of those cases, but can be a lot slower to apply than other TQ's, and for pediatric application there may be issues with limb length. The RAT gets around that. An edge case I know, but something to consider.

On my tac-gear at work, where I'm going to be patching up other military aged/sized people, I run a SOFTT for them, and a CAT for self application (arm applications in particular). I just find the CAT to be a lot easier to self apply on arms even with a lot of reps with the SOFTT.
 
Keep in mind fellas, most of us are wearing a tourniquet most of the time anyway.

Take your belt off and use it. A handkerchief can be used in a pinch as well, provided it’s not thigh injury or heavier person. Rip your shirt.

None of those are ideal, but they’ll work until EMS gets there.

As others have said, just apply pressure if nothing else. Yes, it’s going to hurt the person and they’re going to scream and cry, but being gentle won’t help them. Apply PRESSURE, don’t just place your hand on them.
 
Take your belt off and use it. A handkerchief can be used in a pinch as well, provided it’s not thigh injury or heavier person. Rip your shirt.

None of those are ideal, but they’ll work until EMS gets there.

I'll disagree on that, and I'll see if I can find the report with the pictures. Yes the old triangle bandage with a stick or something similar that many of us learned in the service is an improvised TQ, but it's a horrible one compared to a modern TQ. It will work, but it is very difficult to self apply to your arms. Worst of all it is slow, and slow means bleeding to death. A belt or piece of clothing almost universally fails when it's pressed into service as a TQ, due to a variety of different factors. Well aimed direct pressure if you know where to aim and the amount of pressure to apply (all that you can muster) is a better option if you need a TQ and don't have one. Messing around with a field expedient TQ usually just results in massive blood loss while you realize your improvised TQ isn't working.
 
I'll disagree on that, and I'll see if I can find the report with the pictures. Yes the old triangle bandage with a stick or something similar that many of us learned in the service is an improvised TQ, but it's a horrible one compared to a modern TQ. It will work, but it is very difficult to self apply to your arms. Worst of all it is slow, and slow means bleeding to death. A belt or piece of clothing almost universally fails when it's pressed into service as a TQ, due to a variety of different factors. Well aimed direct pressure if you know where to aim and the amount of pressure to apply (all that you can muster) is a better option if you need a TQ and don't have one. Messing around with a field expedient TQ usually just results in massive blood loss while you realize your improvised TQ isn't working.

I mean, I think I qualified my statement pretty well, none are ideal. I’m in no way arguing against carrying a tourniquet, just that depending on the situation one can improvise.

I personally don’t dress to accommodate a lot of the gear some guys carry. I wear clothes that fit and don’t wear cargo shorts/pants and the like with 55 pockets in them. I don’t carry a flashlight, tourniquet, IFAK, 3 reloads, a spare gun, etc to to to the bank, Walmart, etc. I don’t wear Hawaiian shirts or vests. Nothing wrong with anyone who does, but it ain’t my style. There’s simply not room for everything that we can all agree would be useful in a time of crisis.

All I’m saying, is in a crisis situation, we can absolutely make due for the short period of time it would take EMS to arrive and handle the situation. Use a piece of your shirt and a pen to make a tourniquet while someone holds pressure. Hand your belt to someone and have them PULL. Pressure is great, but sometimes you need more hands.
 
Good thread. I have basic first aid training from military service and also CPR/AED training I retake every two years.

I keep a large kit in my truck and all my other vehicles (and my kids vehicles) have a small kit containing a CAT, quick clot, shears, trauma bandages, and other stuff I feel is essential to helping folks blessing out.

These are pics of the smaller kits. The Camo bag is the one I keep in my shooting bag.
 

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