Team First Aid Kit

[The Stig]

In my continuing obsession of all things trauma I've put together a large team based first aid kit. The goal of this kit is to provide supplies on a larger scale and serve as a resource for a larger group.

For example, should we decide to ride out a hurricane at a relatives house, I would pack this kit with me. If we go on a camping trip with a group this would go along.

So here's a picture of the bag itself. It's made by Gregory. I picked it up for $40 at an emergency field medicine training class. The instructor had a pile of bags and my GearWhore nature took over. It measures about 2' tall by 14" wide.

The bag is nice in that it's a large briefcase but can also be used as a backpack (straps are contained internally. If needed simply give them a tug and they come free).

The bag has different panels that have mesh pockets. The mesh pockets allow for quick identification of the contents while the individual panels are able to be removed for quick access or easy rearrangement inside the bag (held in place by velcro).

To the far left of the bag you'll notice a flashlight and loose role of duct tape.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/IMG_0274.jpg?t=1301505784

Inside the first pocket is what I call my trauma wound pocket. It contains a gunshot kit (Israeli bandage, Celox packet and triangle bandage), triangle bandages, TK04 tourniquet, ace bandages, Kerlix gauze, plastic gloves, etc.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/IMG_0275.jpg?t=1301505784

Directly below this are additional trauma related items such as an IV start kit, large chest-sized Israeli bandage, gauze wrap and ace bandage.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/IMG_0276.jpg?t=1301505784

The adjoining panel includes some trauma related items along with some day-to-day type stuff.

Pocket: H&H Chest shield, Ascherman Chest shield, 2 decompression needles and surgical tape

Pocket: Celox packets, Celox nose bleed strips, Celox gauze, petroleum bandage.

Pocket: Medicines pocket with anti-diarrhea, pain meds, anti-inflammatory, nausea, alcohol pads, etc

Pocket: Bandaids pocket with a bunch of different sized bandaids

Pocket: Face masks

Pocket: Plastic gloves

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/IMG_0277.jpg?t=1301505784

[The Stig]

Panel 2 consists of the following

Pocket: Surgical tools such as scalpels, needle holder, forceps, etc. Also a pair of trauma sheers

Pocket: More plastic gloves and face masks

Pocket: Airway items including oral airway kit and nasopharyngeal airway tube. Also has several packets of surgical lube

Pocket: Splints such as SAM emergency splint, balsa wood and tongue depressors for makeshift splints, finger splint. Also have a triangle bandage in the pocket to help as a tie-down.

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/CopyofIMG_0278.jpg?t=1301507256

The next panel contains

Pocket: Light sticks for emergency lighting

Pocket: 2 emergency blankets to keep injured person warm, 1 packet Ceralyte electrolyte solution

Pocket: Cold compresses. Several packets of cold compresses (crunch up the packet to start the cold)

Pocket: Burn kit with various sizes of burn bandages, creams, etc

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/CopyofIMG_0279.jpg?t=1301507256

This next panel is a bit of a grab-bag of items

Pocket: Emergency fillings

Pocket: Packet of purified water and syringe for irrigation of wounds

Three different pockets of different sized bandages and gauze

Pocket: Foley Catheter

http://i1227.photobucket.com/albums/ee427/ltlabner/CopyofIMG_0280.jpg?t=1301507256

[The Stig]

Like I said, this kit is aimed at providing supplies to large groups of people. Unlike my other kits this one would stay in the car, at the house or at the campsite. I could carry it but its so big I'd never carry anything else (for reference the bag measures 2' x 14"). If we were heading out of dodge for a hurricane this would definitely be in the car. If I was working around the house to clean up the mess from a hurricane (cutting trees, hauling debris) I'd grab the other bag that acts as my corpsman bag as it's much easier to move around. But the big bag provides quick access to a large amount of supplies to care for a larger number of people.

I'm likely going to rework this kit after I rework our existing BOB's (which will happen once we finish putting away all the crap in the garage!). For example, the water packet/irrigation syringe should be moved with/near the surgical tools. The cold compresses should be moved closer to the splints.

Also, I'd like to add more water packets, some rubbing alcohol, more dental supplies, some eye shields and a better selection of splints.

A large portion of what's in the bag I can use. I can treat basic trauma wounds like a gunshot, broken limbs, deep cuts, etc. I can do sutures (they ain't pretty) and start and IV if needed.

Some of the items are on hand so a qualified medical professional can use them. For example, the decompression needles. Unless there was no chance of assistance and my friend was dieing I wouldn't attempt a needle decompression. I feel 100% comfortable burping the chest shield but the danger of screwing up the needle decompression (coupled with possible legal ramifications) means I'd avoid it unless left no choice. Now...if a doctor was on hand and wanted the needle then viola...he has one.

Another example is the IV kit. I can start an IV but since I'm not a doctor I don't have anything to IV into someone else (and no intentions of obtaining anything). But should a doctor need something like this I can hand it over and get out of the way.

[RedJohn]

This is pretty extensive. Thanks for sharing with us.

[izzyscout21]

gets me to thinking.....I may have to do something similar.....mind if I play doppelganger?

[The Stig]

By all means....I look forward to seeing what you come up with....and how I can copy it!

[bacpacker]

Very nice kit Stig. Very versital. I think having stuff on hand in case a Dr on hand needs something is a critical aspect that often gets over looked.