Started my WFA pack for vehicle use.

[crawler#976]

Started my WFA kit today. Unpacked the boxes and repacked everything into heavy ziplock bags.

If you see any glaring ommisions please let me know!

I was unable to get glucose gel in a single pack - a three pack was $18.00. I also need burn dressings.

[1leglance]

Don't worry about burn drsngs...
I can tell you from working shifts at the Maricopa Country Burn Center that you can do just fine with lots of rolls of gauze and water clean enough to drink.
Matter of fact I have taken alot of the fancy stuff out of my kits and mainly just trust to lots of rolls of gauze (you can cut small bits off if needed vs those single square pkgs) and tape & water.
Also get a 20ml syringe with blunt tip for wound washing (I can send you one if you pm me)
Then benadryl and some other basic meds....your Dr should be cool about a script for an epi pen..worth it's wgt in gold if needed

[Caoboy]

Super glue works just as well as the 'new skin' liquid stitches. They are the same thing, except the liquid stitches has some agent in it to make it flexible when it dries.

Duct tape is a great 'waterproof' tape if you need something more 'durable', that and some papertowels/guaze make a bandaid that's bullet proof (Not really :) )

Neosporin (sp?)


Benadryl (topical/pill)

albuterol (and atrovent if possible) inhaler (need a script, never know when you might need it from smoke inhalation or other respiratory issue)

Anti-itch creams

Hydrogen-peroxide

Aloe Vera gel? For a sun burn it'll help, but not really needed.

Aspirin/ibuprofen/tylenol

I carry most of these things all the time in my car.
I'm sure someone will come in here with a super medkit and make you envious...like with a WALK pack or something LOL

[crawler#976]

Hey Lance!

Got a 20ml Syringe from Kristina - far left center in photo. Thanks for the offer tho! I'm going in to see my Doc on Monday to see about getting a Epi-pen.

I carry Benadryl caps, Naproxyn, and lots of duck tape in the truck.

There is no need for Hydrogen-peroxide or Neosporin if the wound is clean and properly bandaged.

_________________________

On another note, I have made a descision to not perform CPR unless it is a witnessed event or family member. I have done CPR 7 times while in the USCG, and not one of them recovered. In all those cases the person collapsed or drowned well before our arrival on scene. In a wilderness/off highway event the chances of recovery are even lower without a defib unit.


Mark

[1leglance]

peroxide is no longer part of wound care...
flush with water & dress...repeat often
also neosporin is way over used...
clean is the name of the game.

On the CPR thing....dude you are preaching to the choir here. I code someone here in the hospital way too often and most of them don't ever go home. The stats on someone in the field making to back to home after the hospital is under 5%
That said more than likely I would still do compressions just cuz that is how I am...but it would suck that is for sure.
I have been watching the price of AED's come down and I really am working hard to get my son's boy scout troop to get one for all the times we have grandma/grandpa, old uncles and such around.
As the price continues to fall I hope to get one myself....but as an ICU RN I am totally cool with using it.

The number one thing you can do is play "what if" games in your head all the time, on the trail, just driving down the highway, any chance you get think about all the things that could happen and what you would do.
Studies have shown that playing "what if" is as good as actual experience in keeping you from freezing in panic.

[crawler#976]

Thanks for the replies Lance - your insight is invaluable.

I've been doing "What If's" for years - both from my USCG days and from my training with Chuck Taylor's ASAA.

Added an Epi-Pen to the kit today. My Doc was totally cool about it.

[Jnich77]

Tampons: Plugs puncture injuries better than anything else.

"ACE" bandage: Combine with gauze to make a very awesome pressure dressing, specifically for axillary areas.

2" Tape: Go big or go home.

SAM Splint: Not only is it an awesome splint, it can also act as a C collar.

Pedialyte: Excellent for dehydration.

CAT tourniquet: Simple to use, even if its on your self. Also very effective, although it can take two to stop femoral bleeding. Might not sound important in "expo environment" but a broken bone can very easily shred the veins around it.

Common sense: Best medical tool EVER!!!!



Something I learned as a Medic on both of my tours to the middle east.... leave all the "gee-wizzzzz" crap where it belongs, on the shelf! Use the most basic, simple, and uncomplicated solution. The faster you can stabilize an injury, the faster you can evac them to a higher level of care.


As for wound care, if its a serious wound requiring evac, don't go overboard cleaning it or trying to use liquids, creams, or sprays to disinfect it, thats why they make antibiotics. I know I am not as educated as some on here when it comes to clinical treatment, but if you have any questions on how to treat an injury in a filthy environment far from home, and using minimal supplies... feel free to ask.

[crawler#976]

Thanks for the reply - I appreciate your service and insite!

I'll get a couple ACE type wraps to throw in for sure great for sprains/strains as well.

The VetRap/CoBan works like wide tape - awesome product.

From my USCG training I can make a pretty fair tourniquet with a triangle bandage. I'll investigate the CAT type tho!

http://www.narescue.com/index.htm Looks like an interesting resource

[Jnich77]

Thanks for the reply - I appreciate your service and insite!

I'll get a couple ACE type wraps to throw in for sure great for sprains/strains as well.

The VetRap/CoBan works like wide tape - awesome product.

From my USCG training I can make a pretty fair tourniquet with a triangle bandage. I'll investigate the CAT type tho!

http://www.narescue.com/index.htm Looks like an interesting resource

NAR sells all kinds of neat stuff, and much of it is very useful. We use a lot of stuff made by them, and it has been my experience that it is of good quality.

As for the tourniquet, the beauty behind the CAT is its very simple for you to use on yourself. Use home made one on your upper arm and twist until the pulse in your wrist is non palpable. Then get up and move around for a few min... you'll see the problem. They don't work too well in the "real world". A CAT will flat out stop the blood flow, and once you lock the windlass in, its not moving.

[Caduceus]

Second at least ONE CAT or similar.

Coban is NOT tight enough for a decent pressure dressing.

Do you have any trauma dressings? it looks like there might be three in the upper left corner, but can't make them out for sure. if you don't, a couple tampons work in a pinch, as will a wad of 4x4 or a Kerlix used as a wad of gauze.

Oh, Caoboy... superglue and dermabond are NOT the same. Close, but chemically different. They're both cyanoacrylate, but the side groups are in different positions; that's what leads to the flexibility. one is 3-cyanoacrylate, one is 8-cyanoacrylate. Just saying ... though in a pinch, yes, superglue (or duct tape) works. But really, why would you want to close a wound if you're in an auto? Unless you're positive it's clean and won't be infected.

[crawler#976]

I've got lots of gauze, wrap, and 5 triangle bandages. Probably will add a few more 4x4's.

I'll look for a CAT to add.

[Hafwit]

I just saw this and wanted to add my $0.02.

I would start with a decision as to what limits you want to place on your supplies in terms of size as this makes a big difference on what you can include. Another key ingredient is whether you are carrying supplies for just yourself, your vehicle occupants, or a group of vehicles and how far in distance and time you will be from outside medical help. When I am with a group of several hundred people who will come to me for whatever "issues" may arise (and they usually do), I bring a more comprehensive kit including a backboard for immobilization. The backboard works great for other uses, so it isn't a complete waste of space--I also put it on the roof rack where it is out of the way. I wouldn't rule out either peroxide or Neosporin as these both have their uses, but they are often used inappropriately. If you don't have formal training, a simple and compact field medical manual should be included as it could be live-saving.

Cheers,
Greg

[Scott B.]

You might want to check out Moore Medical (http://www.mooremedical.com/) for your supplies.

We use them here at work, and I bought a lot of my trauma kit supplies from them - quite a bit less expensive than the local box or drug store.

Not affiliated with them, just a satisfied customer.

[crawler#976]

Ordered the following from North American Rescue:
.
Emergency Trauma Dressing (ETD) - 4 in - qty of 4 https://www.narescue.com/Emergency_Trauma_Dressing_(ETD)-CN3628A28F222B.html?BC=BB1B643B8917
.
Individual Patrol Officer Kit (IPOK) - qty of 1 https://www.narescue.com/Individual_Patrol_Officer_Kit_(IPOK)-CN292C1A5D0D80.html?BC=01CAD72151F1
.
I looked over my stuff, and even tho I carry a lot of gauze and wrap, figured a few of the dressings would be appropriate, and the IPOK kit includes a C-A-T Combat Application Tourniquet https://www.narescue.com/C-A-T_-_Combat_Application_Tourniquet-CN33B7051138B3.html?BC=7B0A24087588.
.
That will probably be my upgrade for the year. Next will be replacing items as they go out of date.

[dakdoc]

Crawler#976
That's a great starter kit. With a little tweaking, you'll be set!

You'll save weight, space, and be able to treat just as many injuries by ditching the: cold compresses (heavy and short lived, never been proven to work anyway), wound wash and eye wash solution (can use drinking water instead), face shields (without an Automated External Defibrilator, cpr is usually pretty futile), coban (it's difficult to reuse, maybe consider swapping it for an ACE wrap or two), syringe (put all the kit in a zip lock bag, snip a small corner, and fill it with drinking water, squeezing it to force the irrigant out and onto the wound).

Have you considered adding a few small vials of tincture of benzoin (greatly improves adherence of your blister dressings and steri strips), an ACE wrap or two, and 3-4 tablets of OTC meds like benadryl, motrin, imodium. Get rid of the boxes (they'll get wet, place contents in ziplock bags instead). Your epi pen will likely expire before you'll use it, and the half life of epi is such that if you really and truely need epinephrine, you'll likely need a couple of them (not very efficient for the weight and space they takeup).

Remove the pack stays or struts (often located inside the fabric and right next to your back, gives the pack support) and take a SAM splint, cut it into two pieces, lay them together side by side lengthwise, and ducktape them together. Take em out if you need em. You can also likely re-use the tape.

Let us know when you first use your pack, we'd love to hear!

Jon

[crawler#976]

Thanks for the tips!

Everything shown was repacked into heavy zip lock bags prior to storing it. This is a vehicle carried kit, so the extra weight of the liquids doesn't bother me. I have lots of OTC meds as well.

I've looked into a splint, and may add one to the kit. With all the junk I carry in the truck, I think I can come up with a splint if need be.

The Epi-Pen is something I'll continue to renew via prescription. With AZ having only Africanized bees left in the wild, it seems like a wise idea, and I hope I never need it! We had a gentleman killed 15 miles south of Prescott last year...

As I mentioned earlier in the post, and I re-quote it here again, I have made a decision to not perform CPR unless it is a witnessed event or family member. I have done CPR 7 times while in the USCG, and not one of them recovered. In all those cases the person collapsed or drowned well before our arrival on scene. In a wilderness/off highway event the chances of recovery are even lower without a defib unit.

[crawler#976]

After a great WFA review (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/83096-Basic-recovery-WFA-survival-skills-Northern-AZ-06-Oct-12) I've added a few more items to my supplies.

Adal and Mitch recommend a couple companies, and I selected the items below from Chinook Medical Supply:

Qty: 4 Item: 05131 Price: $6.01 - Israeli Emergency Bandage - 6"

Qty: 1 Item: 05149 Price: $27.17 - SOF Tactical Tourniquet

Qty: 1 Item: 01030 Price: $11.48 - SAM Splint - Orange/Blue

Qty: 4 Item: 900004 Price: $1.33 - Emergency/Survival Blanket

Qty: 1 Item: 05165 Price: $23.75 - CELOX Hemostatic - 35 gram

After seeing Adal (former Green Beret medic, current Helo Medic) use the larger Israeli bandages for a wide variety of uses, I added some of them to the kit. My small quantity of Quik Clot was outdated, so it needed to be replace. The SOFTT will be an upgrade to the CAT I've carried, it is much better built. The SAM splint will be a new piece of geer for me - I always figured I could cobble together a splint, but they are so much easier to have in the pack. And after inspecting my old Emergency blankes, they were pretty rough, so I got a couple new ones to split between the Jeep and Power Wagon.

Mark

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

Its looking good! Im glad to see you've added celox, and a CAT and a SAM splint. A a trained EMT I also carry a NPO and NAR BVM.

good luck!

Here is to preparing for the worst and hoping for the best