Aid First

by DarylD
(Atlanta, Georgia)

Sometimes we forget about first aid kits and just how important they can be when facing a wilderness adventure - and I include a case where the fertilizer has hit the ventilator and where any kind of injury may be not good.

While updating my survival box I had a chance to review my first aid kit and found it lacking in several areas.

I have several kits for the home and camping and build on them when I can. I wanted, however, a kit that was geared more toward the hunter as knife cuts, scrapes, and gunshot wounds would be more probable in a survival situation and which would be quickly available in my survival gear.

So, I went on a quest to find a better first aid solution and I think that I stumbled across one; the "Hunters First Aid Kit" by Adventure Medical Kits. This kit supports 1 -7 people and is intended for:

- Avid Hunters and Fishermen
- Base Camp
- Camping
- Group Leaders
- Guides/Outfitter Services
- Overnight Hunting and Fishing Outings

Features include:

- Laerdal® CPR Face Shield for protected mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
- Detachable Field Trauma kit for trips away from basecamp.
- Irrigation syringe and wound closure strips to clean and close wounds.
- Petrolatum gauze promotes healing and doesn't adhere to deep puncture wounds.
- Bright orange exterior with reflective piping makes kit easy to find when you need it.
- A wide array of medications to treat pain, inflammation, and common allergies.
- Hospital-quality tools, including EMT Shears and precision forceps set the standard for backcountry medical care.
- Wide variety of wraps and bandages to immobilize fractures and provide support.
- Trauma pads and wide elastic wraps to control life-threatening bleeding.
- 400d coated nylon fabric with water-resistant taped zipper.

One of my requisites was that the unit had to be compact and could be stuffed into a back back pouch for transport. It also had to be able to break down should I have to downsize for portability. This unit allows me to do that as the Field Trauma Kit can be detached and removed from the kit and attached to a belt or strap should I leave my base camp or have to skedaddle real quick.

Here is a full list of contents:

Bandage Materials
1 Bandage, Elastic, Self Adhering, 2"
2 Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2" x 2", Pkg./2
1 Bandage, Conforming Gauze, 3"
2 Dressing, Non-Adherent, Sterile, 3" x 4"
6 Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 1" x 3"
6 Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, Knuckle

Bleeding
1 Gloves, Nitrile (Pair), Hand Wipe
1 Instructions, Easy Care Bleeding
1 Trauma Pad, 8" x 10"
1 Trauma Pad, 5" x 9"

Blister / Burn
11 Moleskin, Pre-Cut & Shaped (11 pieces)

CPR
1 CPR Face Shield, Laerdal

Duct Tape
1 Duct Tape, 2" x 50"

Fracture / Sprain
1 Bandage, Triangular

Instrument
1 Scissors, Bandage with Blunt Tip
1 Splinter Picker/Tick Remover Forceps
3 Safety Pins
2 Thermometer, Disposable

Medical Information
1 Comp. Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine

Medication
3 Ibuprofen (200 mg), Pkg./2
2 Aspirin (325 mg), Pkg./2
1 Instructions, Easy Care Medications
2 Diamode (Loperamide HCI 2 mg), Pkg./1
2 Antihistamine (Diphenhydramine 25 mg)
2 After Bite Wipe

Wound Care
6 After Cuts & Scrapes Antiseptic Wipe
1 Syringe, Irrigation, 20 cc, 18 Gauge Tip
1 Dressing, Petrolatum, 3" x 3"
1 Tape, 1" x 10 Yards
1 Instructions, Easy Care Wound
2 Tincture of Benzoin Topical Adhesive
1 Povidone Iodine, 3/4 oz
1 Wound Closure Strips, 1/4" x 4", Pkg./10
2 Cotton Tip Applicator, Pkg./2
3 Triple Antibiotic Ointment, Single Use

The only items that I will be adding are Celox granules, the Celox Gauze Z-Fold, and tourniquets.

The kit size: 9" x 7" x 5" and weighs 1lb. 11oz. As shown, the kit fits in a SAW pouch perfectly, which allows me to attach it to my A.L.I.C.E pack or fasten to a belt and which also adds an extra layer of protection. The SAW pouch was purchased through "The Sportsman's Guide" (http://www.sportsmansguide.com).

This system should take care of the most common injuries one might get as well as having a (detachable) trauma pack for more serious injuries.

It may be worth taking a look at for your first aid needs.