Med kits, IFAK's, and Trauma packs

[gsd]

A little while back a member put a bug in my ear about getting a list together for a small SHTF bag that everyone could put together and keep in their car, range bag, or wherever they wanted. I messaged wallace11bravo and asked if he would be game on adding his input to mine, and here is what we came up with.

Basics: (white stuff on red stuff, non-invasive hot and cold weather)
Gloves
6 peices Curlex (compressed guaze, saves space, and is much more adaptable)
2x “Ace” style elastic wrap
Trauma shears (cheap ones can be found at Home Depot/lowe’s/etc,)
2x Rolls 1/2" tape
Fabric band-aids assorted, tweezers
Space Blanket
2 Liters Water
Flashlight w/ extra batteries

Advanced: (only if properly trained in the application)

Airway:
2x universal NPA w/ surgilube (can be cut to proper length)
Full set of OPA

Breathing:
Barrier device with valve and filter (1 ea, adult and infant)

Circulation:
Tourniquet


Additional: (addition of these are at your discretion)
Various gauze bandages
2x Instant ice pack
4X Warming packs
2x SAM Splint
2x Occlusive bandages
Rehydration salts

Nearly all of this can be purchased at your local pharmacy. Once you have it, it's up to you on a bag to put it all in, I've seen specific bags with zippered pouches, to my sister who bought a simple EMS bag off of ebay. If you set it up, you will know where everything is.

[thirtydaZe]

and make sure you can carry what you pack.

[gsd]

Aside from the 2 liters of water, the "basic" kit would weigh in at less than 2lbs, more likely less than a pound.

This is just a medical application, not a complete SHTF bug out kit.

[bkoenig]

Thanks for posting this.  I've been meaning to put a kit together.

[wallace11bravo]

A far as what I actually have on my person at the range:
Trauma shears
2x Curlex
1x ACE wrap
1x Tourniquet
1x Barrier device
2x Pairs of gloves
1/2" tape
1/2 liter of water (also for just regular drinkin)

Except for the water, all that is just in a small pouch on my belt, just like spare mags.

*A small Ambu pocket one. I also have one on my keychain. Basically a piece of saran wrap with a filter in it.


What you carry depends on your situation. I also have a small pack under the seat in my pickup that has the stuff above, plus a mask w/ valve, SAM splint, rehydration salts, and some other stuff. I also have a larger pack with all kinds of crap in it that I take on roadtrips and to special events.

[ILoveCats]

Not to get anyone's tinfoil panties in a bunch by mentioning FEMA but the website www.ready.gov has some really outstanding information on building disaster preparedness kits / plans for home, work and car.  They have some great checklists and information one-pagers for natural disasters, sheltering-in-place, etc. that my kids and I turned into a bright red "Emergency" binder with instructions on how to seal off a SIP room, how the kids can turn off the gas to the house in case of a tornado, etc.

and make sure you can carry what you pack.

This, I'm not so worried about, personally.  If I lived somewhere where my neighbors were more of a liability than an asset in a disaster, I would focus my energies on improving my financial standing so I could move to a different neighborhood from which I would not feel the need to evacuate.  Sometimes I think a tornado will hit Lincoln and we'll see a handful of  "doomsday preppers" take off for the "wilderness" of Yankee Hill Lake (with their Maxpedition backpacks full of MREs and hoarded .22LR ammo) which will turn into some Hunger-Games-like arena while the rest of us are digging out and pitching in.  LOL   

Seriously... On a few occasions when I've had the opportunity to train with FEMA and other first responders types who have been deployed to multiple, major disasters domestically and internationally, the one point that they've hammered home is that it's the first 3-4 days for which you really need to prepare.  Basic emergency supplies can usually be in place most anywhere in the world "in a few days" after a disaster, but it's the initial hours that really suck.  Thus, 99.99% of what you need to worry about isn't solved by having a boogie bag to leave the area, but having basic water, shelter, clothing, medicine and food to make it through the first few days in that area.

[sjwsti]

Thats a solid list and good advice. Only thing I would add are a couple of combination bandages in addition to the gauze and ACE wraps or instead of (NAR Bandage, Olaes Bandage, Israeli Bandage...).

Under stress the combination bandages will go on faster and easier. You dont have to find and assemble different components, the bandage and dressing are together. They also secure easier using built in clips, no need for tape of safety pins. I have used both on critical patients and there is a definite advantage to the combo bandage.

- Shawn

[Jeepguy]

Thanks Folks for all the good ideas. I have been working on this for awhile and find this kind of advice really helps!

[gsd]

After some recent messages, I felt the need to bumpski this and add a couple photos of my kit. I have added a couple IBD's, (Israeli Battle Dressings).

[DenmanShooter]

Interesting.

I keep a bag filled with

1.) Level 1 first aid kit.  (several of 2 different kinds of antiseptic wipes, alcohol and benyl (sic) chloride, a bottle of hand sanitizer, burn ointment, anti diarrheal pills, several packs of antibacterial ointment,  a few compressed gauze, several sterile tampons, tongue depressors which are also good for finger splints, bunchs of different band aids, gloves, 2 rolls of tape, q-tips, chap stick, sewing kit). And 1 IBD

2. 2 tarps 6 x 8

3. 2 emergency blankets

4. 2 hand warmers

5. 2 pocket knives

6. 2 flashlights

7. extra batteries

8. toilet paper, never forget the t.p.

9. micro fiber cloth

10. 2  kitchen towels (like used for drying dishes)

11. Large paring knife

12. Compass

13. 3x monocular scope

14. alcohol stove and 2 oz. alcohol and a pot stand

15. esbit fuel stove and tablets

16. stainless steel water bottle

17. hatchet

18. 8 inch fixed blade hunting knife

19. several different fire starters

20. high calorie emergency food bars

21. multitool

22. water bladder

23. 50 feet of paracord

24. 25 feet of nylon rope

25. write in rain pad

26. sharpie marker

27. gel pen

28. 2 or 3 BIC lighters

29. Signal mirror

30. Roll of duct tape (camo, gorilla tape)

31. mechanics gloves

32. very small head screw driver both straight and philips

33. garden trowel

34. 2 kneckerchiefs

35. folding saw

36. cable saw

37. 2 tooth brushes with tooth paste.

38. "light my fire" spork

39. 1 set plastic ware (fork, knife, spoon)

40. roll of electrical tape

Plus some other sundrie items.

Weighs 17 pounds without the water.

This doesn't count what I keep in an action packer in my car.

But, I was a Scoutmaster for several years.

[Mali]

How big is this bag?!? 

[tstuart34]

After some recent messages, I felt the need to bumpski this and add a couple photos of my kit. I have added a couple IBD's, (Israeli Battle Dressings).

What bag do you have?

[DenmanShooter]

How big is this bag?!? 

ROFL 

I will post a pic when I get home.

[Mudinyeri]

What bag do you have?

It looks like the same one that I carry in my vehicles.  It's a Condor Rip Away EMT Pouch.

[tstuart34]

It looks like the same one that I carry in my vehicles.  It's a Condor Rip Away EMT Pouch.

Yeah got my google search on last night and found them. I want to put a kit together for my truck and something that I can grab and attach to my range bag.

[gsd]

Yeah got my google search on last night and found them. I want to put a kit together for my truck and something that I can grab and attach to my range bag.

Yeah sorry, Toby nailed it. You can usually find them on eBay/Amazon for around $15. MOLLE attachments on the back panel, more than enough room on the pouch to set up a solid IFAK, I am currently working on building a more in-depth full BOB with an integrated kit.

[David Hineline]

I get my stuff from here.

http://www.cavalrymanufacturing.com/medical/medical.html

[gsd]

I get my stuff from here.

http://www.cavalrymanufacturing.com/medical/medical.html

Looks like they have some good basic kits. The problem that I see with a lot of the pre-built kits is that you either have too much useless stuff or not enough necessary items.

[OnTheFly]

Interesting.

I keep a bag filled with

1.) Level 1 first aid kit.  (several of 2 different kinds of antiseptic wipes, alcohol and benyl (sic) chloride, a bottle of hand sanitizer, burn ointment, anti diarrheal pills, several packs of antibacterial ointment,  a few compressed gauze, several sterile tampons, tongue depressors which are also good for finger splints, bunchs of different band aids, gloves, 2 rolls of tape, q-tips, chap stick, sewing kit). And 1 IBD

2. 2 tarps 6 x 8

3. 2 emergency blankets

4. 2 hand warmers

5. 2 pocket knives

6. 2 flashlights

7. extra batteries

8. toilet paper, never forget the t.p.

9. micro fiber cloth

10. 2  kitchen towels (like used for drying dishes)

11. Large paring knife

12. Compass

13. 3x monocular scope

14. alcohol stove and 2 oz. alcohol and a pot stand

15. esbit fuel stove and tablets

16. stainless steel water bottle

17. hatchet

18. 8 inch fixed blade hunting knife

19. several different fire starters

20. high calorie emergency food bars

21. multitool

22. water bladder

23. 50 feet of paracord

24. 25 feet of nylon rope

25. write in rain pad

26. sharpie marker

27. gel pen

28. 2 or 3 BIC lighters

29. Signal mirror

30. Roll of duct tape (camo, gorilla tape)

31. mechanics gloves

32. very small head screw driver both straight and philips

33. garden trowel

34. 2 kneckerchiefs

35. folding saw

36. cable saw

37. 2 tooth brushes with tooth paste.

38. "light my fire" spork

39. 1 set plastic ware (fork, knife, spoon)

40. roll of electrical tape

Plus some other sundrie items.

Weighs 17 pounds without the water.

This doesn't count what I keep in an action packer in my car.

But, I was a Scoutmaster for several years.

You forgot to mention the essential Dreamcatcher attachment. 

Fly

[DenmanShooter]

You forgot to mention thers essential Dreamcatcher attachment. 

You gotta cover all the bases.