First Aid Kits

What do you folks do for a first aid kit in your Taco?

I'm looking to put something together like the folks at X-Overland have for sale, but without spending the $200. http://www.xoverland.com/the-gear-we-use/xo-a360-vehicle-trauma-kit/

I like the idea of having a basic kit on the back of a headrest so it's easy grab from the front seats, but also open to other ideas/suggestions.

 

I carry the IFAK I was issued at work. And a larger TRAUMA bag behind the passenger seat.

 

For the time being you can buy some kerlix gauze and keep in the vehicle till you can afford celox or quikclot. In a real emergency people are wearing all the bandages you need to plug holes. Infection can be treated at the hospital, death can't. Keep the blood in the body. Common blood coagulation can be instant coffee, cayenne pepper (doesn't burn surprisingly), possibly pepper but this may burn not sure. Flour (depending if there's an allergy the person has or not). Don't hold me to this info, I'm not a doctor or medical professional. I've just takin some advanced trauma classes.

This is more or a general "boo boo kit" literally.

https://store.itstactical.com/its-boo-boo-kit-plus.html


Tac med solutions for more trauma type

https://www.tacmedsolutions.com

 

I have two, one is a large ziploc bag with stuff you need for little shit - band aids and small guaze pads and tape and asprin and the like, kept in a door pocket. The other is in a old med pouch that came out of a medic bag that was getting throw away. It's velcro backed so it can hang on to stuff - like the rear seat "carpet" bottom. Airway, CPR mask, large trauma dressings, ice pack, triangular bandages, quick clot, etc. Neither kit is super comprehensive but as someone else noted, you can improvise with shit in the field and do just as efficient a job as if you had the actual medical stuff. Both kits have a few pairs of latex gloves in them, too. And while I don't keep it in my first aid kit (it's in the tool box) duct tape goes a long way towards patching people, too.

 

I have this

$40 Surviveware 98 Pcs Comprehensive Premium Survival First Aid Kit - Medical Emergency Kit for Travel Camping Gear, Home Essentials & Outdoor Emergencies - HSA & FSA Eligible Survival Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HGSLB6K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I keep a basic crash bag as a EMT behind my seat. Lots of stuff, but the basics: gloves, gauze (wrap 4x4, 2x2, 5x9 etcc..), pocket mask, trauma shears, baby aspirin, sphygmomanometer - BP cuff, pad/pen, pen light, SAM-splint, tri-bandage for sling, etc.... We mostly go to the station when toned, but we all keep a basic kit in case you come up to scene or it is between you and the station.

 

Knowledge trumps tools when it comes to first aid.
I suggest getting training. Lots of places offer specialized trauma first aid as well.

 

This. I can give you the best IFAK or go bag, but if you don't know what to do with it then it's worthless. Whereas with the right training, knowing the concepts will make you effective even without the ideal gear.

Also, when you do buy medical gear, buy it from a reputable vendor. There are a ton of fake, knock-off medical supplies floating around. A fake CAT tourniquet will fail on you.

And lol @ sphygmomanometer... nobody calls them that

 

Edit: I will admit I had to google it for the correct spelling and I have been a EMT ~10 years - knowledge and practice/CE is key.

 

I didn't think anyone carried a BP cuff in a personal kit. I guess if you need to know I've always just palp'd it. Oh good, youre >90/p. If you're under 90 I shouldn't need a cuff to tell me that. I guess if you are transporting it makes sense but not in an oh shit kit.

 

I have a molle bag that perfectly fits behind the driver/passenger storage area. That bag contains an entire first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, rain poncho and various other emergency supplies. I also keep 2 MREs under the seat that we cycle out in case we get stranded anywhere.

EDIT: This one...

http://www.lapolicegear.com/lapg-137-molle-bag.html

 

Planning on finding a course this spring/summer to take. Leaning towards taking a NOLS Wilderness First Aid course

 

Best advice right here.

Without training, bandaids, gauze, neosporin, and tape is about all you need.

Once you get some training, they will go over what you should put in your kit. Its much cheaper to build your own kit.

 

I'm a combat lifesaver with the army so I like outfitting things with first aid kits. Here's my two kits. Yes two.


The drivers side is a 3x5 maxpedition pack with a Velcro backing. Has light scratch stuff, band aids, anti bacterial stuff, gauze pads, medical gloves, tape and assorted OTC medication. I also keep 100 dollars in this.



This one is a 6x9 maxpedition with Velcro backing. This one has gloves gauze, tourniquet, anti bacterial stuff, wrap, splint more medical gloves etc etc.!

These are ones I made myself and either bought begged or stole all the components. I like these because they're scalable for my personal use.

 

How are you getting a BP by palp without a cuff?

Or do you mean if they have a radial they are least 90?

 

I carry this bag filled with some basic items. I use two carabiners to attach it to the back of my headrest.

Condor TAN Ma54 Molle Pals Tactical Tool Utility Accessory T&t Vest Pouch Bag

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019I620RW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I have the Toyota First Aid kit. Nothing fancy...

 

I really like kits from skinny medic: http://www.skinnymedic.com/. Small, molle, filled with essentials.

But absolutely building your own is going to be much cheaper.

 

I have an adventures medical kit. http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/medical-kits/sportsman/sportsman-bighorn.html
has a bunch of stuff plus comes with quik clot. and its behind the back seat driver side.

honestly your basic kit you can find at any pharmacy is actually pretty good and then just add some extra stuff.
I dunno I find it a bit weird seeing some spend $200+ on a first aid kit. I've had first aid training for outdoors and job site first aid as well. In both went over what would make a good first aid kit and still don't think these $200 ones are needed.
Unless you were a field medic or something the average person won't even know how to use everything you get and your average first aid course wouldn't teach you how to use it either.

My brother in law is a paramedic and he's shown me some stuff but still I don't see the need for it. No way to know if I'd ever need it, obviously hoping I don't but if it were ever to the point I needed more than I have its not like i would know what to do with it anyways. Besides I have a SPOT with me when on trips so if I was in that type of emergency you can bet I'll be pressing the SOS button and having a chopper come.
The one I have is meant for hunters so its pretty good for overlanding
For items I added, spray bottle of 70% alcohol for more disinfecting
tourniquet
extra thing of quik clot
sam splint
meds (allergie meds, aspirin, advil, tylenol, vicodin)
trying to get my hands on some epipens. never been stung by a bee, so no clue if I'm allergic but no problem with wasp. would be great to have just in case
benedryl lotion and fucidin for rashes and cuts


Honestly having contact to some sort of rescue service can make all the difference if something were to happen. I figure cuts and sprains are your most likely injuries followed by burns and allergic reactions. Figure be able to handle those and keep wounds clean and you'll hopefully be ok.

Knowledge can go a long way too. if you were impaled with something pulling it out would likely be the worse thing you can do. so having a quick link to help would be the difference between life or death. I can personally speak to this your basic instinct is to pull it out, luckily for me when I had a screw driver through my leg at work the guy I was working with stopped me. After going to the hospital and having it looked at I just missed my femoral artery. Had I hit it and pulled that screw driver out I likely would've bled out before help arrived

 

Yes.