Thread: First aid kit - Whats in yours?

Originally Posted by Numpty's Missus

That is an excellent idea...just the sort of thing we all need to know...not everyone would be able to suture a wound ( eg I carry sutures but if I ever had to use them I'd be 100% certain the resulting scar would not be pretty ) so an easy alternative is always handy if it looks like medical help is going to be days away. I wouldn't recommend using it if it is likely you'd get to proper medical care within hours tho.

Medical super glue is great and any attempt at first aid or resusc is great as long as you do not try to be a surgeon or doctor and read instructions with medications / creams etc.
As said Australia is a big place and medical help is not always close. If you are unsure and someone is near ask for help.
Training is great but not always possible, just do the best you can until you can get help. I would advise people to at least do the free on line courses available and preferablly an accredited course to the limit of your budget.
I am happy to assist in first aid training for AULRO members.
I basically carry a trauma pack and will list the contents when I have time.
Me to as far as suturing goes, I woud use hystocryl if available and suture as a last resort. I could do it but it may not be pretty.

Originally Posted by graceysdad

Superglue was originally designed as a field dressing in Vietnam, it was so the field medics could pop your insides back in and glue you up and get you in the choppers so the base surgeons could fix you up, modern day superglue is a by product of the original, how do I know this, my uncle was Field Medic in VietNam, not sure if the modern glue would be poisonous to your blood stream, during VietNam I dont think they cared just wanted you in the chopper and onyour way

I recommend a FA course I had to do Senior First Aid as part of my Security licence, the advantages outway the disadvantages specially when dealing with a snake bite or broken ankle etc

Modern medical superglue under many names is significantly better and not poisonous to your blood stream, but is also about $45 a small tube (single use). Speaking to a supplier it is normal superglue with anti-biotics added.
Having said that if you are days from a hospital or evac I would use what I had in hand, but then you have to try and control infection.

Originally Posted by Druid 66

The man is right. If you only carry ONE thing in your FA kit make it a good roll of Electricans/Insulation/Duck/GAFFER Tape.

Apart from it helping to hold your Land Rover together . It will double up as `Human Repair Tape`.

Helping with all sorts of disasters including;

Most commonly; Waterproof Plasters for Small Cuts or`Spanner Rash`.
(Always best to put some PTFE Tape or Cling Film on first though)

It`s the best Splint Support for really severe cases of the above too (Triangular and Expanding Crepe Bandages?.... Pah!!).

It makes a more durable and `far more manly` bandage wrapping material for large wound pad dressings too.

A no nonsense Eye Pad Securing Tape which helpfully frees up your spare hand again.

Umm....

Ear Protection. This can be either used on your own ears or around your partners mouth during sustained periods of nagging!!

I could go on with more `Great Ideas` but I`d probably get into trouble.

Yes; Gaffer Tape

Do not use gaffer or electrical tape on wounds at all. If you see the damage it does to wounds in the long term you would never use it again. Badly infected and festering wounds result. Use it to bind a dressing but not directly on a wound.

Originally Posted by waynep

Consider adding some of that gel type water based burn treatment .... Burn-Aid is one brand. For those burns you occasionally get around the campfire when not careful.
And a training course is essential, and carry a good reference manual with your kit.

Stuff like burn aid is basically tee tree oil (look at the active ingredients) and burn aid gel and pads are fantastic, but need to be kept cool. If you do not have any tee tree oil (preferablly cool) on a pad with some cool water will work. It has many numerous uses.

As the wifes a surgical nurse consultant, shes got a very good idea of whats going in our first aid kit, and as shes a nurse shes gone alittle beond the average person, the spary on artifical skin is amazing stuff, made by the 3m company it holds cut skin together very well, indeed.