First Aid Kit

Mike, I just wonder if the limitations in the inventory on the first aid kit are related to legal complications?
IMO, I think that an extra 500 grams of medicaments in the kit will do not harm.
Also 000 can take some times 3 hours or more to arrive if they find the off road track.
It took 5 hours inside Hobart to help my wife's father :(

mine is very simular and was put together by SES which include in their local membership - doctors and paramedics. It dosnt have the needle and thread but a few of those stick on ones - I have closed some fairly big wounds with them.
cheers
blaze

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Originally Posted by CraigE

Burn aid gel and sheets, essential and work really well.
Hand sanitiser.
Instant Ice Packs.
I see you have a suture kit. Have you been trained to suture? If not it is a waste of time and if you do suture anyone and it goes wrong you could be in a spot of bother. Let alone anyone letting you near them without Lygnocanine or similar.
There is probably a lot more. I basically carry a back pack trauma bag, but in my job I suppose I would want to. I can list what I carry when I get time if it is any help.
Most of it never gets used.

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I have yet to buy some burn cream and will ask about the sheets. There are always new and improved products appearing, hence the post.

Hand sanitiser is a good item for the list - a little bulky and a possible source of leaks, but could be kept else where.

I spent 1/2 day in a hospital some years back, having lots of oyster shell fragments removed from my leg. This is where the Lux flakes cleaning and wound sterilising comes from - long story.

Instant ice packs - frozen peas in the Trailblazer, if they haven't been eaten -always have frozen poppers.

As for the Suture kit - I was given this a 2 years ago as a just in case for others to use, takes very little space. I haven't been trained to use this. My training doesn't extend past the senior St John's courses on a regular basis.


Thanks a lot for your input, Erich.

May have been included, I didn't notice it, but in years gone bye we were advised to include pen/pencil and a small note book.
Never had to use it myself, however the plan is to attach pertinent notes to the patient to be extracted, in the event you are unable to go along for the ride .. which may well be the case in certain circumstances.

Did I see that you carry cotton wool?

For the last 12 years (at least) that I have been doing my F/A renewals, the instructors, some of whom have been Ambos or medicos/nurses, have all said to only use cotton wool for make-up removal. If it gets into a wound, it can be hell to get it out.

Agree with the allergy gear.

If you are going bush bush - 4 hours or more from help- think about one of the new defibrilator kits. They are easy to use, tell you what and when to do, are small and can be life-saving. About 2k$, but can do what no-one can.

Happy touring.:spudnikwaving:

tampons:wasntme:

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Originally Posted by mike_beecham

Hi there,
FWIW:

I work in outdoor education/adventure and take a range of kids into fairly remote areas participating in adventure activities i.e. whitewater rafting, climbing, hiking, snow etc.

No one in the outdoor industry carries anything more than BurnAid and Ventolin in their first aid kits. No other meds whatsoever - not even Paracetamol, Ibuprophen etc. To date we have never had a problem operating under these well established policies - and we have dealt with various emergecy response situations over the years from dehydration, hypothermia, fractures, shock, anaphylaxis, bites, stings, burns in some fairly difficult geography without vehicle based support or the need to contact the emergency services.

Generally, a top quality, well equiped wilderness first aid kit is all that is needed - and the right quals to go with it - to respond to 99% of first responder issues.

The benchmark kits we use as an industry are through:
Equip Health Systems Pty Ltd

Anythng beyond that - pick up the SatPhone and get onto 000!!

Just my view...and experience.


Cheers,
Mike

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OK Mike you are looking at it from a business venture point of view and that is fair enough for that.
I am a paramedic and I would take nearly anything I had available that was relevant as it is a personal first aid kit. Not having a shot but I would say you have not dealt with a significant anaphylaxis attack if you have not needed an epi pen or adrenalin. I have personally dealt with case that go from nothing to being life threatening within minutes and without immediate intervention would have been fatal. Usually people self administer and carry their own medications, so I suppose that is the important bit as a provider you do not have to carry it in your kit.
A great deal depends on your own health, allergies and how remote you are going to be. In WA it can take hours for emergency services to assist, sometimes more.
A lot can not be carried due to only being available on script and more importantly the authority and competence to administer. A bit like suturing, suture kits are a dime a dozen and while I carry one, I would not expect to use it as generally you can not carry the anesthetic without a poisons permit and a secure store for it. Most people wont let you near them without some form of anesthetic, though I have seen it done.
If I was going really remote I would carry an anti nausea (Maxolon), abroad spectrum antibiotic, maybe penthrox under authority and above all a sat phone of HF so you can talk with a doctor and administer as required.
Yes my kit is over the top, but about half the items I have had to use have been a bit obscure and provided immediate relief and either meant the casualty did not have to go to a doctor immediately or was at least comfortable for the trip.
As said a lot is about competency so what I carry and what an unskilled person carries are somewhat different.
Cheers

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Originally Posted by schmierer LR at singleton

tampons:wasntme:

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Believe me that is not silly and if travelling with women is very important. They also have other uses.

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Originally Posted by rovers4

Did I see that you carry cotton wool?

For the last 12 years (at least) that I have been doing my F/A renewals, the instructors, some of whom have been Ambos or medicos/nurses, have all said to only use cotton wool for make-up removal. If it gets into a wound, it can be hell to get it out.

Agree with the allergy gear.

If you are going bush bush - 4 hours or more from help- think about one of the new defibrilator kits. They are easy to use, tell you what and when to do, are small and can be life-saving. About 2k$, but can do what no-one can.

Happy touring.:spudnikwaving:

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Yep that is correct. We mainly carry it for use as an applicator or skin cleaner. Use wound dressings or combines to pack wounds.
Defib, nice but not very realistic.

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Originally Posted by Bundalene

I have yet to buy some burn cream and will ask about the sheets. There are always new and improved products appearing, hence the post.

Hand sanitiser is a good item for the list - a little bulky and a possible source of leaks, but could be kept else where.

I spent 1/2 day in a hospital some years back, having lots of oyster shell fragments removed from my leg. This is where the Lux flakes cleaning and wound sterilising comes from - long story.

Instant ice packs - frozen peas in the Trailblazer, if they haven't been eaten -always have frozen poppers.

As for the Suture kit - I was given this a 2 years ago as a just in case for others to use, takes very little space. I haven't been trained to use this. My training doesn't extend past the senior St John's courses on a regular basis.


Thanks a lot for your input, Erich.

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Erich,
If possible keep the burn aid cream and sheets in your fridge, most chemists should have them. If not possible in an enclosed, dark area in your first aid kit. The cooler the location the better. The activ constituent is tea tree oil and the only thing that works better is silver impregnated dressings, but they are rather pricey. You can also buy large burn sheets which are cheap for large areas and apply water.
The single biggest thing I seem to use is ice packs and once used you dont have to throw out but can go in the freezer.
A lot of what you take will depend on your training and skill.
There are a lot of nice to haves that are not essential and if you dont know how to use or administer it, is usually a waste of space.