Home first aid kit

[Pattree]

People die.

All we can do is reduce that possibility within the environment in which we find ourselves. We all work with probabilities.

Looking (as little as possible) at news stories of conflicts, I wonder how many wonderfully stocked first aid kits are buried under the rubble.

If you are using a chain saw at a long drive from a hospital then you and your buddy will have the appropriate kit obviously. It may or may not be enough.

That line is always going to exist even if you are a trained paramedic living next door to the hospital.

 

[TeeDee]

People die.

Thank you for this spoiler.

Appreciated.

 

[Broch]

Lets take this a different route ( I know , the farce of assuming one can direct a thread in a predetermined direction ) - What if the assumed transit from injury to hospital thus bypassing the nasty use of using the homes sick cats blankety fleece as hasty dressing is somewhat delayed over and beyond the normal anticipated high speed ( tongue in cheek ) blue light uber.

What if , bad weather, national emergency , Santa's not coming - you have to deal with things longer than you may wish too do so.

Does it affect practice to best practice.

I think so, and not just in the kit you carry or the courses you do, but in one's attitude to risk.

Where I work in the woods can only safely be reached by ATV or similar down a steep track; the nearest a conventional ambulance could get is 750m away (after it has negotiated miles of single track country lanes). The nearest an air-ambulance could safely land is about the same. I suspect you would be evacuated from Ben Nevis faster than from our wood

Consequently, I have not only trained in FAW + Forestry but also in remote first aid, my FAK is a full trauma kit but, probably most importantly, I assess the risks of every task over and over again before and during execution; some I walk away from.

 

[Pupers]

………….. probably most importantly, I assess the risks of every task over and over again before and during execution; some I walk away from.

That folks, quite frankly, sums it up. Many here would have attended an “orders group” that will finish off with a “what if” session.

First Aid is simple, very, very simple are they, or you, cat bleeding? If answer is yes…..Stop it! With whatever you have to hand. If no cat bleed, is the casualty breathing? If no, summon help, start CPR, get a defib asap.

Just remember the priority:

Catastrophic Bleeding
Breathing
Bleeding
Breaks
Burns
Other.

Always good for us outdoor types to remember, whatever injury or illness your casualty has, if you allow them to get cold/hypothermic they will become worse. Also, if your casualty is laying on the floor outdoors, most of the cold comes from the ground, so remember the 3:1 rule, whatever you put on top of someone, try to get three layers underneath.

Stay safe.

 

[TeeDee]

I think so, and not just in the kit you carry or the courses you do, but in one's attitude to risk.

Where I work in the woods can only safely be reached by ATV or similar down a steep track; the nearest a conventional ambulance could get is 750m away (after it has negotiated miles of single track country lanes). The nearest an air-ambulance could safely land is about the same. I suspect you would be evacuated from Ben Nevis faster than from our wood

Consequently, I have not only trained in FAW + Forestry but also in remote first aid, my FAK is a full trauma kit but, probably most importantly, I assess the risks of every task over and over again before and during execution; some I walk away from.

The ability to walk away from risks I think is a learned skill.

Otherwise known as Survivorship bias.

 

[TeeDee]

That folks, quite frankly, sums it up. Many here would have attended an “orders group” that will finish off with a “what if” session.

First Aid is simple, very, very simple are they, or you, cat bleeding? If answer is yes…..Stop it! With whatever you have to hand. If no cat bleed, is the casualty breathing? If no, summon help, start CPR, get a defib asap.

Just remember the priority:

Catastrophic Bleeding
Breathing
Bleeding
Breaks
Burns
Other.

Always good for us outdoor types to remember, whatever injury or illness your casualty has, if you allow them to get cold/hypothermic they will become worse. Also, if your casualty is laying on the floor outdoors, most of the cold comes from the ground, so remember the 3:1 rule, whatever you put on top of someone, try to get three layers underneath.

Stay safe.

This made me think of the various Acronyms used to remember first triage points.

I guess A,B,C has somewhat been superseded by M.A.R.C.H.(E) , Although there are now probably other useful ones in subsections of patient/injured care.

 

[Chris]

The Battlefield Casualty Drills (BCD) aide memoire is a good basis for the serious stuff. It appears not to be a restricted document as it's uploaded here: https://bootcampmilitaryfitnessinst...efield-casualty-drills-manual-5ed-2007-01.pdf

At least, the old version is. No idea if it's been updated much since this one as I left a long time ago now.

You can ignore the bits about being under effective enemy fire (unless you live in Ilfracombe).

 

[Pupers]

This made me think of the various Acronyms used to remember first triage points.

I guess A,B,C has somewhat been superseded by M.A.R.C.H.(E) , Although there are now probably other useful ones in subsections of patient/injured care.

I think it best to keep things simple, and in pure layman speech. MARCH is more tactic/first responder talk. Many people here would not have even done an EFAW, FAW, FAW+F or Outdoor First Aid, let alone a trained Combat Medic or First Responder.

 

[Wildgoose]

Lets take this a different route ( I know , the farce of assuming one can direct a thread in a predetermined direction ) - What if the assumed transit from injury to hospital thus bypassing the nasty use of using the homes sick cats blankety fleece as hasty dressing is somewhat delayed over and beyond the normal anticipated high speed ( tongue in cheek ) blue light uber.

What if , bad weather, national emergency , Santa's not coming - you have to deal with things longer than you may wish too do so.

Does it affect practice to best practice.

Obviously the cleaner you can get and keep an injury the better.

For discussion sake let’s say you put an axe into your leg and get a bad bleed. The first thing on that wound is likely to be your hand, followed by a scarf, hat or anything you have to hand.

Once the bleeding is controlled you could look to dress the wound properly. This will likely involve removing (really carefully) the first dressing, flushing it out with saline or clean water, picking out and bits of clothing, dirt, sticks etc then applying a correct dressing, or suturing if you are trained. This is secondary care.

Regular dressing changes would likely follow over the next few days and inspection for signs of infection.

When you go to A+E with your home bandaged injury this is exactly what they do

 

[Pupers]

Obviously the cleaner you can get and keep an injury the better.

For discussion sake let’s say you put an axe into your leg and get a bad bleed. The first thing on that wound is likely to be your hand, followed by a scarf, hat or anything you have to hand.

Once the bleeding is controlled you could look to dress the wound properly. This will likely involve removing (really carefully) the first dressing, flushing it out with saline or clean water, picking out and bits of clothing, dirt, sticks etc then applying a correct dressing, or suturing if you are trained. This is secondary care.

Regular dressing changes would likely follow over the next few days and inspection for signs of infection.

When you go to A+E with your home bandaged injury this is exactly what they do

My dressing was changed a week later at the hospital, then stitches out after another week, but pretty much as you said.

But how many people here are trained to suture a wound? Would be interesting to know.

 

[TeeDee]

I think it best to keep things simple, and in pure layman speech. MARCH is more tactic/first responder talk. Many people here would not have even done an EFAW, FAW, FAW+F or Outdoor First Aid, let alone a trained Combat Medic or First Responder

Are you then going to suggest an appropriate acronym for assisting Home first Aid ? I guess its one of those things where its difficult to unlearn what has been taught and learnt elsewhere.



Beyond A/B/C I'm struggling to think of anything that is now taught?

 

[Pupers]

Are you then going to suggest an appropriate acronym for assisting Home first Aid ? I guess its one of those things where its difficult to unlearn what has been taught and learnt elsewhere.



Beyond A/B/C I'm struggling to think of anything that is now taught?

Danger
Responce
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Defib

There are others, but I am personally not a great one for acronyms, but DRABC really helped me for real.

 

[Laurentius]

My dressing was changed a week later at the hospital, then stitches out after another week, but pretty much as you said.

But how many people here are trained to suture a wound? Would be interesting to know.

You don't have to these days, you can use steri strips or super glue, there is a special kind of super glue they use in casualty departments. Last time I took a cut to a nurse, they used steri strips, it is a good idea to keep them in your FAK.

 

[Pupers]

You don't have to these days, you can use steri strips or super glue, there is a special kind of super glue they use in casualty departments. Last time I took a cut to a nurse, they used steri strips, it is a good idea to keep them in your FAK.

I agree, strip are not a bad idea, but they would have been absolutely no use for me at that time. I have also been glued, head injury, but it is not something that is taught in First Aid. Glue yourself if you wish, but don’t glue another person, the wound may need investigation……As my last one did.

It is not up to us to determine how bad a wound is, unless it is obviously minor. I have been stitched around a dozen times, and glued once, ex rugby player and love sharp things! But nowadays they will try strips or glue, unless, as in my case, stitches were needed.

 

[TeeDee]

Danger
Responce
Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Defib

There are others, but I am personally not a great one for acronyms, but DRABC really helped me for real.

Primary Survey and DR ABC - First Aid Advice | St John Ambulance

Use the primary survey to quickly assess the situation and check the casualty for injuries or conditions that could be immediately life threatening. Find out what to do.

www.sja.org.uk

 

[Pupers]

Primary Survey and DR ABC - First Aid Advice | St John Ambulance

Use the primary survey to quickly assess the situation and check the casualty for injuries or conditions that could be immediately life threatening. Find out what to do.

www.sja.org.uk

Thanks for that, not great at doing links and stuff. The Primary Survey is taught in all FA courses, and has been this way for some time now.

 

[Falstaff]

No, they were for sale in the UK but had an unacceptable failure rate, either not working or not providing enough shock to be effective.

The pads, being flat and solid also do not adhere to the chest (being round)correctly so kept falling off, holding them on is not advised either.

It’s a pity because I thought they were a good idea. Hopefully an effective, portable and affordable alternative comes on the market soon

Thank you, I'm glad to have my suspicious bias corrected. Those are good reasons, and surprising design failures. I hope they fix that soon.
I'd better let the medic know not to totally rely on it. Although I guess something is better than nothing. If he wants facts, is there any reference I can give him? (I don't need it, I'm happy to accept your advice.)

 

[Pattree]

Knowledge at home is as important as kit.
I think that everyone should be taught the basics - maybe in secondary school.

Checking breathing. This is the first question that the emergency switchboard will ask.

Taking pulse. No need to time it if you know/have been taught what a regular range of pulses feels like. Is it fast, slow or absent? Wrist and neck.

CPR

Recovery position (unconscious)

W position (conscious and not musculoskeletal issue) while you wait.

 

[Wildgoose]

Thank you, I'm glad to have my suspicious bias corrected. Those are good reasons, and surprising design failures. I hope they fix that soon.
I'd better let the medic know not to totally rely on it. Although I guess something is better than nothing. If he wants facts, is there any reference I can give him? (I don't need it, I'm happy to accept your advice.)

I’ll see if I can dig out the memo I received.

On a personal note, If I had one, and someone was in cardiac arrest I would probably still use it until another defib arrived, but I wouldn’t rely on it as a total defib option.

WG

 

[Wildgoose]

Knowledge at home is as important as kit.
I think that everyone should be taught the basics - maybe in secondary school.

Checking breathing. This is the first question that the emergency switchboard will ask.

Taking pulse. No need to time it if you know/have been taught what a regular range of pulses feels like. Is it fast, slow or absent? Wrist and neck.

CPR

Recovery position (unconscious)

W position (conscious and not musculoskeletal issue) while you wait.

I’d add checking for and dealing with a Cat bleed to that list.

For unfortunate reasons this is taught in some secondary schools now