F-A-K Triage question.

TeeDee

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Nov 6, 2008
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Regarding F-A-K's I have a question regarding priority and selection of items.

Firstly I regard what many of us do is a fairly niche hobby and interest that validates that whatever we do in the woods/mountains/coastal areas most likely definitely supports taking a FAK with us and understanding / learning self care techniques

We would be stupid to not do so.

But how do you prioritise WHAT you take? The bigger and more comprehensive the kit , then in reality the less likely you are ( i suggest ) to take it either with you or in close proximity if you wander away from base camp.

Its said by some that the best first aid is about on the spot improvisation - and the more you know the less you may need to carry , certain items can indeed be pressed into service to provide aid. I'd like to think thats true but Ideally I'd prefer to not think too hard in stressful situations.

So that being said and all out the way for your First Aid Kit if you could only have ONE item - what would it be? Yes Migraine attacks maybe an issue for you or your spouse but would you place that higher on the priority order over say a heavy gauze dressing??

I appreciate that there is a large amount of Impact Vs Probability so that needs to be taken into account also - I tend to have in my FAK anti-diarrhoea tablets and the likely hood of getting a runny gut is more likely than an arterial bleed ( I hope ) - I can live with soiling my trousers if need be , I can't ignore the massive blood loss.

So in order of priority based upon your perceived importance of vital importance Vs Probability what would you place at position number 1 ? Then what at position number 2 ? and so on.
 
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Jay131

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Nov 20, 2021
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For regular U.K. excursion;

1. Duck tape
2. Resuscitation mask
3. Ambulance / trauma dressing
4. Tweezers / tick twister
5. Glucose gel or tablets
6. Rehydration powder
7. All the other useful stuff like plasters, steri-strips, micro-pore, anti-histamine med, tampons / sanitary pads, cling film, antiseptic cream & wipes, non-absorbent dressings, pencil & paper, scissors, etc. Of which I might add to or cull depending on the trip.
 
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Wildgoose

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May 15, 2012
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Interesting question.

At position 1 I personally place the humble calico triangular bandage.
Weighs nothing, low bulk and can be used for support, wound suppression, packing wounds, mopping up children’s vomit (or worse)

Position 2 I have regular plasters, because small cuts are annoying.

Both items fit in a trouser pocket.

We have a decent kit in both our vehicles and smaller kits for travel etc.

These are activity dependent though, if the chainsaw is out I’d have an ECB and TQ on me (or taped to the plastic blade guard)
 

Kadushu

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When I did my chainsaw certificate we were told to have a full FAK on site, which probably means with your tools and jerry cans, and a large wound dressing on our person. I'd go with that.
 
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Kav

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Mar 28, 2021
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Greybeardedgreenberet has an outstanding and current series on YouTube covering this subject.
One first aid item is twin to wearing a loincloth with only a knife.
You CAN keep it basic and neither
Skimp nor prep for a heart transplant. As he states: a mobile and car keys!!!!!
 

TeeDee

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When I did my chainsaw certificate we were told to have a full FAK on site, which probably means with your tools and jerry cans, and a large wound dressing on our person. I'd go with that.

I guess if chainsaw is your day to day job/task/occupation then that is the item you'd take.

What if you weren't going into the woods with the Chainsaw? Just enjoying the woods doing outdoorsy non-lumberjack stuff?
 

SaraR

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Mar 25, 2017
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My #1 item is a few rolls of crepe bandage of the kind you use for a sprained ankle.

Versatile and what I have most training in using in various FA situations.
 
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Tiley

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Oct 19, 2006
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Intuitively, I would say one of those ambulance/wound dressing-type things as you have something to mop up the gore and a handy length of bandage for other purposes; if push comes to shove, you can use it very successfully as tinder. However, practically, the things that I use most often are antiseptic wipes, sterile gauze and sticking plasters for the little nicks that have to be kept clean and can be a real nuisance.

If I had to take just one thing, though, it would be Primapore dressings because most other stuff can be improvised.
 
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Broch

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Jan 18, 2009
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Treat it as a formal risk assessment. Risk, probability, severity, mitigation. What injury/health issues have you personally experienced walking, camping, trekking, working in the wild? What have friends and peers experienced? Then consider what you have heard reported - with care, a lot of it is exaggerated.

I have four separate 1st aid kit lists: a going for a walk one, a car/trekking camping one, one or more nights around a campfire one, and my working alone in the wood one. Each has different risks and probabilities of harm and I reassess the risks whenever I change environment - so, for example, overland trekking in Morocco will have different probabilities and severities than camping in the UK.

If you build a 'rich' spread sheet risk form you can just play with the R,P,S numbers, sort the sheet, and the mitigation (1st Aid kit) needed automatically gets prioritised. That may all sound a bit over the top but once it's done it's very easy to use and you won't forget anything.

As far as just ambling through the woods is concerned - stings, thorns/splinters, small cuts, sprains... tend to come out on top. Note, pedantically, those are not 'risks' they are the outcome of an identified risk.

Sorry, probably not the kind of answer you were looking for :)
 

TeeDee

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Treat it as a formal risk assessment. Risk, probability, severity, mitigation. What injury/health issues have you personally experienced walking, camping, trekking, working in the wild? What have friends and peers experienced? Then consider what you have heard reported - with care, a lot of it is exaggerated.

I bet the colour that accentuates your eyes the most is High Visability Yellow :)

I have four separate 1st aid kit lists: a going for a walk one, a car/trekking camping one, one or more nights around a campfire one, and my working alone in the wood one. Each has different risks and probabilities of harm and I reassess the risks whenever I change environment - so, for example, overland trekking in Morocco will have different probabilities and severities than camping in the UK.
So what common items do you have in all Four of those kits ?

If you build a 'rich' spread sheet risk form you can just play with the R,P,S numbers, sort the sheet, and the mitigation (1st Aid kit) needed automatically gets prioritised. That may all sound a bit over the top but once it's done it's very easy to use and you won't forget anything.

As far as just ambling through the woods is concerned - stings, thorns/splinters, small cuts, sprains... tend to come out on top. Note, pedantically, those are not 'risks' they are the outcome of an identified risk.
I will admit I was thinking which item provides the biggest 'bang-for-the-buck' for ROI in carrying. As mentioned by others a shemagh or scarf can be pressed into service as a sling/dressing/compress. Thats ok as long as you can look yourself in the eye and honestly say you reguarly carry a shemagh or scarf - if not its just wishful thinking.

Sorry, probably not the kind of answer you were looking for :)

Nope - love all answers - yours specifically.
 

Buckshot

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Jan 19, 2004
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I think these are quite versatile

Vacuum packed to make it as small as possible and not hugely expensive. can be cut up and wrapped around a cut finger, used as a bandage or wound packing for the serious stuff.

I also have several FAK depending on what/ where i am.
A personal kit that is in my pocket Israeli dressings and a few basic plasters/ wipes etc.
Another kit in my day bag with various sized bandages, eye wash plus a TQ
A group bag with lots of big dressings, splints, thermal blankets, burn dressings plus some more of the boo boo stuff as well.
What i take depends on the situation except the pocket kit is with me all the time.
 
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Wildgoose

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May 15, 2012
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Being tight probably reinforces my choice, a ECB costs £5-6 and gauze about the same. Chito anything costs £25+

At 51p a triangular bandage won’t break my heart if I have to use it for a cut finger!
 

Broch

Life Member
Jan 18, 2009
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So what common items do you have in all Four of those kits ?

Camping, trekking, canoeing – it doesn’t matter what I do, it’s always my fingers and hands that get damaged the most. Nothing serious, just annoying cuts, scrapes, splinters, thorns, torn nails; very occasionally a deeper cut. Consequently, I will usually have basic good quality plasters, finger bandages, small ambulance dressing, and some crepe bandage. My aim would be to be able to continue doing whatever I was doing before I was so stupid. Of course, if I wore gloves all the time, like I tell others to do, I could mitigate most of these risks :)

The next most likely thing for me to do is slip or trip (my wood is on a slope, there’s loads of deadwood on the floor, and wet bluebells can be like walking on ice). Nothing to do with my age, honest :). However, the possible outcomes from a slip or trip are anything from a grazed knee to a dislocated shoulder, a concussion, or impalement on a branch! But, based on the most likely outcome of grazing or sprain I add a good elastic bandage with a view to ‘getting me home’

This whole thread has made me add ‘review risk assessment’ to my task list. I’ve changed some of my activities in the wood, and learnt a few lessons, and need to review the priorities
 
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FerlasDave

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Jun 18, 2008
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The most important thing you can carry is the knowledge gained from a good outdoor first aid course. I’m sorry but YouTube is no substitute for this subject, you get no feedback/confirmation of learning for a start. CPR being the foremost overlooked skill on these courses and the one thing that 99% of people get wrong.

If you HAVE to choose one piece of kit I would recommend the Olias bandage but, as you’ve suggested it is no good for medical issues only trauma.

A good, well stocked first aid kit is actually not that bulky and doesn’t take up a huge amount of room. I use one kit for all my outdoor work, wether I’m canyoning, canoe trekking or rock climbing. I will add a list of the contents if people are interested?

(This is coming from a background of +20 years outdoor instructor experience including overseas trips, military experience and several years in mountain rescue specialising in water rescues)


(No affiliation just Google)
 
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Ozmundo

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Jan 15, 2023
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I tend to carry what I need for the perceived risk of the expected task.

No 1) Means of communication. If that is not certain then I need to reassess what I’m doing, how I’m doing it or how much risk I’m willing to take.

If I am working I’m the skipper so the buck stops with me.

If I’m alone then I sometimes elect to have nothing as I like to be isolated. I do have a specific reporting schedule though. In that circumstance I don’t have much specific first aid kit apart from pain killers, as I’ve probably had it if I can’t move.
 

TeeDee

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I am but not sure it fits in the the OP.
Feel free to crack on - this whole thread was about identifying what is really bloody useful , what can''t be expediently crafted or improved in the field and to see what the really big-bang-for-the-buck items are.

I've got some nice first aid kits and my initial temptation is to always ADD to it rather than take it away - this IS a problem. The honest truth is the bigger the kit the less likely i am too carry it - the smaller the kit the higher the probability of me having it on me when rare events happen.

Certain things are just an inconvenience that can be tolerated , other things are actual threats to life but how probable these events are vs the size and weight aspects of trying to combat them need to be taken into consideration. At the polar end of that argument is the I don't carry a defibrillator but risk of heart attacks is high.

What i end up carrying must earn its place to be the most useful , least easy to expediently replicate , and hold specific size and weight considerations to be 'on person' with minimal inconvenience.
 

Kav

Nomad
Mar 28, 2021
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Right now a whole bunch of Russian conscripts are being told
to bring tampons for a main wound battledressing.
Improvisation can turn Walter Mitty
Meets Rambo real quick. Do you really want to use the Kuffiya that filtered stream water, sat on your sweating head and caught that spring pollen sneeze earlier?
Tourniquet, wound packing dressing with clotting agent, burn-sting ointment, tweezers , triangle and elastic wrap for sprains-breaks. It’s not that inconvenient to pack SEPARATE from a regular bumps and scrapes level kit.
 

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