A risk based kit is pretty good. (Likelihood of needing it X Impact of condition) / weight. You are unlikely to need a tourniquet but the impact of a catastrophic bleed is so high that you may decide to carry one. Similarly lightweight tablets for minor ailments can also make it in.
FIeld surgical kitS
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A risk based kit is pretty good. (Likelihood of needing it X Impact of condition) / weight. You are unlikely to need a tourniquet but the impact of a catastrophic bleed is so high that you may decide to carry one. Similarly lightweight tablets for minor ailments can also make it in.
Well said. Unfortunately too many people buy involved first aid/trauma kit thinking the equipment with somehow as if by osmosis bestow on the owner the skills needed to use said kit. The only reason we have a EMT road trauma kit is because my wife used to be an EMT and knows what-when-how to use it's contents.
You can easily damage the femural artery by an axe that glances off, or when you sit fown and use a knife in the wrong way.
Plus other accidents with sharp objects. I recall some years ago that a lady lost her life in Sweden while picking lingon berries. Slipped and fell on a sharp branch that perforated the artery. Bled to deatch in a few minutes.
I still do not think anybody should attempt to suture. If you nick a vein or artery simple suturing of the skin is pretty difficult and worthless. To suture the deep layers is virtually impossible without assistance, pressure and suction.
Shallow cuts can just be bandaged.
In fact we are more likely to get tooth ache or a large fracture of a tooth or filling than a deep cut. But does anybody carry stuff for that? No.
Plus other accidents with sharp objects. I recall some years ago that a lady lost her life in Sweden while picking lingon berries. Slipped and fell on a sharp branch that perforated the artery. Bled to deatch in a few minutes.
I still do not think anybody should attempt to suture. If you nick a vein or artery simple suturing of the skin is pretty difficult and worthless. To suture the deep layers is virtually impossible without assistance, pressure and suction.
Shallow cuts can just be bandaged.
In fact we are more likely to get tooth ache or a large fracture of a tooth or filling than a deep cut. But does anybody carry stuff for that? No.
Ehm, we just dig up a bit of meadowsweet root for that. Grows along every burn side here. It kills the pain, is antibacterial, and it gives us peace until we can get to a dentist 
I do know folks who carry toofypegs in their FAK for that kind of thing though.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toofypegs...692177?hash=item419ca151d1:g:IzQAAOSwEetV-D5i
M
I do know folks who carry toofypegs in their FAK for that kind of thing though.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toofypegs...692177?hash=item419ca151d1:g:IzQAAOSwEetV-D5i
M
Yes, I do encounter patients that try those self fixes. Or even use Superglue.
Chewing Cloves is quite efficient if you have a mild Pulpitis.
Chewing Cloves is quite efficient if you have a mild Pulpitis.
Thing is though, cloves don't grow here, while meadowsweet (the original precursor of aspirin) certainly does
It's an unmistakeable root too. It stinks of germoline, it's red and the strong scent isn't unpleasant even when it's used in the mouth.
The whole plant is useful….but there's a bit that no one's talking about. It's all very well taking a first aid kit with useful things in it, but what do you find to use when in need when out ?
From piptoporus betulina for plasters, to sticky willie for insect bites…..there's an enormous variety of usefuls
M
It's an unmistakeable root too. It stinks of germoline, it's red and the strong scent isn't unpleasant even when it's used in the mouth.
The whole plant is useful….but there's a bit that no one's talking about. It's all very well taking a first aid kit with useful things in it, but what do you find to use when in need when out ?
From piptoporus betulina for plasters, to sticky willie for insect bites…..there's an enormous variety of usefuls
M
I had to look up what Meadowsweet is ( english is not my mother tongue) and I can tell you that you can brew a very nice tea from the flowers, after you got rid of all the small bugs that are drinking the nectar.
Done that countless times. But had no clue it was also medically active! Thanks!
Done that countless times. But had no clue it was also medically active! Thanks!
People superglue there own teeth together.....that just sounds like a whole world of nasty
Yes. Superglue to refix crowns that have fallen out. Hell for me to fix, and toxic .
Please guys do not do that!
Please guys do not do that!
I was advised to use sugar free chewing gum to protect the exposed part of the tooth to prevent pain.
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I have been recommending that too. In the forest you can use sap from pine trees. Thr sticky one.
Where I live, funnily enough, Wilderness First Aid being the kind of skills needed an hour away from medical help is actually useful day to day. So I trained as a Wilderness First Aider and will likely this year train as an Wilderness EMT because I found the first course so interesting.
Out with folks and guns I have a kit much like previously posted. CAT, Israeli dressings, Cellox, all things that require a bit of specialist knowledge to use.
In my car I have NP airways, SAM splints, BP and Heart Rate monitor that does blood sats.
My bimble bag contains, plasters, dressings, tape, and odd bandage, antihistamine, painkillers and so forth. So yes I think it's appropriate to have layers of kit that support appropriate need. I wouldn't carry all of this all of the time.
I am trained to suture through a previous course but wouldn't choose to do that on myself or another in a first aid situation. My priority is stabilisation ready for whatever kind of evacuation I can call in.
At home I might choose to do more on myself or my family than the average Brit but I'm an hour away from our main hospital, which will have a 4 hour wait so choose to be a bit more self reliant with anything up to broken ribs, toes and fingers cuts and minor burns.
Always glad to donate to the air ambulance!
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Out with folks and guns I have a kit much like previously posted. CAT, Israeli dressings, Cellox, all things that require a bit of specialist knowledge to use.
In my car I have NP airways, SAM splints, BP and Heart Rate monitor that does blood sats.
My bimble bag contains, plasters, dressings, tape, and odd bandage, antihistamine, painkillers and so forth. So yes I think it's appropriate to have layers of kit that support appropriate need. I wouldn't carry all of this all of the time.
I am trained to suture through a previous course but wouldn't choose to do that on myself or another in a first aid situation. My priority is stabilisation ready for whatever kind of evacuation I can call in.
At home I might choose to do more on myself or my family than the average Brit but I'm an hour away from our main hospital, which will have a 4 hour wait so choose to be a bit more self reliant with anything up to broken ribs, toes and fingers cuts and minor burns.
Always glad to donate to the air ambulance!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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