If I had nothing else but then I've bought sterile pads, and have bandages. As for tourniquet, perhaps, if I knew what I was doing with one and then didnt buy something more suitable for the kit.
Home first aid kit
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Tourniquets are essential if out doing things with sharp objects or are generally out in remote areas, in my opinion. I even keep one in my car. But you’re absolutely right that you should get some training in using them.
Yes I totally agree. A major incident first responder kit is massive overkill for most people and situations. Hence my suggestion that people just use a regular first aid kit for around £40 or £50 from a reputable well known supplier then add a few extra items afterwards.
The only reason that we got a first responder kit was because we intended to separate the contents to create four totally separate first aid kits to put in four separate locations. We managed to do this (plus we added a few extra items too) all for a little over £200. When you consider what is included in each of the kits and the professional grade quality of the items it actually worked out as fair value when compared to buying four regular first aid kits separately.
I also totally agree about the various airway tubes which we put in the bin. But apart from those everything else is still there in one or other of the kits and we would be confident to use any of the other items if necessary.
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I would never buy four “regular” FAKs, I would obtain four suitable containers, an old ice cream box will do, mark or sticker them “First Aid” and stock them with whatever items you think you would need for that particular application, activity or environment. I once bought a FAK for my business…….It contained 42 bandages! That was to purely to pack it out as cheap as possible, never bought another one.
My chainsaw/bushcraft kit does not contain any “normal” dressings, for bleeds it has two “Traumafix’ dressings, two Haemostatic dressings, vet wrap x 2 a few low adherent dressings, OTOM, small mirror, two Calico Triangular Bandages, and a Tourniquet. With vet wrap and low adherent dressings, I have all the bandages I need. Also some burns gel dressings. You don’t need to be spending £200, you really don’t.
My hiking kit: Vet wrap x 1, low adherent dressings, foils blanket, SAM splint, burns gel dressing, blister kit, OTOM, Tourniquet if you feel you need one.
I always have 300mg Asprin tablets for a suspected heart attack. Other meds in MY kit, Paracetamol, Anti Histamine cream and/or tablets, Ibrufen, Diarrhea tablets.
Generic items: Triangular bandages, Plasters, alcohol free moist wipes, ampules of sterile water and shears, you MUST have shears!
Don’t forget, we are dealing with “First Aid” the initial assistance given to someone who is injured or ill, before the arrival of medical assistance. The most important thing you are going to do, is call for help, if needed, once you have carried out a Primary Survey.
On one of my CPD courses a Paramedic told me that if a casualty is not spraying blood everywhere, and is breathing, they have something to work with. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Get trained.
Very importantly, know how to recognise in yourself and someone else, and deal, with a heart attack.
I always asked the question to my learners “When was the last time you used a bandage?” Honest answers please.
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I confess that I would not know how to apply a tourniquet, I keep thinking about that guy who amputated his hand that was trapped under a rock, what did he do to stop the bleeding. I am aware that in a clinical environment they have a new gadget now that uses a vacuum to seal your artery, I have seen it in action on myself after an angiogram.
With angina you get accustomed to chest pain, as that is literally what it means. I had a few blue light rides before I had a formal diagnosis. My cardiologist has recently discharged me as it is under control now and I know the drill if it gets severe, that is if it does not respond to the spray, call 999.
There must be an alternative bushcraft use for all those surplus bandages, firestarting, cordage or whatever. I confess the last time I used a bandage was a compression bandage for a sprained ankle too many years ago to remember now. Bandages I guess were used to hold dressings in place before 3M hit the scene.
Whilst on Holibobs I did notice some ads for AEDs come up on my social media Farce Bark - Looking into it some of the companies offer AEDs on monthly fixed term contracts - equaling £30-£35 pcm - ongoing contract.
I do like to own stuff outright but if you take into account having to check and replace the batteries every X years it may not be a bad option - suggested price for AED was circa £2000 , so at @ £35 pcm - to break even you'd need to rent it for 4 years 9 months.
The monthly leasing makes affordability somewhat easier I guess - the smaller model would work out to £1 per day. Nothing when you think what people spend on special coffees
I do like to own stuff outright but if you take into account having to check and replace the batteries every X years it may not be a bad option - suggested price for AED was circa £2000 , so at @ £35 pcm - to break even you'd need to rent it for 4 years 9 months.
The monthly leasing makes affordability somewhat easier I guess - the smaller model would work out to £1 per day. Nothing when you think what people spend on special coffees
A couple of new items added to my home first aid it. A dental tool kit and a Dentek tooth and filling repair kit like these.
Given the cost and access to dentists it makes sense, but do you know how to use all those pointy things without doing your teeth/gums permanent harm? My old dentist told me gums don't grow back around the tooth, once pushed down by manual brushing or in-expert scaling.flossing etc. Apparently manual toothbrushing is a leading cause of gum recession and healthy tooth loss.
The repair kit is simple and only has a rounded implement - useful if you are on a trip or it's going to take time before you can see a dentist. A lost filling or cracked tooth can be agony.
The repair kit is simple and only has a rounded implement - useful if you are on a trip or it's going to take time before you can see a dentist. A lost filling or cracked tooth can be agony.
The only two things which I am likely to use are the Dentek filling/tooth temporary repair kit and the mirror. They might come in handy if there's an emergency during a weekend or something and we need a temporarily fix while we wait a day or two if the there are no dentists available to see immediately.
Possibly a careful marketing ploy by the electric toothbrush makers.
I've not yet made the jump to blue toothed anything inside my mouth.
I'm sure you are aware of these? But if not there is a ' Where there is no Doctor and Dentist ' books out there. If you search for them I'm sure you will find them to be downloadable -
https://store.hesperian.org/product...BrrYi1uP9KWbqeDbp8eysLUtCxj7amvxoCYgcQAvD_BwE
I don't think I would fancy trying to work on my own mouth - which means someone would have to be in such a dire situation letting someone whom has some tools and a guide book/pamphlet having a crack at getting medieval in the mouth area..
But... I guess none of us are thinking root canal - but more , replacing a lost filling with a temp one.
The temporary filling/repair kit is perfectly safe to use and easy enough for complete amateurs to try. The mirror could come in handy to help to see what you're dealing with.
As for amateur tooth, gum or mouth surgery of any description?
NO **** WAY!
I've got some of that Temparin stuff in at the moment, for a missing filling. It's pretty handy.A couple of new items added to my home first aid it. A dental tool kit and a Dentek tooth and filling repair kit like these.
Fuji 9 is what you need, according to renowned dentist Dr Mortimer.
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