pocket FAK
- Thread starter Tengu
- Start date
well, what i'd do would be this.
Q: "what would i need in a FAK that i'd have on my person ?"
A : "stuff i need very fast"
Q: "what would i need *very* fast"
A: "stuff to stop bleeding".
there you go
i'd suggest bandages, and quikclot (amazing stuff, check video on youtube by rvops website maintainers).
imho most other things can go into main FAK, but anti allergy, epilepsy, bleeding things go into personal FAK (as well as main if possible).
might be wrong, but thats my thoughts
Q: "what would i need in a FAK that i'd have on my person ?"
A : "stuff i need very fast"
Q: "what would i need *very* fast"
A: "stuff to stop bleeding".
there you go
i'd suggest bandages, and quikclot (amazing stuff, check video on youtube by rvops website maintainers). imho most other things can go into main FAK, but anti allergy, epilepsy, bleeding things go into personal FAK (as well as main if possible).
might be wrong, but thats my thoughts
SimonM
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
From my experience the main things that get used are the small things!
Small FAK:
Simon
Small FAK:
- Gloves
- Antiseptic wipes
- Assorted plasters
- Small burn dressing
- Burn gel
- Small absorbant pad
- Tape - zinc oxide (can cause allergic reactions) or micropore
- Glowstick - very reassuring at night & can be used as a location marker too
- Face shield for CPR
- Foil blanket
- Pain killers for personal use - Ibuprofin reduces swelling too
- Rehydration sachets
- Duct tape
Simon
forestwalker
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Military field dressing and elastic bandage is pretty much ideal for the "why is it raining red?" occations. I never work with axe or chainsaw without them in my pocket (ok, sometimes cheat on the axe-work, but not when spending hours with the splitting maul, and a big bandana is pretty ok for too).
For a small tin bandaids of various sizes, tweezers for splinters is about it IMHO. Perhaps some blister stuff of whatever kind you prefer.
I have one that size. It contains:
- burn gel
- polysporin ointment, single use packets
- 2nd skin blister pads
- bandaids
- more bandaids
- smaller bandaids
- bigger bandaids
- knuckle bandaids
- a small burn dressing
A kit this size is really a "boo-boos and blisters" kit rather than a serious first aid kit. Think of the most common injuries, not the most serious. So things like blister pads, burn gel, antibiotic ointment, after-bite wipes and so on make sense. I seem to have a lot of bandaids....
Re Quik-Clot, read up on it first. There's some controversy over when it is appropriate, as it can complicate things at the hospital. I've read it should be used only for wounds that won't respond to good old direct pressure. How likely are those?
- burn gel
- polysporin ointment, single use packets
- 2nd skin blister pads
- bandaids
- more bandaids
- smaller bandaids
- bigger bandaids
- knuckle bandaids
- a small burn dressing
A kit this size is really a "boo-boos and blisters" kit rather than a serious first aid kit. Think of the most common injuries, not the most serious. So things like blister pads, burn gel, antibiotic ointment, after-bite wipes and so on make sense. I seem to have a lot of bandaids....
Re Quik-Clot, read up on it first. There's some controversy over when it is appropriate, as it can complicate things at the hospital. I've read it should be used only for wounds that won't respond to good old direct pressure. How likely are those?
Lagavulin is good but i think oban or edradour are slightly more medicinal!!
I would agree its always to smaller items that get used the most I usually .have a scarf (shamag) that also doubles as a dressing or sling etc. someone also told me condoms are quite useful in a fak aswell. I will leave that to the imagination.!!!
I would agree its always to smaller items that get used the most I usually .have a scarf (shamag) that also doubles as a dressing or sling etc. someone also told me condoms are quite useful in a fak aswell. I will leave that to the imagination.!!!
Stay clear of the quickclot Tengu as it can make things much worse as has been said...........keep it simple gloves, small dressing, plasters, tweezers, and some adhesive tape like micropore, plus as many small non fluffy pads as you can fit in. This will cover most small wounds. In your bigger kit in your pack you can carry your other more bulky items like a space blanket, larger field dressings, Paracetamol, antihistamines, immodium, face shield, scissors, elasticated bandage and larger pads etc.
Issues I've read about with QuikClot and other clotting agents:
- burns and tissue damage at the wound site caused by the agent itself (QuikClot in powder form),
- risk of clotting agent being transported in bloodstream, causing nasty complications,
- difficulty in removing clotting agent from wound
People sing its praises because it saves lives -- but its use isn't warranted unless you have life-threatening bleeding that direct pressure won't handle. Generally, I see advice to use direct pressure for 90 seconds or more before resorting to QuikClot. Used unnecessarily, concensus seems to be it would cause more trouble than it's worth.
A couple of links:
http://connect.jems.com/forum/topics/has-anyone-used-quick-clot-in
http://www.emsvillage.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=63&threadid=3166
I wouldn't use this stuff unless I'd been trained on it, myself.
- burns and tissue damage at the wound site caused by the agent itself (QuikClot in powder form),
- risk of clotting agent being transported in bloodstream, causing nasty complications,
- difficulty in removing clotting agent from wound
People sing its praises because it saves lives -- but its use isn't warranted unless you have life-threatening bleeding that direct pressure won't handle. Generally, I see advice to use direct pressure for 90 seconds or more before resorting to QuikClot. Used unnecessarily, concensus seems to be it would cause more trouble than it's worth.
A couple of links:
http://connect.jems.com/forum/topics/has-anyone-used-quick-clot-in
http://www.emsvillage.com/forums/messageview.cfm?catid=63&threadid=3166
I wouldn't use this stuff unless I'd been trained on it, myself.
oh ok, fair enough. - i hadnt actually seen the powered form used, only the crystal/bagged form.
I base my FAK on cut, bash, burn and hangover
Usual plasters,
Eye dressings - not only good for eyes but also a great cut dressing as it has tapes attached.
wound wash,
micropore tape and none stick dressings,
Large field dressing - hope i never need it.
tweezers,
safety pins,
Tic removal tool,
antihistamines,
pain killers - hangover.
All of this fits in a tiny kit.
I did try superglue for thin cuts but it wasnt good so threw it out.
Usual plasters,
Eye dressings - not only good for eyes but also a great cut dressing as it has tapes attached.
wound wash,
micropore tape and none stick dressings,
Large field dressing - hope i never need it.
tweezers,
safety pins,
Tic removal tool,
antihistamines,
pain killers - hangover.
All of this fits in a tiny kit.
I did try superglue for thin cuts but it wasnt good so threw it out.
