First Aid Kit - What's Needed ?

Submitted: Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 12:19

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P.G. (Tas)

G'day all, after reading a post on here about a poor chap that was hit by a flying tool box in an accident, I have ordered my cargo barrier.

Then I got to thinking, maybe it's time to get a decent first aid kit. I always cary a very basic kit, but considering I'm heading into some very remote area's in the next few months I may need something more than a basic kit and a sat-phone. I have a good first aid knowledge.

What's your best advice.

Regards,

Peter

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Reply By: Leroy - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 12:29

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 12:29

I'd check out the STJohns kits. I have the 4wd kit but the soft case is a PIA. Go for the one in the plastic tool type box.

Leroy

AnswerID: 145989

Follow Up By: Eric from Cape York Connections - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 12:45

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 12:45

Go the hard case and also from St johns.

all the best
Eric

FollowupID: 399514

Follow Up By: The Explorer - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 12:52

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 12:52

St John Ambulance Australia first aid products

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Reply By: John L G - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 13:46

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 13:46

Peter

Having sailed offshore for many years we had pretty comprehensive kits on the yachts depending on the type of race. Also, years of mucking about in the bush gives you an idea of some of lifes little emergencies.

Whilst the pre-packaged kits cater for a fair spectrum of problems on the road I have always made my own kit which incorporates the stuff normally found in the St John's kits plus a whole lot more.

Best to adopt a doom and gloom attitude, get a piece of paper and write down all those things that can possibly go wrong on the trail and what you would need to either solve the problem or provide relief to the patient.

I also include sun screens, reppellants etc just in case the normal supply runs out, is lost or in fact wasn't even packed.

Burns are often overlooked in kits and represent a large part of camp life mishaps.

This along with headache cure-alls, digesics, tweezers, scalpel blades, scissors both fine and large, bandages, pressure bandages, dressings, arm slings etc etc etc.

In other words, everything that can cause a medical problem on a daily basis.

The good thing is that once you have a comprehensive kit it will serve you well over a number of years. Most medications in such a kit have reasonable use by dates and there is a certain comfort in knowing you are adequately covered.

In real terms expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars for a comprehensive kit.

John G

AnswerID: 145993

Reply By: Allan-Pilbara - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 14:04

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 14:04

I include a whistle and one of those little green lights that work when you bend it in a ST.Johns hiker kit and what the others have said in the 4WD kit.

AnswerID: 145994

Reply By: Kiwi Kia - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 14:59

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 14:59

Find the web site of an industrial first aid supplies company. Run down their product list and quite a few items will interest you. You also have to decide if you are preparing a 'first aid' or 'medical aid' list. First aid is generally what you do when you are in 'stop the bleeding and start the breathing' mode, you then ship the patient off to get medical attention. In other words you only want to stop the patient getting worse. If you want a kit for an emergency out in the bush then you will not want someone pulling it all apart just to get an asprin. I would sugest that you make up two kits, one that has everyday items for MINOR burns, cuts, insect bites, sprains, headaches etc. and another kit for severe trauma like a vehicle accident. Don't forget to put several pairs of disposable gloves right on the top and clearly mark the outside with the date that you packed it.

AnswerID: 146002

Follow Up By: mprice2233 - Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 at 14:49

Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 at 14:49

Kiwi,
Could not agree more.

For an extended trip this year,two kits were suggested by a colleague, One for medication (aspirin, antibiotics, betadine, burn cream etc) in a cheap plastic tool box, and another for "first" aid gear (bandages, splint, gauze, scissors, gloves, etc) in a large rollout shave bag that once opened allows for all items to be seen and found.

All on the trip knew how to use the GPS and satphone in case things got right out of hand.

Both of the kits were kept in easy reach of the front seat passenger (directly behind the centre console).

Marty

FollowupID: 399656

Reply By: ev700 - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 15:58

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 15:58

As well as the in-car St John kit, I think you need a bum pack of basic survival stuff for walks too. Light weight, just the basics and pick it up wwhen you go for walks. Makes life a bit more comfortable too.

Be sure to include the litre of water and small first aid kit. Add a four inch wide elastic bandage for snake bite (yeah, and unusual event but it's the first couple of minutes that count). As well as other obvious stuff I include some metres of surveyors plastic tape wound around a pencil stub (great to mark an area) and a light stick.

As a past bushwalker, I've occasionally found people in bother because they took the wrong turn or set out too late. They didn't think that anything could happen.

AnswerID: 146009

Reply By: glenno(qld) - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 16:02

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 16:02

First aid training.

AnswerID: 146011

Follow Up By: ev700 - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 17:26

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 17:26

Good one.

FollowupID: 399558

Reply By: Member - Jack - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 16:49

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 16:49

Apart from all the usual things I have included:

1. Antibiotics. Your doctor will give you a script and I keep an eye on the "Use By" date and renew as needed.

2. Manuka Honey. This is for burns and is used by most burns units in major hospitals.

3. A 36" Sam Splint for breaks and fractures. Available from this site. To my mind it is a must have.

Jack

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AnswerID: 146016

Reply By: Peter W - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 17:19

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 17:19

G'day Peter,

Try this site

http://www.ambulance.net.au/asp/firstaidkitsonline/aidserv-2-12-18.asp?code=5733,7027&code_desc=Off%20Road%20/%204WD%20(large)

A bit long I know but cut and paste will help.
An experts list and refresher courses are always the way to go if you are serious about first aid.

Cheers.
Peter W
"Life is not a Rehearsal"

AnswerID: 146019

Reply By: geocacher (djcache) - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 22:49

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 22:49

I'm not a huge wrap for St. Johns stuff generally.

Both of their top of the range kits fall well short. You aren't going to stop much with one or two surgipads and a crepe. There aren't even enough bandages there to do a decent job on a leg with a snake bite, or to splint a limb.

Even ours Click hereneeds work but it's a better starting point.

You can add to it from this answer to a previous post pasted below. That thread can be found here.

First aid kits are Murphy's enemy. It's a bit like car thiefs avoid the car with basic anti theft deterents - Murphy avoids travellers with well stocked first aid kits.

Dave

AnswerID: 146047

Follow Up By: geocacher (djcache) - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 22:55

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 22:55

PASTE PASTE

Rather than type a new answer I might post the answer I put on Fishnet a while back.

I'll add that the figures on membership have changed since I typed it. The helicopter has gotten more expensive and the membership is now $110 for a family & $55 for singles (Victoria only). Private Health Insurance companies that say they cover Ambulance don't cover all types of ambulance transport. You can get badly caught out there.

When I did the Canning as medical support for the guys on bikes I added
plaster for a back slab if lengthy trip to an air strip was required.
Inhaled pain relief (Penthrane)
IM pain relief
IV antibiotics
Oral antibiotics
IV fluid (4 litres) and cannulation equipment
Cervical collars
Some more splinting stuff
A special gauze for abrasions
(The above was carried with Doctor's authorisation & required consultation with RFDS. If I needed it I was going to need RFDS to evac a rider anyway.)

Further justifying my point that First Aid Kits are preventative medicine all I used was one bandaid.

I also carry a Satphone & HF Radio which I know how to use. I don't carry an EPIRB. The former will definately get help faster.

I can't highlight enough the importance of knowing what to do, do a first aid course. Also if you carry (real) communications equipment know how to use it.

Dave

________________________________________________________________
Hi all,

Darky asked for my opinion on the 1st Aid kit question, so here goes. (By the way I am a firm believer that first aid kits are the best form of preventative medicine known to man! If you carry one you'll never have to use it - if you don't carry one look out, Murphy will travel with you... wink-fish.gif )

Gloves - sized to fit you & a size larger - couple of pairs of each. (Tight gloves are hard to fit on sweaty hands after the first set you were wearing get torn hence the bigger ones)

Disposable face mask for CPR (I carry OP Airways and a disposable Bag, Valve, Mask as I detest mouth to mouth & I have had to use one.)

Safety glasses - often overlooked even by the pros but blood & vomit born diseases Hep b & c, HIV etc can be easily caught by eye splash.

Scissors/Shears - 1 set
Artery forceps - 1 set for 1st aid kit and a set or two for the tackle box - great for removing fish hooks from the gullet of greedy fish.
Tweezers - 1 pair
Splinter pick - or straighten a new chem sharp hook and use that - improvisation is good in first aid.
If you are fishing you should carry something capable of cutting hooks cos the easiest way to get them out is to keep going through and cut the eye off it.

Triangular bandages 2-3 of these (AKA Sling)
7.5cm crepe bandage 3-4 of these - you need a few to pressure immobilise a full leg in case of snake bite
10cm crepe 1-2 (optional, the wider tha bandage the harder they are to put on for people who don't use them often. If you leave these out chuck in an extra couple of 7.5cm)
Don't worry about 5cm or 2.5cm wide crepes.
7.5cm Conforming bandage - 2 of (crepes don't work on head injuries they don't stay on.)
Small Surgipad/Combine (9x20cm) 4 of
Large Surgipad/Combine (20x20cm)4 of
Gauze (7.5cm x 7.5cm) 4-5 of
Eyepad - 2 of

Bandaids - 10-15 (Don't carry a whole box)
Steristrips or butterfly closures - 1 pack of about 6
2.5cm wide transpore tape - 1 roll
1.25cm wide transpore tape - 1 roll
2.5cm Sleek tape - 1 roll (Also useful for other stuff)

Rescue/Thermal Blanket - disposable - 2 of
Irigation water - eyes & other uses - 1 small bottle 250ml
5% Chlorhexidene wash/betadine or similar 1 bottle
Sunscreen - don't use this one all the time it's for emergencies - like when you forget the one you should have taken anyway
Stingose or similar for insect bites
Panadol/Aspirin
Notepad & pencil - not a pen they dry out and won't work when you need it most

If you travel with the elderly you could consider a bottle of Anginine Tablets if they usually have them at home for chest pain. Likewise with Asthmatics - a Ventolin Puffer, and Diabetics - a tube of Glutose Paste and maybe some Glucagon (injection). A person prone to anaphylactic (ie really really bad allergic) reactions should talk to their GP about carrying an epipen (ADRENALINE). If you are carrying any of these items make sure you know why, what they're for and how to use them if you have to.

I also carry a Stethoscope and BP cuff but I know what to do with them & why I carry them.

Splints can be made with material at hand, though I carry 1 each full arm and full leg air splint.

First aid manual for those who haven't done a course for a while...go on book that refresher you know you want to....

Join the ambulance ($40 singles/$80 family - a chopper ride from the middle of no where starts at around $2416.44 1st hour $40.27 - each additional minute!! Phone 1800 64 84 84 to join)

I may have forgotten something - I usually do and it is late - but if you think I have let me know and I'll set you know if I think you really need it.

Oh yeah that's it. If you are going to hard to communicate with places ie. out of mobile phone or CB range for gods sake spend the $250 and carry a personal EPIRB, & don't use it unless someones life is in danger, they aren't for using if you've got a headache or a broken wrist but if you roll the truck and someones really hurt they are the only way you'll get help any time soon. (24 - 48 hours) And after all that rod and reel you bought last week probably cost at least that - I know mine did.

If you can afford it forget the EPIRB and get real communications (HF or Satphone)

Any questions give me a yell

Dave
Shepparton

Tried geocaching lately??

FollowupID: 399583

Reply By: Member - Duncs - Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 23:35

Friday, Dec 30, 2005 at 23:35

I priced commercially available kits years ago and was horrified at the price.

When I ordered my first ever SA Desert Parks Pass it came with an inventory of the kit carried by the Desert Parks Rangers. That was where I was going so I figured it was probably a reasonable kit to base mine on.

I took the list to my local chemist who priced it all for me. I bought a fishing tackle box from K-Mart and put the gear from the chemist in that box.

I saved about $60 on what a similar kit would cost me from St John or Trafalgar etc. and it fit the space I had for it in the car.

Over the years it has been added to to suite our particular needs as a family. Variaous painkillers, cough mixtures etc. but the basic kit is still the same. Out of date stuff has been replaced with new from time to time and we have never come across anything we could not handle with our little kit.

It includes most of the things mentioned above but nothing that we don't carry on the trucks at work. I am a firefighter.

The only other thing I reckon you need is a reliable way to call for help.

Duncs

AnswerID: 146052

Reply By: Kiwi Kia - Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 at 07:52

Saturday, Dec 31, 2005 at 07:52

There are many items of medication that seem like a good idea eg. Epipen.

BUT, check the conditions that you have to store them!!! I would doubt that anyone can store Epipen in their vehicle for any length of time as the temp range that you get in a vehicle is way outside of that where the medication remains viable.

I see that no one has mentioned pills for diarrea (sp) !! Don't laugh, the retention of body fluids is VERY important. Also consider some sachets of re-hydration salts. These can be replaced by boiled water mixed with Vegemite or Marmite if needed but the over the counter sachets taste nice :-))

AnswerID: 146063

Reply By: V8Diesel - Sunday, Jan 01, 2006 at 23:34

Sunday, Jan 01, 2006 at 23:34

Very true KK. Immodium and Staminade are super handy when out and about in remote areas. I've worked on sites where it was compulsory to drink electrolyte replacement supplements (ie: rebuilding the floodways between Marble Bar and Port Hedland in summer.......urrrgghhhh)

An uncontrolled dose of 'slippery grip' has the potential to be very serious indeed. Severe dehydration can have serious and unpleasant long term effects too.

I did a class one St John's ambulance course at Karratha many years ago as an 'insurance policy' and carry the large blue 'EMT handbook' in my rig at all times. This book covers all kinds of stuff and heaven forbid something serious ever happens, at least I can have a crack at doing something useful rather than just sitting by with my thumb up my bum. I also carry the credit card sized St John's resusitation pamphlett in my wallet at all times.

AnswerID: 146261