First Aid Kits - What to get?

[jeb1900]

Hey,

I've always just had a small first aid kit that I bought a couple of years back.  I've not ever used it, and remains unopened.  I dont really know what is in it.

In the coming year, I hope to do some trips that are more remote than usual.  So I'm not sure if this pack will meet my needs.  It measures 15cmx15cmx9cm.

That being said, I do not have my first aid training at the moment.  So perhaps having anything more than the bare basics is pointless.  I should probably get it really. 

All the same, wondering what you have?  If you made one up, or where you got it?  What sort of money did you spend on getting it going?

Thanks for your info!   

[Bird]

http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=18584.0

[jeb1900]

Oops thanks Lost, got lazy with the search! 

[Kit_e_kat9]

We have 2.  Basic in the CT and more expansive in the car.  I'm first aid trained.  There really isn't much too it and common sense plays a large part, but it's worth doing and getting the renewals every few years (CPR each year). 

The basic ones are mainly bandaids and things, but the more expansive are what ever you could want ... each is different.  We found it better to look at what the St Johns one has and expanding on it to suit our purposes.

Worth thinking about ... as you don't or won't use everything they contain.

Kit_e

[Marcus73]

I've got band aids and panadol

[SteveandViv]

Hey,

I've always just had a small first aid kit that I bought a couple of years back.  I've not ever used it, and remains unopened.  I dont really know what is in it.

In the coming year, I hope to do some trips that are more remote than usual.  So I'm not sure if this pack will meet my needs.  It measures 15cmx15cmx9cm.

That being said, I do not have my first aid training at the moment.  So perhaps having anything more than the bare basics is pointless.  I should probably get it really. 

All the same, wondering what you have?  If you made one up, or where you got it?  What sort of money did you spend on getting it going?

Thanks for your info!   

No that is wrong. Just because you don't know how to use it does not mean some on else with you or that finds you does not know how to use it. Same as mechanical parts. For those that go really remote you take spares. You may not know how to fix a certain issue but it helps to have the spares to do so.

Same as the post lost linked. I got hammered fro having a bit extra in my kit and to be honest I don;t give a rate what the others say. I'll take what I want and after spending a ton of time with the RFDS on planes to remote areas I'm happy to have the 'spares' I do in my first aid kit. Remote triage is not the same as the city doctors. Closing a wound to limit bleeding is acceptable in some situations, not all, but some.

Think where your going and what you may encounter, make your choice from there.

[Finners]

Got a large St John's kit. Very nice no doubt for triage (thank God haven't needed yet), but had to add to it for the most commonly used items that we'd burn through every trip:
Elastoplast (rather than bandaids which fall off when wet)
Antiseptic (alcohol) swabs
Bactroban
(lots of) small eye irrigation ampoules (First Aid kit only has large ones for wound irrigation)
Stingose and aloe vera (though the Kit has Burn Aid)
several instant cool packs (1 or two never enough if treating significant burn or sprain - or scorpion sting!)

[BernieS]

As I refuse to use Tick collars or chemicals on the back of my dogs neck - (my previous Border ended up with a tumour in his spine, without a doubt from those very nasty chemicals!)

I also have Rosewood and Peppermint (Pure Essential Oils) in my kit for the pup. Rosewood oil is a tick deterrent, they hate the smell. Mix several drops oil in water and spritz dog's coat prior, spritz every day there after. The Peppermint is just in case a tick is found on human or pup. Oil goes on the tick where it is attached to the skin. They hate it and let go. Toxins can still be present, seek vet or medical help.. asap.. if dog or human is experiencing any issues.

Also antihistamine's for allergies like (big black) ant stings is a good thing to keep in one's first aid kit. Check with your vet about the quantity to be given. Usually it's 1/8 - 1/4 of a tab. Last trip to the vet was $200 for a antihistamine jab. When a $10 pack of antihistamine from the chemist and a bit of knowledge would have been more cost effective and a dog with a face that didn't look like the incredible hulk (true story)

[Kit_e_kat9]

Yes I should add that we take things specifically for doggie use although you can use many of those things already in the kits.  Medi-pulv is great as it's a powder and dries things out.  Doggie bandages aren't always successful so we also carry some clean bags with us to stop water ingress and bandage removal.  Polaramine is great on both dogs and humans. 

Stingoes is another thing I like to have on hand.  Also some aloe vera gel for sunburns and pain rubs for tired muscles etc.

Don't forget your regular medications can be carried with your first aid kit ... spares that is. 

I also like to keep a copy of prescriptions with my kit as that helps someone else in the off chance that I can't tell them personally.

Kit_e

[fishfinder]

Vodka is all you need

[Patr80l]

Maybe do the First Aid course first to get a feel for what you might encounter and what you might need to do, then stock a kit according to that.   The other thing is be prepared to improvise.   Eg rolled up magazines for splints, glad wrap for larger burns, and so on.
Another tip; I used to use a large fishing tackle box for my kit.   It was robust and held lots of stuff.   The only problem was that because it was strong and square, it used to get packed on the bottom!    Not great for easy access.

[stepheng]

I just buy the St Johns, a large one and a car one...prices are comparable and you know it has the goods.

[ewwreckers]

For our first big trip we have just come back from, I made us up one using a small kit I had here, had all sorts of bandages, slings, needles, saline, cold packs, tape, etc etc etc.  To that I added panadol (if you have littlies don't forget kids panadol, ours are old enough to have normal panadol crushed up though), nurofen, sedatives in case I got migraines, sons epilepsy meds, my anti-baby meds, aloe vera gel, stuff to stop the trots, gastrolyte for if the kids got the trots, stingoes, stop itch, bandaids.  If you do have perscription meds, pack repeats.  We would have ran out as we extended our trip, but I had repeats for both of us in the glove box.
The only things we had to use were a needle for daughters splinters, and mountains of stingose - daughter got hit with jelly fish, and we didn't have any vinegar, and stop itch.  But best to be safe then sorry

[uncyspam]

Don't mess about, do the training. It may teach you nothing, but most  likely  it will help you stay calmer in any situation when you need to use it.

I have a full paramedics portable kit, plus a couple of trauma bandages and some quick-clot. I need to make a new kit up to go in my backpack for when we walk as I misplaced the last one the last time we went camping, but I highly recommend having a second small kit with a few simple items - triangular bandage, something for a tourniquet and compression bandages for snake bite, and maybe some bad aids for blisters or whatever, and leave that kit in your bag you always take with you when you leave the car/camp. Probably a good idea to have your epirb in there too