I would like to buy or build a Stop The Bleed Kit. I would like for it to relatively small so that I can trow it in a range bag, pack, or glovebox. I would like for it to be opened quickly and with just one hand. I'm looking for it to have a tourniquet, shears, Israeli bandage, and quick clot.

Any suggestions on a prebuilt one, or info on one that you have built yourself would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

We use these on our range. They are quite compact relatively inexpensive and contain quality products.
https://premierbodyarmor.com/p...ba-bleed-control-kit

You may want to build your own, it seems the Israeli bandages aren't easy to find in ready to go kits. But the other items are pretty available.
I found this company a couple of years ago, and have their Recon Individual First Aid Kit, and full medic kit. They may have something you like. Link to catalog: https://elitefirstaidinc.com/catalog/

I like the kit that TSE linked to also. Nice kit.

Most kits are over priced and contain cool guy shit that you’ll never use. Buy a couple of tourniquets, a couple of chest seals, an Israeli bandage and a couple of 4x4s. And latex gloves.

You’re not going to Afghanistan and the above is far more than you could need.

I built my own, but since they were going in all of our cars I added a bit more to them. Still small, but with all of the essentials plus some extras.

Because I was building multiple kits, I just ordered all of the components which usually come in multi packs anyways.

My only recommendation would be to consider something other than an Israeli dressing. They do work very well, I do not question that at all, but you have to practice with them a few times to be able to use them right, and if you gave someone who never used one an Israeli dressing under pressure, the results might not be great.

Something like the North American Rescue emergency trauma dressing, or an Oales bandage from tactical medical solutions would be my first choices because of their simplicity.

And I have used every single tourniquet from the major manufacturers and several from smaller ones. The CAT tourniquet is still the best in my opinion.

I will kind of echo some of what was said above, pick any of the major players and you will get quality stuff. I would not order from Amazon because you can get knock off stuff. It will be much cheaper if you order a vacuum sealed refill kit. Or the individual pieces and put them together. Usually the bags that they come in cost as much or more than the actual equipment.

I put together a "range" kit that is basically a stop the bleed kit and put it all in a basic generic pouch that is maybe 6x6x4. I sourced most of the items from Rescue Essentials but may have also used amazon...

Inside the pouch it has a SWAT T tourniquet, chest seals, 4x4s, thin H bandage, Israeli bandage, airways, couple ABD pads, OLAES bandage, compressed gauze, and an emergency blanket. Attached to the outside is a part of CAT tourniquets, shears, and a mini-Sharpie.

I might be forgetting an item or two but I think that covers it. I will add that I added the SWAT T tourniquets at the strong recommendation of a buddy who is a Paramedic instructor, especially since I take my kids shooting. He said they are much easier to use on a smallish child than the CATs and he likes to have both options.

The bag I have has a large velcro backing that you are supposed to attach to a larger bag or maybe the back of the seat in your car, so you can just rip the kit off the seat and go with it. I used some zip ties to attach that backing to my range bag. It flops around a bit, but it works. My kids all know if dad says "get the medical kit" they are to run to bag, grab it by the handle, and run back.

I looked at prebuilt kits and it made a lot more sense to build one.

The pouch I used is really similar to this one: Rip-away pouch

1 - TK4
1 - compressed gauze
1 - Hyfin Vent Chest Seal
1 - 14 ga decompression needle (if so trained)
3' - gorilla tape wrapped on a card

Very small, portable kit. Fits in a pocket. TK4's can be used as tq's or pressure bandage in conjunction compressed gauze. Compressed gauze for a topical dressing or packing a wound. CATs are excellent but have a singular use and don't work well on kids. I have them in my full trauma kits, but my pocket kits have TK4's. Throw in a pack of Quik Clot if you like. I'm not a fan.

Add in some Z-Folded Wound Gauze for Bleed Stop.

Only thing to add to this video, applying a tourniquet correctly will hurt like hell:




Taking a class to use it correctly would be a good thing. A lot of ranges now have emergency medic training now. I went to a 2 day course where day #1 was classroom with a Level 1 Trauma ER Doctor and Nurse. Day #2 was field training with a former Special Forces Medic. VERY educational!

+1 on training, and +1 to Thumperfbc on the emergency blanket. Stop the bleed, treat for shock..you'll want the blanket.

quote:

Originally posted by rat2306:
+1 on training, and +1 to Thumperfbc on the emergency blanket. Stop the bleed, treat for shock..you'll want the blanket.

Why not just carry an ambulance too? Or maybe hire a couple of paramedics to roll with you full time?

This is the insane part about these posts. Poster asks about compact simple stop the bleeding kit. And then everyone becomes a SOF medic in making suggestions.

No, you absolutely don’t need to take a “stop the bleeding kit” course taught by some former something or other. It’s basic first aid. You can literally refer back to your Cub Scout manual for what you need to know. It’s idiotic to suggest half this stuff for a basic kit. Especially suggesting decomp needles. You’re not in Northern Africa when you go to the range.

On more than one occasion I’ve responded to range shootings where the “big helpers” that broke out their cool guy med kits to “save a life” for gunshot wounds to the extremities made the wound worse trying to “help”. I especially love seeing people packing a wound that isn’t bleeding, adding quick clot to wounds that aren’t bleeding, getting quick clot in their mouths as they are trying to bite the package open. All to be a hero.

^^ jljones speaks truth. Former Paramedic here…build your own, there’s plenty of good info on the ingredients for an IFAIK. You’ll save a lot of money and have better knowledge of what’s in your kit.

Agree with Jljones.
This is really simple fundamental first aid.

Even as a skilled advanced medical practitioner I am not doing needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax in the field if we can get the patient transported to a facility in a reasonable amount of time.

While TQ’s can be lifesaving and you should definitely have one, the need for one is going to be incredibly rare.
Direct pressure, a pressure bandage properly applied and definitive transport are the 99% solution.

The problem with clotting agents is often the significant bleeding is deep in the wound where you can’t easily get to it, and sprinkling “magic pixie dust” on the surface of the wound doesn’t do you any good.
A simple effective pressure dressing can be applied with a bunch of 4x4’s and ace wrap.
Wouldn’t be surprised if you already have this kicking around the house.
Agree the Cat for a TQ.
One thing an instructor mentioned to me which does make sense, try to keep the TQ in original packaging and out of the sun as the UV light can break down some of the materials and weaken it.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
It’s idiotic to suggest half this stuff for a basic kit. Especially suggesting decomp needles.

Since I'm the idiot that mentioned the decomp needle, I have to ask why not if you know how to use it? (if so trained) It takes up less room than a cigarette and damn well might save someone's life. Not all wounds are extremities.

I've broken one out twice at the range. Both times to dig out a splinter. Handy little sucker.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Why not just carry an ambulance too? Or maybe hire a couple of paramedics to roll with you full time?

This is the insane part about these posts. Poster asks about compact simple stop the bleeding kit. And then everyone becomes a SOF medic in making suggestions.

No, you absolutely don’t need to take a “stop the bleeding kit” course taught by some former something or other. It’s basic first aid. You can literally refer back to your Cub Scout manual for what you need to know. It’s idiotic to suggest half this stuff for a basic kit. Especially suggesting decomp needles. You’re not in Northern Africa when you go to the range.

On more than one occasion I’ve responded to range shootings where the “big helpers” that broke out their cool guy med kits to “save a life” for gunshot wounds to the extremities made the wound worse trying to “help”. I especially love seeing people packing a wound that isn’t bleeding, adding quick clot to wounds that aren’t bleeding, getting quick clot in their mouths as they are trying to bite the package open. All to be a hero.

Thank you.

I've been roundly criticized for responding similarly to similar threads, but you speak the truth. Basic Cub Scout level first aid...it's all you need.

Toss a couple Army surplus field dressings in your bag and you're good to go. It'll do everything you need it to do.

40 years in the medical field (God I need to retire) including a hitch as an Army medic, a paramedic, a flight nurse, and twenty plus in advanced practice, and I've never seen nor felt the need to apply a tourniquet outside of surgery (and that's only to keep the surgeon happy and that's important ). Direct pressure to the wound or the artery above works just fine and it is rare that even that is needed. I'm not saying that the instance might not happen, just that in my 40 years it has never happened, so the likelihood is about 99.99999% that you'll never need a tourniquet.

These days, everyone wants to look cool and be a operator. Howsabout just being a regular Joe and slapping a field dressing (or a T-shirt) on a wound and taking the person to an ER?

Here are the ones my department issues to us directly.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:
Buy a couple of tourniquets, a couple of chest seals, an Israeli bandage and a couple of 4x4s. And latex gloves.

With the exception of gloves, I carry one of each, plus extra 4X4 gauze pads in my truck, along with an ACE bandage roll. In my EDC bag, just a couple of 4X4s (I buy them individually wrapped) and a roll of 2" ACE bandage.

jljones, if aiming at me, please wait a second. I wasn't implying those things. Keep the gear simple; and get training if needed and familiar with it. But again, stop the bleeding and treat for shock. And provide support until professional treatment arrives.

BTW, I agree with you; threads like this can go sideways quickly.

quote:

Originally posted by jljones:

Why not just carry an ambulance too? Or maybe hire a couple of paramedics to roll with you full time?

This is the insane part about these posts. Poster asks about compact simple stop the bleeding kit. And then everyone becomes a SOF medic in making suggestions.

No, you absolutely don’t need to take a “stop the bleeding kit” course taught by some former something or other. It’s basic first aid. You can literally refer back to your Cub Scout manual for what you need to know. It’s idiotic to suggest half this stuff for a basic kit. Especially suggesting decomp needles. You’re not in Northern Africa when you go to the range.

On more than one occasion I’ve responded to range shootings where the “big helpers” that broke out their cool guy med kits to “save a life” for gunshot wounds to the extremities made the wound worse trying to “help”. I especially love seeing people packing a wound that isn’t bleeding, adding quick clot to wounds that aren’t bleeding, getting quick clot in their mouths as they are trying to bite the package open. All to be a hero.

Your post confuses me, but that could certainly be my fault, I've been known to be dense. You seem to be implying that it is a waste to carry some of the stuff suggested in this discussion.

The way I see it one should figure out what their needs may be based upon their circumstances. Does the person exclusively shoot at a club in a major metro area with ready access to high trained first responders? Will they reliably get the right people there in just a few minutes? Or do they shoot in more remote areas that would take more time if, God forbid, an accident happens?

I thought about where I shoot and the reality is, it is relatively remote. I have a couple spots I go to on the regular... none are public shooting spaces, none are easily accessed by an ambulance as it isn't a simple "Go to 1234 Oak Street". They are fields deep in agricultural parts of my county, 15 minute drive from the city then several minutes off the actual road. In one case, it is at least an hour to the nearest small hospital and who knows how long for a trained medical responder to get to you.

My kit is built upon that knowledge and a worst case scenario. May not matter, and I hope I never have to find out. But was it worth $70 and a few minutes of my time to assemble? In my assessment, yes. It is literally no extra work for me for the rest of eternity to bring the kit. It is attached to bag I already bring that holds my ammo, eyes and ears, magazines, targets, blah blah blah. I'm not trying to be some hero or some tacticool wannabe, I'm trying to make sure that if an accident happens I at least have a chance.

And I likely will never use any of it. God willing.

I did the basics, a clearly marked carry bag, a couple of Israeli bandages and tourniquets.
I bought an extra of each so I could use them to get a little experience without the pressure of the moment.
The rest of that stuff in the kits seem more like something to have at home, if at all. I figure if I need the first two I'm heading to an emergency room anyway and will have time to get exactly what I need after leaving.