Putting together a serious first aid kit to keep in each of the cars has long been on my “To Do” list.

Finding myself with an excess of time and money for a change, I finally decided to check it off the list. I searched a bunch of the old SF threads on IFAK supplies as well as online links to see what gear they had in their kits.


Many, many years ago, I went through EMT training/certification so I know more than the average joe and just enough to be dangerous. As such, I’ve never been a fan of the pre-built kits that seemed to be big on bandaids, neosporin packets, tape, and alcohol swabs but little else for real emergencies.

I wanted a real kit, but not a full EMT bag (already have that for the house )

So here is what I ended up with:

Choose this $14 Molle Pouch from Amazon. Velcro rip away design and I have Molle headrest cover in the cars with Velcro on back so mounting point is behind the front passenger headrest. Easy grab from the drivers seat to take with you as you exit the vehicle.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PV9LX5R/


Everything in the bag I bought from Amazon or already had at home (little things like bandaids, alcohol swabs, ibuprofen, etc.)

I think it is pretty well outfitted to handle a serious car accident or assault with 1-3 victims.

Bandaging Items
Bandaid Assortment
2x2 Gauze (x8)
4x4 Gauze (x6)
Butterfly Strips (x10)
Steri-Strip Assortment (x32)
4” Compression Dressing (x2)
2” Tape
2” Cohesive Tape (Sticks to self)
4” Cohesive Tape
Duct Tape (15’ x 1.88”)

”Trauma” Items
HyFin Vented Chest Seal (x2)
6” Israeli Compression Bandage
6g CELOX granules
CAT style Tourniquet
Assorted Sutures (x6)

Misc/Other
Nitrile Gloves
Disposable CPR mask
Eyewash/Patch kit
4x4 burn dressing
Emergency Blanket
Alcohol Swabs
NeoSporin
Aspirin
Ibuprofen
Black Sharpie

”Hardware”
Tweezer kit (4 with assorted tips)
Hemostats (straight and curved)
EMT Shears

I was actually surprised I got almost everything in that I was hoping to. The only two things I compromised on were “regular” 4” compression dressings instead of Israeli style and I had to pull the 4oz spray bottle of Hydrogen peroxide out to make room.

Total cost for bag and supplies just under $110. Will probably tweak things a little, but it is a start.


Rarely have anyone in the back seat, it will come off if there is someone back there so they don’t faceplant into it in case of sudden deceleration

I am in the medical business for, like forever.
The best source I know of is a combat medic, who is on this forum. mrmn50- Nam LRRP.
You don't need any other suggestions.
Reach out to this great man.

Looks pretty complete...you’ll be able to assist with really anything that pops up in front of you...hopefully not needed!!
When you say “CAT style” tounaquet is it a true CAT? A lot of knock offs out there for a few $$ cheaper but my experience has been that they fail when needed. One of two things happen with them, windless breaks in half or the stitching on it tears away when applying the needed pressure to stop an arterial bleed......no biggie to you but the guy your using it on may think otherwise

The only thing I would add is a decompression needle...but not everyone is trained for that event

Love everything you have, perhaps add ars needle. The only thing that concerns me is how much that bag stands out. May "encourage" someone to appropriate it. Just my SOP, but I try to hide these things from plain site.

quote:

Originally posted by cgode:
Looks pretty complete...you’ll be able to assist with really anything that pops up in front of you...hopefully not needed!!
When you say “CAT style” tounaquet is it a true CAT? ...

The only thing I would add is a decompression needle...but not everyone is trained for that event

Not a “true” C-A-T, but a good “copy”. 4.5 stars on Amazon with a few hundred reviews. None of them had anything negative of any actual problem or failure rather just comments of “Not NAR C-A-T” or “it’s a copy”. Windlass is solid high tech plastic. I gave it a test first on my upper arm and couldn’t find a brachial pulse using a stethoscope. Then I strapped it on my thigh and cranked it down good and tight, no discernible flex with the windlass.

quote:

Originally posted by dave7378:
Love everything you have, perhaps add ars needle. The only thing that concerns me is how much that bag stands out. May "encourage" someone to appropriate it. Just my SOP, but I try to hide these things from plain site.

I could probably squeeze an ARS Needle in, will probably go ahead and order a few. Also thinking about pulling the minor stuff (bandaids, swabs, emergency blanket, tweezer kit, aspirin/ibuprofen) out and making a “mini” kit for more minor things. That would let me get the hydrogen peroxide back into this kit.

Yes it does stand out... The more I look at the pictures, the more I am thinking of relocating it. Car and truck both have a fair amount of space under the seat.



Anyway, it is a start, something I have been meaning to do for a long while.

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Not a “true” C-A-T, but a good “copy”. 4.5 stars on Amazon with a few hundred reviews. None of them had anything negative of any actual problem or failure rather just comments of “Not NAR C-A-T” or “it’s a copy”. Windlass is solid high tech plastic. I gave it a test first on my upper arm and couldn’t find a brachial pulse using a stethoscope. Then I strapped it on my thigh and cranked it down good and tight, no discernible flex with the windlass.

Brother - please, please, please don't trust your life or the life of someone else to a knockoff TQ.

I'm so serious about this that if you can't afford a real CAT, email me your mailing address, and I'll mail you a real CAT. I truly want you to be using the real thing when it counts.

I'm dead serious.

Keep the knockoff for practice. Use it to teach the wife and kids how to properly apply a TQ. But use the real deal for real emergencies.

I've never been in the position of having to use it, but from what I've heard and read, for major wounds, rolled (or z-fold) gauze or QuikClot gauze for wound packing is important - a compression bandage may not be enough on its own, and of course not everything can be TQed.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Not a “true” C-A-T, but a good “copy”. 4.5 stars on Amazon with a few hundred reviews. None of them had anything negative of any actual problem or failure rather just comments of “Not NAR C-A-T” or “it’s a copy”. Windlass is solid high tech plastic. I gave it a test first on my upper arm and couldn’t find a brachial pulse using a stethoscope. Then I strapped it on my thigh and cranked it down good and tight, no discernible flex with the windlass.

Brother - please, please, please don't trust your life or the life of someone else to a knockoff TQ.

I'm so serious about this that if you can't afford a real CAT, email me your mailing address, and I'll mail you a real CAT. I truly want you to be using the real thing when it counts.

I'm dead serious.

Keep the knockoff for practice. Use it to teach the wife and kids how to properly apply a TQ. But use the real deal for real emergencies.

^^^^^
My nephew is an ER doctor at a major trauma center and used to (may still) ride around with Life Flight. Last month, he also recommended I get two CAT tourniquets. He likes them better than any other type he has used in real life.

Would Benadryl be a good addition? Bites, stings, etc?

quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:

quote:

Originally posted by cgode:
Looks pretty complete...you’ll be able to assist with really anything that pops up in front of you...hopefully not needed!!
When you say “CAT style” tounaquet is it a true CAT? ...

The only thing I would add is a decompression needle...but not everyone is trained for that event

Not a “true” C-A-T, but a good “copy”. 4.5 stars on Amazon with a few hundred reviews. None of them had anything negative of any actual problem or failure rather just comments of “Not NAR C-A-T” or “it’s a copy”. Windlass is solid high tech plastic. I gave it a test first on my upper arm and couldn’t find a brachial pulse using a stethoscope. Then I strapped it on my thigh and cranked it down good and tight, no discernible flex with the windlass.

quote:

Originally posted by dave7378:
Love everything you have, perhaps add ars needle. The only thing that concerns me is how much that bag stands out. May "encourage" someone to appropriate it. Just my SOP, but I try to hide these things from plain site.

I could probably squeeze an ARS Needle in, will probably go ahead and order a few. Also thinking about pulling the minor stuff (bandaids, swabs, emergency blanket, tweezer kit, aspirin/ibuprofen) out and making a “mini” kit for more minor things. That would let me get the hydrogen peroxide back into this kit.

Yes it does stand out... The more I look at the pictures, the more I am thinking of relocating it. Car and truck both have a fair amount of space under the seat.



Anyway, it is a start, something I have been meaning to do for a long while.

Just remember the CAT you practice with is just for practice. Don't rely on it in a real world situation.

It is far too easy to go bonkers stocking kits for rare one off emergencies. As an old army med officer my kit is still an old trifold med bag like the old Vietnam era ones. I have upgraded to modern cat TQ and Israeli dressings. Keep it simple. Not a fan of quick clot type products as they need to be placed in proximity to the deep arterial bleeding to be effective and in the field you simply can’t get close or deep enough in a wound to deliver it properly. A needle D for tension pneumothorax is very hard to identify in the field. I have seen it missed or even treated when not present in an ER creating worse problems.
I keep my stuff segregated in my bag- one pouch has the bleeding control stuff, one the medication and the other the lighter first aid stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by coloradohunter44:
Would Benadryl be a good addition? Bites, stings, etc?

Yes!
I'm deathly allergic to wasps. If I get stung I take 2 Benadryl, hit myself with an epi-pen and off to the ER.

Not to sound uppity, but without question--go order two CATs from North American Rescue or somewhere else reputable and add them. Keep that other...thing...to practice with.

Otherwise that sounds really good overall.

I'd toss in some kind of window punch tool. I keep a ResQme tool on my belt when I'm working, and a real center punch in my bail out bag. If you're trying to get into a locked (wrecked) car, they come in handy.

SWAT-Ts are small and inexpensive, and have some applications that bridge regular TQs (like tiny arms) and pressure dressings.

I'd maybe consider some Anbesol, some Afrin, benadryl, Dramamine, and some Sudafed (if you decide to do a separate little med kit). There are some things that when you need, nothing else really works. Some moleskin can come in handy too.

I would not worry about decompression needles. It takes a considerable amount of time for a tension-puneumo to kill someone. And if you caused it by covering a hole, pull up the chest seal to let the air out. If that doesn't work, stick your gloved finger in the hole. But we're talking about 45 minutes-hour + before they really develop and become dangerous. Unless you're hiking deep in the woods I wouldn't worry about it. We tend to base our kits off TCCC information, which doesn't apply directly in the civilian world.

Hemostatic gauze has it's place. People on blood thinners, clotting disorders, and people who are hypothermic. But it isn't used the same as cotton gauze. Otherwise regular cotton gauze is fine. No reason not to have both. If you're not aware of how to pack a wound (not normally taught in EMT class) research that a bit. It's much different than "direct pressure", but still quite simple. But you do need some gauze rolls (I love the Olaes bandages from Tactical Medical Solutions, gauze/pressure dressing in one).

NPAs aren't a bad idea. As an EMT you had the training to use them, and they aren't expensive. They are another thing that work well and can be very helpful when needed.

I have three layers. IFAKs, which I keep quite simple (2 in the patrol vehicle and one each in the other vehicles); my bail out bag (5.11 Rush Moab 6, for size comparison) in my patrol vehicle, which is an IFAK on steroids with some other goodies thrown in; and my 5.11 Rush 24 backpack that I take between my patrol vehicle and Jeep/home/adventures that is stocked at overkill level.

I noticed the OP included "CPR Mask" but is there a need to include a surgical type mask as well in case it seems the victim might have something that you would wish you had a surgical mask for?

quote:

Originally posted by chongosuerte:
I would not worry about decompression needles. It takes a considerable amount of time for a tension-puneumo to kill someone. And if you caused it by covering a hole, pull up the chest seal to let the air out. If that doesn't work, stick your gloved finger in the hole. But we're talking about 45 minutes-hour + before they really develop and become dangerous. Unless you're hiking deep in the woods I wouldn't worry about it. We tend to base our kits off TCCC information, which doesn't apply directly in the civilian world.

This is perfect advice.

I would also say the same thing about the sutures. These are good for prolonged field care when you're going to sit on a patient for a good bit, but don't have a lot of relevance when an ambulance or higher care is available within hours.

Good job on the kit! That's a great setup.

I would scrap the celox granules and replace it with hemostatic gauze. The granules are a pain in the ass and we've been told that a lot of the surgeons hate them. I would also eliminate the sutures, unless you only plan on using them on yourself and you think you have a real need for it.

I came to post the same thing. Definitely scrap the celox granules and replace with celox impregnated gauze or combat gauze.

Sutures are waisting space and will never be used.

My son is a combat medic, Iraq and Afghanistan, carries a couple of tampons to plug a bullet wound. Used them a lot he said to quickly stop the bleeding.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
I noticed the OP included "CPR Mask" but is there a need to include a surgical type mask as well in case it seems the victim might have something that you would wish you had a surgical mask for?

A surgical mask is to keep you from slobbering into his wounds. It doesn't protect you. If you were worried about that, you'd want an n95 mask or better. Those are kinda like hens teeth these days...

quote:

Originally posted by bushpilot:
My son is a combat medic, Iraq and Afghanistan, carries a couple of tampons to plug a bullet wound. Used them a lot he said to quickly stop the bleeding.

I have an ER doctor friend that says that is completely a myth. I honestly don’t know. I keep combat gauze and a CAT TQ handy.