FIRST AID kits and safety items

[StephenH]

I am in the planning stage of building a new first aid kit that will live in my Land Rover on a full time basis. I have a generic first aid kit that I bring along on camping trips, but there is quite a bit of impractical stuff in there that would rarely, if ever, get used and the quality of items is often pretty marginal. So I want to make up my own kit with useful stuff that is likely to be the kind of thing that will be needed. Plus, the camping kit does not usually stay in my vehicle on a day-to-day basis, so I want a compact but useful kit that can stay in the truck.

Back story… the other day we came across a guy who had just dumped his Harley coming down a busy stretch of road. We stopped to help him and found he was actually in fairly rough shape. He was a tough old guy and didn’t want an ambulance and said he would be fine, but clearly he wasn’t. My wife patched him up as best she could with what we had on board and we convinced him to let us drive him to the hospital. I have to admit, I was a bit embarrassed by the lack of supplies we had with us as even the camping first aid kit was back at home.

This brought me to wondering what first aid items are stashed away in other people’s kits, but, more importantly, I was curious about whether within the group on a typical off road outing we have items such as:
- a Sat phone or a Garmin inReach or SPOT
- a burn kit
- what level of trauma kits within the group

We all accept the responsibility for our own safety out there and I’m not trying to pin any kind of obligation on someone else, but it might be useful to have an idea of what we have in the case of an emergency.

Back to the kit planning… I’m starting with the usual stuff and adding things like...

- SAM splits
- Israeli bandages
- Ice pack / heat pack

Other suggestions would be helpful, even if its just to get us thinking about the 'what if' scenario like, say, someone getting run over.

[rgallant]

I carry a Garmin Inreach and a basic first aid kit, it is always in the disco. I need to improve mine but I am somewhat limited by knowledge and practice, retaking a first aid course would likely be a good idea

[StephenH]

Periodic refresher courses are useful even though they can be a bit of a tedious at the time. I’ve noticed quite a few changes in techniques over the years especially when it comes to stuff like CPR. Knowledge is good and the chance to practice will be sprung on you at the least expected moments. The motorbike accident I mentioned above is a case in point - a bit of a wake up call to me to get myself organized in this respect.

[Rob]

Hi Stephen

SAM splints and a burn kit are good ideas for sure.

I carry a basic trauma kit in the vehicle with has large adnominal pads (can be used as a field dressing) as well as hot/cold packs, a small kit of common household non-prescription meds, some bottled water and a rubber band style tourniquet (which are starting to be used again in first aid for severe arterial bleeding).

I carry a personal locator beacon PLB in the rover as well. It uses the SAR SAT system so works on land or water. Only sends an SOS with Latitude and Longitude but is small and doesn't require a subscription.

Cheers, Rob