Following a difference of opinion with a Stanley knife over the weekend, going to A&E wasn't really an option (single dad, kids in the house, NHS crisis etc) I discovered my "big" first aid kit in the van wasn't as comprehensive as expected - lots of triangular bandages but not a lot else.
So what do you carry in your main first aid kit, I've already got some saline eye wash and steri-strips on the list.
A couple of gauze bandages, a triangular bandage, steri strips, alcohol wipes, a box of plasters, couple of safety pins, a small pair of scissors and a foil blanket.
In the last 10 years all I have used is wipes and plasters.
Whatever you carry, make sure it is in date!
I'd beg to differ. All my 1st aid kits are comprised of out of date stuff that was removed from work kits. It's still sealed and sterile and I'm more than happy to use it on myself and my family.
I'd add something to stop a large bleed... a big compression wound dressing and maybe a tourniquet if you're out and about. The old video of Cedric Gracia opening his femoral artery in an minor crash with his brake lever made me really think about bleeds on an mtb ride.
The old video of Cedric Gracia opening his femoral artery
That was pretty horrific. I've seen garden center fountains will less flow than that. He was lucky as hell
And he was lucky because people were there to apply pressure, by which from accounts is a serious amount of pressure, and not something you could do yourself if only by yourself.
I carry a few elastoplasts, but nowt really. pedal/shin strikes, or abrasions are pretty much left to bleed themselves till the close by themselves, and TBH i doubt anyone needs more than that
Following a difference of opinion with a Stanley knife over the weekend, going to A&E wasn't really an option (single dad, kids in the house, NHS crisis etc) I discovered my "big" first aid kit in the van wasn't as comprehensive as expected - lots of triangular bandages but not a lot else.
So what do you carry in your main first aid kit, I've already got some saline eye wash and steri-strips on the list.
I’ve never found steristrips particularly good at sticking whilst there was still enough bleeding that warranted ME to steristrip. I have fairly recently been introduced to zipstitches which for many things might be a better option. I’ve not had cause to use in anger.
IMHO most things can be improvised and knowing what you are trying to achieve and having ideas how to improvise it is a better idea than trying to carry a universal supply of equipment everywhere.
In the 'house' first aid kit we have plasters. In riding/running packs we have a foil blanket/shelter and a trauma, aka israeli, bandage
IMHO most things can be improvised and knowing what you are trying to achieve and having ideas how to improvise it is a better idea than trying to carry a universal supply of equipment everywhere.
Yup
When I had the frame of my bike take a chunk out of the skin on my chin near my mouth ( I fell off, the bike then fell on me) steristrips didn’t hold but gaffer tape over a small plaster worked until I got to A&E and had a few stitches. Definitely don’t get the tape actually on the wound direct as it’s a pain to remove the residue
inner tubes are brilliant for stopping bleeding i found - the dirtier the better in my case. #manyinjectionslater
Along with everything else I always have a small tube of superglue. Not had any adverse effects from it but it does sting a bit
I have a large kit in the van with a removable small kit that fits in a hip pack/bike storage.
Nothing too fancy in the small kit and only really comes on rides once in a blue moon.
In terms of a bleed kit, I've found the STAT TQs are pretty useful if you want to carry a TQ (I don't BTW), more compact than the CAT that was fashionable a while ago. But in terms of CG wound that was referenced a TQ would have been useless due to the proximity of the injury to the groin.
Adding in decent emergency bandage with, or without clotting compound can't hurt, depends how you're carrying it, some are bulky, some are packaged well. Can cover a multitude of sins so to speak.
A few sticky wound pads you can daisy chain to make a bigger one and then a couple of small latex bandages trimmed in length enough for two wraps of a thigh for keeping things dry have come in useful.
You can get skin glue, it's small enough to carry, never carried it on a ride to use it though, the tube I have is probably solid now. Works better than a standard steri-strip which are woeful if you haven't stopped bleeding.
I do have some OOD Gucci ones (zipstitch I think they're called) from my old job that stick to anything and pull some big wounds together but once they're gone I won't replace them I reckon.
Then the usual gloves, wipes assorted plasters and a resus-mask.
You can get very carried away with this sort of thing.
My thoughts:
1) Anything you don't know how to use is a waste of space. Learn it or bin it.
2) To do what? I'm unlikely to tip hot cooking fat down my arm whilst out riding, conversely I'm unlikely to get covered in ticks in the kitchen.
3) The thing with expiry dates is, it's a date where it's guaranteed to do what it's supposed to. 10-year old Paracetamol won't harm you but it might not work as well as it should. I'm a firm believer that "best before" dates on food are just that, my metrics for three days out-of-date bread are "is it not green?" and "does it still bend?" but with medicines I'm a little more cautious.
In the last 10 years all I have used is wipes and plasters.
This, really.
I always carry a small first-aid pack on the bike, it clips under the saddle so it's a no-brainer. The bulk of the contents is either "how do I clean gravel / mud / cow shit out of this wound?" or "once clean, how do I stop it pissing blood everywhere?"
In terms of a bleed kit, I've found the STAT TQs are pretty useful if you want to carry a TQ (I don't BTW), more compact than the CAT that was fashionable a while ago. But in terms of CG wound that was referenced a TQ would have been useless due to the proximity of the injury to the groin.
Care to translate that into English for idiots like me?
Care to translate that into English for idiots like me?
- Smart Technical Application Tourniquet
- Combat Application Tourniquet
Two versions of TQ, both have pros and cons.
The last 3 outdoor first aid course and first aid + forestry have all mentioned the best before dates on kit. If being used for personal injuries then up.to you, but after that date there is more risk of the kit not being sterile. Apparently the wrappers can start to degrade.
Each to their own...it does seem a real waste to throw unused kit away though. I carry a kit when out coaching so tend to replace.
Care to translate that into English for idiots like me?
Why "idiot"? Why would anyone know what these obscure acronyms mean? (And why use them, knowing that the vast majority of the audience won't have a clue what they mean?)
“Care to translate that into English for idiots like me?”
Why "idiot"? Why would anyone know what these obscure acronyms mean? (And why use them, knowing that the vast majority of the audience won't have a clue what they mean?)
1) They're the titles of the pieces of kit.
2) Google is free.
3) Thread title inclinates the OP may have some knowledge.
I look after first aid kits at work, problem with out of date plasters is they may not actually stick properly (depends on how out of date) and medi wipes can dry out.
- Smart Technical Application Tourniquet
- Combat Application Tourniquet
Two versions of TQ, both have pros and cons.
Thank you. What's the difference?
1)
- They're abbreviations.
- Google is Free
- Thread title inclinates the OP may have some knowledge.
The point of language is effective communication. If you're trying to look clever it's not working. I've spent years explaining technical terms and issues to laymen, if I went "just google it" I'd be kicked out of the boardroom.
Out of interest, what combat do you suppose the OP is going to encounter in his shed? A marauding band of guerilla badgers? Disgruntled hedgehogs? A particularly vexed fox? Attack seagulls? (OK, that last one is likely.)
Essentially one (CAT) was designed to be applied one handed by an injured person. There's vary opinions on if it can be applied to children, depends on the size of the limb.
The other (STAT) is similar in use, can be applied to children and dogs, a much more measured compression approach. More compact too.
I've never carried one riding, never felt the need. They're also a bit of kit people should educate themselves on the correct use of, don't know if FA courses cover it?
Not trying to look clever, far from it. They are product names, and frankly I couldn't be arsed to type it out. I made an assumption as CATs have been mentioned before in similar threads. Apols.
I've never carried one riding, never felt the need. They're also a bit of kit people should educate themselves on the correct use of, don't know if FA courses cover it?
ordinary first aid courses don’t cover it - you either need a specialist add on course or a course that was targeted at people who tend to get these sort of injuries.
no disrespect to people delivering first aid courses (I used to!) but some of the types it attracts are people who get hung up on things like expiry dates and official lists of kit but have never actually dealt with a lifesaving situation where the date was probably not going to matter!
all the I just carry some plasters and a foil blanket and have never needed anything else on the trail advice seems to be somewhat ignoring the OP!
I've never carried one riding, never felt the need. They're also a bit of kit people should educate themselves on the correct use of, don't know if FA courses cover it?
ordinary first aid courses don’t cover it - you either need a specialist add on course or a course that was targeted at people who tend to get these sort of injuries.
no disrespect to people delivering first aid courses (I used to!) but some of the types it attracts are people who get hung up on things like expiry dates and official lists of kit but have never actually dealt with a lifesaving situation where the date was probably not going to matter!
all the I just carry some plasters and a foil blanket and have never needed anything else on the trail advice seems to be somewhat ignoring the OP!
Fair. I've not done a civilian FA course so no idea what they syllabus is, google wasn't yielding the best results. Mate plays with trees so has to do some specialist course that covers this topic.
I once opened an FA kit to use and found it had those plastic plasters, they were as much use as a chocolate teapot. It's why I swear by the Boots own brand fabric plasters and adhesive wound pads! Stickier than sheepshit in a Maxxis!
Just to add that tourniquets can cause more problems than they solve if used unnecessarily. Guidance does change, but always let the pros know ASAP if you use one
Not trying to look clever, far from it. They are product names, and frankly I couldn't be arsed to type it out. I made an assumption as CATs have been mentioned before in similar threads. Apols.
Not something I've ever heard before, but I'm not FA trained. Maybe it's well known to those who know it well.
Whatever you carry, make sure it is in date!
Irrelevant in a first aid setting. The wound is not sterile, you aren't in a sterile environment so it doesn't matter if the bandage isn't sterile. In an operating theatre however...
Knowledge is more useful than kit. What are you trying to achieve and how do you achieve it? You can do a lot worse than having a first aid kit which just consists of tuff cut scissors and a roll of duck tape.
Edit: The only thing that might be relevant in dates on first aid equipment is things which are sticky such as adhesive dressings and tape. After a while it can lose its stickiness and is then pretty useless.
First of all, aspirin. There is nothing anyone can carry that's more potentially lifesaving than some chewable asprin. Carry the right dose (currently 300mg I think) so you don't panic and know just to give the prepared dose, fire them down a heart attack suspect unless they're bleeding, sorted.
Also, a sharpie. I got this one from work, in almost any situation a sharpie is helpful. Give someone asprin? Write it on them, literally write it on their face. Multiple casualties in a worst case? Write on them. Notes to self? Write on your arm. Times, things done, phone numbers, references. Injuries are high stress, you will forget things.
And yep training, there is no possible substitute. It doesn't just tell you what to do, it gives you a feel for what it'll be like, it'll be practical and impactful and reduce panic a bit and help you actually act confidently which is such a big deal.
Re kits I start with a normal but large one and throw about half of it out and put in stuff I want. Being realistic, around the house you use stuff like elastoplasts, savlon and micropore more than anything else, maybe some steri strips (or maybe some superglue), some <really good> scissors. Eyewash kit is very useful, at least one sort of good tweezers, some heavy duty ones or maybe even small pliers for the extraction of objects (owwwww wire brush spikes) I really don't give a crap about triangular bandages, even on my first aid course my attitude was "this is shit, if anyone needs this done I'll be calling an ambulance anway", I want wraps and absorption and stuff. Hoof wrap/cohesive bandages are AMAZING, you can do so much with them and it's dirt cheap. Like, I broke my hand and the number one part of the official solution was hoof wrap. It is the bollocks and every time you use it you can make it better by using more so you never want to run out.
On the bike most stuff is pointless but ride-saving stuff while trivial is invaluable- minor painkillers, indigestion stuff, imodium. Blister plasters are epic multi-purpose things, you can patch a decently big wound but also fix, well, blisters but also chafes and rubs, and they can even be a tyre boot or fix a camelbak puncture. Scrapes on a hand can be so troublesome, splat on a thick compeed and ride on. You're not honestly that likely to ever deal with a big crisis but sooner or later someone is going to be miserable on a ride and you can help, it's totally worth it. Also an energy gel or two, same reason, it can be medically useful or it can save the day for nonmedical stuff.
And then there's a big middle bit where most stuff is useless. TBF a small spare phone, turned off but charged and kept updated, is probably the most useful thing you can ever carry, on a different network. Again hoof wrap, it can give support, it can be a sling, it can hold a bandage or a wound... or it can be a rucksack strap or "fix" a saddle or it can strap stuff to a bike to carry. Electric tape too. Emergency shelter is right up there too, you're not really very likely to want to do instant life saving stuff but waiting for mountain rescue to arrive can be a killer especially in winter, even a total idiot can improve an accident scene with a shelter. There's a pretty good argument for those resuscitation mouthpiece things but I do think they could be distracting too, it's a "know what you're doing" thing.
I added a coagulating bandage for the chance of a big wound, but more recently replaced it with an "israeli bandage", which is an amazing thing but you do have to sacrifice at least one to practice, you don't want to be using one for the first time in an emergency. What blew me away is how simple it is, you could put one on yourself onehanded even in a panic or in a lot of pain, which also means it's going to be much easier to get right and faster on someone else. They're also superbly packed and damn nearly indestructible, you can throw one in the bottom of a camelbak and it'll probably still be good years later. Not cheap. I have a small elastic tourniquet but I'm never going to use that unless someone qualified tells me to. That said tourniquets are fairly bodgable. But the actual one I have is so tiny I don't mind.
Oh yeah and I won't exactly recommend it but I kept back a couple of tramadol from an old prescription, on the basis that some day I might want to crawl off a mountain with a broken leg or something and it'd be quite useful to be painkillered to **** and also high as balls.
Riding-adjacent, I have a "post ride human repair kit" in the car. I took some pains to make it visibly not a first aid kit, because if I ever say "get the kit from my car" to someone I don't want them coming back with this. It's not for emergencies, it's for patchup afterwards and just about everything in it's been useful at least once. More painkillers, more indigestion and diorrhea stuff, cramps tablets, more bandages and yes even more hoof wrap, a bottle of water, a mars bar and just general comfort stuff. And it's all separate, not for normal use, there should be some of this stuff in my bag anyway but sometimes you run out. Every time I crash and think "I could do with X" I've thrown it in, for like 15 years now so it's quite crowded in there.
I have a "post ride human repair kit" in the car.
Sounds similar to my kit in the van. Delibertaly not in a red/green FA bag. Stuck it in an only military pouch.
Hoof wrap is a shout, never thought of that, but way more supportive than the 'sniper' tape I have in that van. Is it thicker than the human version?
For general big plaster stuff I have adhesive wound dressings and adhesive film dressings. The two types are for depending how robust or flexible it needs to be.
Spray on plaster is really useful for places where a regular one won't stay stuck.
Tubigrip to stop clothing rubbing off plasters on knees or elbows.
Israeli/trauma dressings get stuffed in all sorts of places as the vacuum packaging means they generally stay in good condition.
Celox clotting agent and tourniquets live in the work kits (chainsaw). Both get covered in +F forestry first aid due to occupation risk/benefits.
For the specific injury mentioned.... Superglue.
Eye wash is the only thing i have ever used outside. Not so much first aid but saving an uncomfortable day for someone.
There are two levels of first aid ime. The lifesaving stuff which is obviously very important but hopefully is never needed. More often there's the lower level stuff that lets you get on with your day. Usually cleaning a graze and stopping the bleeding before you carry on.
Thanks all, some very useful stuff. In the end, there wasn't much blood but managed to improvise some steristrips with micropore and a cut up bandage. Deliveroo'd some superglue and applied that once the kids were in bed, currently as good as new(ish). I have a limited kit for the bike, but will probably add a few bits, and build a bigger one for the van/house that might prevent a trip to A&E or keep the kids alive until the ambulance arrives.
3) Thread title inclinates the OP may have some knowledge.
multiple STCW training courses and refreshers, albeit 10 years ago. TQ's were trained, but with the expectation that we weren't round the world soloists and someone more competent would be on hand.
Yeah +1 superglue, I'm always a bit wary recommending it because it can be a bit harmful if used improperly but it's incredibly useful. People recommend getting human or vet glue but the only difference is it's not as exothermic, and normal superglue doesn't get that hot anyway so I just use the normal stuff.
Hoof wrap is a shout, never thought of that, but way more supportive than the 'sniper' tape I have in that van. Is it thicker than the human version?
The stuff I have is the exact same, but I buy the cheap stuff, i think the proper quality vet stuff is thicker.
Along with everything else I always have a small tube of superglue. Not had any adverse effects from it but it does sting a bit
Yup. The only time I ever really needed a first aid kit I was camping in south Devon, with one of those little stove things that burn bits of wood, and while slicing some thin bits to get it started sliced right down the side of my left thumbnail with my Opinel! After holding my thumb under the drinking water tap in the hedge, liberal amounts of superglue and strips of clean loo roll stopped the bleeding. When the impromptu bandage* finally fell off nearly two weeks later, there was no sign of the cut ever having happened!
So there you have it kids, all you need for major injuries is a tube of Superglue and a bog roll.
*The entire top of my thumb from the top joint over the nail was covered.
I’ve actually got several comprehensive first aid kits, including a St John’s Ambulance one, mostly aquired when clearing the stuff left behind in cars at work, and I’ve never needed to use one. Still, better safe than sorry, as they say…
Wot northwind says. Knowledge is the key
