Putting together a first aid kit

[deathbydanish]

Up until now I've been getting by on the kindness of others, but I think it would be prudent of me to have some kind of first aid supplies on hand.

I was thinking about getting the Emdom Blow Out Medical Bag, then I was thinking about getting a generic first aid kit, stripping it down, and adding some stuff I have laying around.

I'm sort of tailoring it to deal with leg injuries since the last couple of times I've been out, I've hurt my foot/calf/knee.

My other concerns are that I've heard there are some problems with bees at certain AOs, AFAIK I'm not allergic to bee stings so I think I'll be fine, but I'd still like to be ready for that.

[seanm028]

I'm sort of tailoring it to deal with leg injuries since the last couple of times I've been out, I've hurt my foot/calf/knee.

Has it ever been something serious enough to require a splint?  That's really the only thing I can think of that you would use to treat a foot/calf/knee injury, except maybe an ACE bandage.  Unfortunately, they're both pretty big even when rolled up.

My other concerns are that I've heard there are some problems with bees at certain AOs, AFAIK I'm not allergic to bee stings so I think I'll be fine, but I'd still like to be ready for that.

What exactly are you thinking?  There are two things I can think of that might come in handy for bee stings.  The first are those anti-sting towelettes, but they don't treat allergies.  The second thing, for a serious allergic reaction, would be an Epi Pen.  I'm not sure if you have any medical certifications/licenses/degrees/etc, but Epi Pens require a prescription to purchase.

[Doc Hollywood]

I carry the following is a small strike bag:

500mL Normal Saline
2 ea 18g. IV cath
1 ea IV tubing set
2 ea 10 cc syringe
1 bottle nitro tabs
Trauma pads
Combitube
3 ea non latex gloves
Trauma shears (for cutting BDU's off!)
10 ea 800 mg Motrin
10 ea 500 mg ASA
10 ea 500 mg ACP
5  ea 30 mg benydryl
2% tetracain opthamolic anastetic
10 ea sterile q tips
Various Rolled guaze
Various Surgical sponges
Quick Clot
Tape  (For taping cut BDUs up!)

With the above I can initiate ATLS/ACLS airway and fluid therapy pending arrival of an ACLS/ATLS truck, stop massive blood loss, clean crap out of eyeballs, treat mild allergic reactions, and generally manage any potentially life threatening problem set for up to an hour or so pending evac.  If AED's were not so expensing I would have one in my pack as well, but CCC/CPR started early enough will maintian viability for up to an hour if an ACLS kit gets there.

People with acute allergic reactions normally have their own epi pens and I always ID them and share the location of the epi kit with all medics in the company and make sure everyone knows how to administer it.  I used to carry my own epi but its expensive and expires quickly.

Yes I am trained on everything I have.

By the way, it takes at least 3 medics to manage an ACLS/ATLS problem.  

Nikki always has OTC meds for snivels ...

[Whiskey11]

Sean what you have said is quite true (Well Doc as well ) Epi pens are a bit of a legal liability if used improperly and if misdiagnosed an Epi Pen can worsen a problem rather than make it better.  

I think for airsoft purposes Doc Hollywoods kit is a bit on the overkill side but for practicall military purposes it's the bare minimum.

Here is what I have in my AIRSOFT IFAK.

Bandaids, all shapes and sizes, about 30 total
Alcohol prep whipes, 15
1 pair of latex free gloves
2 packets of IB profin
2 packets of Tylenol
2 Packets of Immodium AD
2 packets of benadril
1 Large foldable gauss pad
2 packets of Cortaid antiich/burn ointment
Gauss Tape

For AZ it might not be a bad idea to get a very very basic antivenom kit, however I think most venom kits are specific to a certain species? (not sure!)

Important to remember is that knowing what the injury is is more important then knowing how to fix all sorts of injuries.  If you cant properly diagnose an injury then you need to find someone who does.  I recently helped a man who broke his ankle out of a ravine.  My First aid skills went into overdrive because it was not directly apprent that he broke his ankle, however the fact he could not move his ankle very well without serious pain ment that we would have to carry him out with all pressure off.  Luckily we had a person there who was a medic in the military who properly diagnosed the issue to it.  After a doctors visit we found out he had a spiral fracture on one of his bones in his leg and a seriously sprained ankle.  

So having a First aid kit is nice, but knowing how to treat stuff is more important and knowing how to diagnose correctly an injury is more important than that, so I encourage you to go and get and learn first aid skills as well as CPR and some of the first responder skills as they are all important.  I know carrying a FAK doesnt seem like it should carry that much weight but it is very reasurring for people who play with me to know they have a CPR/First responder on scene to help fix people up.  So far the ankle is the worst problem i've seen in an airsoft game followed by minor puncture wounds and cuts and abbrasions, all of which are easily fixed with a good alcohol whipe, a little bit of gauss and a bandaid wrapped in with gauss tape.  

Cheers, carry on.

PS.  Thats a nice First Aid kit Doc.

EDIT: Forgot something, make a simple card with your name and the easiest method of contacting you incase any doctor needs to know what all you have done in terms of first aid for the more serious events.  Also keep track of all first aid treatments in a card format so that when paramedics arrive you can give them a very quick yet informative "debreif" (if you will) on what you have done to help prevent the loss of life.  Stuff like that can make the difference.

[KOBO]

For our purposes, a kit can keep simple. Bandages for our boo boos, a sterilizer is good. Some wraps, to imobolize a body part like an ankle. An unbreakable comb, lots of cacti out there and combs are great to pull them out.

I would recomend against anti venom crap, people seem to do more damage with them. Just restrict the blood flow, restrict, not stop with a tourniquet (sp) .

[azsarge]

We're fortunate to have guys like Doc with the equipment and skills to patch up any problems that may arise.

That said, DO NOT DEPEND ON ANYONE ELSE TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES FOR YOUR INJURIES.

Carry a FAK or your own, and it will be used by whoever is treating you.

[deathbydanish]

Ok I'm going to try to keep it simple, I've already got a bunch of athletic wraps since I hurt my legs so much. I'm also planning to get some ice packs for a fall I hope I will not have to experience.

[zulu_k]

when it comes to first aid kits, i've used plenty in scouts, from gashes to lil cactus barbs.
I find a standard one great-mine is the size of two fist, and it carries everything I need and more.
Q-tips
First aid cream
Antibiotic creams
Alchol prep pads-i have lots of those
2 pairs of latex gloves
2 500mg doeses of extra strength non-asprin
antiseptic towelettes
sponge gauze
6 different sizes for bandages (i dont call em band-aids =p)

just a standard first aid kit would always do the trick. and abotu that beesting pen-if a person is allergic to bees, and goes to an AA event, I'm sure they know to carry one. Hopefuly.

[SARC]

We're fortunate to have guys like Doc with the equipment and skills to patch up any problems that may arise.

That said, DO NOT DEPEND ON ANYONE ELSE TO PROVIDE SUPPLIES FOR YOUR INJURIES.

Carry a FAK or your own, and it will be used by whoever is treating you.

This is the bottom line.  I am trained as well,l but, due to the litigious nature of our society I will not do anything outside of the BLS range.  Each person should be responsible for carrying their own FAK.  If your injured thats what I'm going to look for.  I haul one around on my rig and you should too.

[Doc Hollywood]

One of the reasons I do NOT maintain a current civilian certification in EMS is because of the liberal good samaritan laws here in Arizona.

As long as I am not GROSSLY NEGLIGENT I am immune from suit.  I can still exceed the BLS range and as a non-EMT I am protected.  

I suppose I am less worried about the litigious nature of our society because I work in litigation.

But my bottom line is, if I have the knowledge and ability to take action to save a life, I am going to do it - even if it means ACLS/ATLS.  But thats my personal choice based on my substantial knowledge of the law and my passable skills as a medic.

[deathbydanish]

I find it sad that people have to think twice about saving someone's life. But at least I know Doc's good to go. Btw thanks for the help at BH.

[Bullseye]

One of the reasons I do NOT maintain a current civilian certification in EMS is because of the liberal good samaritan laws here in Arizona.
<snippety snip snip>

IMHO, In as far as the Good Sam laws go, having the cert is better than not. The legal test is 1. have you been trained in the procedure you performed AND 2. can you prove you have been trained. Even an expired card is better than nothing.

Example at hand - I was a AZ state cert. EMT-A (Ambulance rated) from 1973 - 1979, and an ARC Adv. First Aid Instructor from 79-82. Whilst employed as a Ambulance Driver/Attendant, I was trained to perform a  tracheotomy and how to intubate (this was done at a time that AZ was just formulating the standards for the EMT-P (Paramedic) certification). This was done outside of the "normal" curriculum, as no coursework existed at the time, for that level of training by my family physician.  As I cannot >prove< that I was certified to perform the procedure and if I do in fact perform one, I fully expect to be held accountable legally.

[deathbydanish]

Well the incident at the LC appreciation day leads me to think at least for the short term, none of us would care about legalities if it meant we had to standby and not help a friend in need just so we wouldn't get sued.

Hopefully nothing that drastic will ever happen at a game, but I'm thinking I'd be immensely grateful to anyone who helped, suing someone would be the last thing on my mind.

[Doc Hollywood]

I said I do not MAINTAIN a civilian certification.  That statement does not mean I have not been trained or formerly certified.   I was formerly certified in ATLS and ACLS and was an Army version of a paramedic - back before the present version of medics there were two types: combat medics 91B and nursing assistants 91A.  I was a 91B.

I can provide plenty of documentation to prove my training i fit came to that.

That said, a current certification limits you to that scope of practice.  So if I were an EMT Basic I could not legally start an IV or push fluids or intubate, even though I have done so thousands of times.  The problem with holding a certification is that the Good Sam laws do NOT protect you since you have a duty to assist by virtue of your certification.  Good Sam laws ONLY apply to those bystanders who have NO DUTY to render aid.  Its a public policy thing....

I have stopped to assist at roadside incidents as well as provided on the spot evaluation at nearly every airsoft event I have been to.  Some airsoft issues were potentially serious (metal hatch door to the head) and some were nothing more than putting a patella back where it belongs (Drew...).  I have drained fluid build up from people's knees, cleaned sand out of eye sockets and treated severe acute emisis status post hangover.... all at airsoft events


Again, based on my knowledge of the law and comfort with representing myself I make the choice to do something instead of stand back and watch.

One of the reasons I do NOT maintain a current civilian certification in EMS is because of the liberal good samaritan laws here in Arizona.
<snippety snip snip>

IMHO, In as far as the Good Sam laws go, having the cert is better than not. The legal test is 1. have you been trained in the procedure you performed AND 2. can you prove you have been trained. Even an expired card is better than nothing.

Example at hand - I was a AZ state cert. EMT-A (Ambulance rated) from 1973 - 1979, and an ARC Adv. First Aid Instructor from 79-82. Whilst employed as a Ambulance Driver/Attendant, I was trained to perform a  tracheotomy and how to intubate (this was done at a time that AZ was just formulating the standards for the EMT-P (Paramedic) certification). This was done outside of the "normal" curriculum, as no coursework existed at the time, for that level of training by my family physician.  As I cannot >prove< that I was certified to perform the procedure and if I do in fact perform one, I fully expect to be held accountable legally.

[Airsofter1]

I find it sad that people have to think twice about saving someone's life. But at least I know Doc's good to go. Btw thanks for the help at BH.

Doug, you should have left him there to die.