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IFAK

Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:35 pm
by Yorkshire Andy
been building up a small Individual first aid kit for when I'm out and about and come up with this:

Molle pouch Image

Contents
Image

Triangle bandage

Israeli 4" trauma dressing

Standard wound dressing

Elastic bandage

Eye pad

Eye wash vial

2 large adhesive dressings

Adhesive tape.

Resus face shield

Plasters

Wipes

Scissors

Sterri strips

Foil blanket


2x wound pads

Finger dressing

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 6:58 am
by dazthechippy
i think thats a good effort, the main problem i think most people have is packing too much stuff.

I like the eye wash, thats always gonna be handy and avoids searching for water or using your drinking water and potentially wasting it.

Have you thought about paracetamol / piriton or meds like that?

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 7:53 am
by Bad Wombat
How much did the pouch cost? Do you have a link for it?

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 9:35 am
by alwayscross
I would personally add some blood clotting powder, used some last night and it works like a charm.

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:06 am
by Yorkshire Andy
Bad Wombat wrote:How much did the pouch cost? Do you have a link for it?
£12 all but a penny

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/171444728431

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 11:16 am
by Yorkshire Andy
alwayscross wrote:I would personally add some blood clotting powder, used some last night and it works like a charm.

Dare I ask what you did to need it :shock:


Been looking at celox for a while but unsure if the powder or gauze is the way to go

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 12:21 pm
by birds&bees
That vial of water for eye wash is next to useless. I'm not even convinced it's better than nothing.
With dry alkaline burns for example it might be enough to put it in solution but not enough to wash it out!

Eye washes are generally attachments to faucets effectively a mobile shower head.

Given it's size I'd replace it with a lifestraw type device.

The face shield is also mostly useless.

Otherwise looks good.

May seem harsh to call them useless but if you're going to carry something around you should maximise utility of the space you have.

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 12:37 pm
by alwayscross
Yorkshire Andy wrote:
alwayscross wrote:I would personally add some blood clotting powder, used some last night and it works like a charm.

Dare I ask what you did to need it :shock:


Been looking at celox for a while but unsure if the powder or gauze is the way to go
I was doing a bit of wood carving when the blade snapped and cut my thumb, nothing major but it was just one of those cuts that would not stop bleeding. Added a bit of the powder with a small bandage, all good. I would recommend getting the powder over the gauze, ive used both and the powder works better (Plus multiple uses).

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 2:30 pm
by Yorkshire Andy
birds&bees wrote:That vial of water for eye wash is next to useless. I'm not even convinced it's better than nothing.
With dry alkaline burns for example it might be enough to put it in solution but not enough to wash it out!

Eye washes are generally attachments to faucets effectively a mobile shower head.

Given it's size I'd replace it with a lifestraw type device.

The face shield is also mostly useless.

Otherwise looks good.

May seem harsh to call them useless but if you're going to carry something around you should maximise utility of the space you have.

Having used both I'll beg to differ ;)

Came across a unconscious drunk 3 years ago chocking on vomit and not breathing once I cleared his airway... Resus aid over face and 2 rescue breaths he started breathing...

The eye wash is good for dust in the eyes and rinsing wounds to check for foreign bodies prior to dressing :)

Re: IFAK

Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:39 pm
by birds&bees
Yorkshire Andy wrote: Came across a unconscious drunk 3 years ago chocking on vomit and not breathing once I cleared his airway... Resus aid over face and 2 rescue breaths he started breathing...
Well you can do whatever you want of course. but proper management of that man in a resuscitation situation would be recovery position until you have adequate light to use McGill forceps no further into his mouth than you can see.

Why? Generally anything you can finger sweep out or see is not significant to comprise an adult sized air way, not seeing what you're doing puts you at risk of pushing stuff deep in their airway. Touching the back of the throat can cause a rapid fall in heart rate due to vagal stimulation theoretically this can cause a cardiac arrest if already compromised.

He's choking he's hearts beating so he's likely breathing so rescue breaths not required, (I think they were taking out in and in adults not recommended since 2010 but I'm not sure).

So all the resusaid did was expose you to drunkard vomit and delay life prolonging chest compressions.


Again you can do what you want but that small vial is not enough to toilet an eye or a wound. I think the benefits of a lifestraw outway the benefits of such a small vial of water but to each their own.


Generally I'd recommend doing as advanced a course as you can on life support (and repeating regularly) and staying within your means. I thinkt he british resus council guidelines on BLS and ALS are free for download and might make an interesting read.


Just my 2 cents.