First Aid Kits, how often do you dip into it?

[Bermie]

I've been back up the trees this week after a long absence...

I had a large badly topped old white cedar (Tabebuia) to restore and all the cuts bar about three were silky saw and secateurs.
I carry my little personal first aid kit on my belt and very rarely need it, but this week twice in two days! Silky saw cuts on fingers that bleed like a bugger, out comes the elastoplast...

Carying that small first aid kit saved a lot of time, the most used items are small to medium fabric sticky band aids, the large wound dressing is getting old and mangled!

What do you find most useful/used in first aid kits?

 

[beowulf343]

Fabric bandaids here too, then a roll of black electrical tape to tape over the bandaids so they last the day. Always nicking the hands or skinning my knuckles (dislike gloves until it gets cold) and hate bleeding all over my gear-freaks people out a bit. Fingernail clippers, tweezers, and a needle get used quite a bit too-often tear a chunk off a nail and need to trim it and the tweezers and needle are good for slivers.

 

[reachtreeservi]

I just ordered this for my kit :

http://www.remotemedical.com/Israeli-Emergency-Bandage-4?sc=2&category=127

and this :

http://www.remotemedical.com/CELOX-Hemostat-Blood-Coagulant-35gm

Pretty good combo for that worst case scenario....

 

[TDunk]

I don't carry a kit up in the tree with me. I have a first aid kit in my personal truck,chip truck and also have one in the tool box on my chipper. Something i learned from watching UFC is vasaline. I had a small cut on my head where my hair line starts, a little dab of vasaline and she was plugged off. But to answer your question, water proof band-aids W/ tape, and the butterfly band-aids are what i use the most.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

I buy the knuckle bandages in bulk. I find if I need 1 then 3 will work better.

At the time this was the cheapest I'd found. I have not done any comparison in a while. http://www.cpr-savers.com/Industrials/ban2.html

Eye wash gets used with some frequency, though the bottles at usually frozen solid this time of year.

 

[Job Corps Tree]

First Aid kits

Weaver Leather makes an small Red Bag for a Saddle or Gear bag. I don't climb with it I do like to have it close at Hand.Big enough to keep most of what a field climber may need tell you can get to EMS for more. Most First Aids kits have to much of what we don't need for all the small Cuts, Rope Burns & Bark Rash, the common stuff. This Little Red bag you can Load anyway you want and with what you want.

 

[Grace Tree]

I have the Weaver bag on my saddle. I normally don't like a lot of extra stuff hanging off my saddle but I never even know it's there. I keep major wound stuff, pads, gauze tape and a few nylon ties and a couple of ammonia caps. Most of my climbing is solo so my focus is on stopping blood lose and getting on the ground quickly. All the other stuff is in a well stocked med kit in the truck. So far I haven't had to use anything aloft.
Phil

 

[Magnum783]

I just ordered this for my kit :

http://www.remotemedical.com/Israeli-Emergency-Bandage-4?sc=2&category=127

and this :

http://www.remotemedical.com/CELOX-Hemostat-Blood-Coagulant-35gm

Pretty good combo for that worst case scenario....

I am not sure if you know what and how both of those things work. The bandage is just like the one we are now issuing to use military it takes a little special working. I will post more if you would like I can even find the manuals the military issues to us on how to use it.

The second one is called quick clot for us. It is a potato based quailant that is used as a LAST DITCH effort. It is water activated substance if water is exposed to it activates producing heat in the temp ranges of 375 degrees. Enough to carterize anything that it touches. Once this is used the tissue all around the exposed area is destroyed this means bones nerves and anything of the sort. A turniquate is to be used long before this is. I can get you a ton more info on this subject if you would like. I teach this class to all the Airman from this base that deploy overseas. I would be more than happy to provide anyone with intimidate lifesaving techniques. As I am also an EMT and my wife is a ER RN we have a pretty goo wealth of emergency knowledge we both also have and do work on fire department.

 

[Adkpk]

Luckily we don't make to many trips to the truck to make repairs. But when we do it's usually just for neosporin and a band aid. Snap out of it and stop nicking your fingers, you'll feel better for it. :greenchainsaw:

 

[reachtreeservi]

I am not sure if you know what and how both of those things work. The bandage is just like the one we are now issuing to use military it takes a little special working. I will post more if you would like I can even find the manuals the military issues to us on how to use it.

The second one is called quick clot for us. It is a potato based quailant that is used as a LAST DITCH effort. It is water activated substance if water is exposed to it activates producing heat in the temp ranges of 375 degrees. Enough to carterize anything that it touches. Once this is used the tissue all around the exposed area is destroyed this means bones nerves and anything of the sort. A turniquate is to be used long before this is. I can get you a ton more info on this subject if you would like. I teach this class to all the Airman from this base that deploy overseas. I would be more than happy to provide anyone with intimidate lifesaving techniques. As I am also an EMT and my wife is a ER RN we have a pretty goo wealth of emergency knowledge we both also have and do work on fire department.

Magnum, I know exactly how these items work. Also your post contains non factual statements.

The 4" Israeli Emergency Bandage is just a combination dressing, pressure applicator, and a closure apparatus. Just the thing for a chainsaw cut to the leg or arm. Beats tearing open combine dressings and wrapping with gauze and having to tape everything up , possibly one handed.
If I can't figure out how to apply a bandage without a manual , I sure need to quit running 200T's 100 ft. in the air.

The CELOX® Hemostat Blood Coagulant is not water activated , does not produce heat when activated, and is not potato based.

There are 3 different hemostatic agents or products being purchased by and used by the military at this time. HemCon, QuickClot, and American Red Cross Fibrin Dressings. Some info on the one you think I'm recommending, which I'm not.

The QuikClot product's active ingredient is a non-zeolite mineral (hydrophobic polymer and potassium salts) . This agent , although extremely effective, does carry the potential risk of thermal injury. In official trials by the Marine Corps the wound temps reached ranged between 42 and 44°C. Which would cause some tissue damage. Which would be a non issue because most severe wounds routinely undergo debridement anyway. In their report at the conclusion of trials , the panel concluded that QuikClot is an extremely effective hemostatic agent and the “potential for tissue damage is offset by the opportunity to save a life in otherwise uncontrolled external hemorrhage."

In other words, there is some tissue damage, not all the tissue "all around the exposed area is destroyed this means bones nerves and anything of the sort." And yes, all standard wound management protocols are to be used before applying any hemostatic agent . Notice in my post, I said this was a combo for the worst case scenario....

Which is all a mute point, Celox is a completely different product. With none of the same characteristics. Or ingredients.
And is not being issued to the military yet.

CELOX is the newest generation of emergency hemostatic agents. Simpler to use and safer than older technologies. And not the same as QuickClot !!!!

CELOX is not exothermic and won't burn the victim or caregiver. Unlike QuickClot , CELOX works in hypothermic conditions and clots Heparinized blood. CELOX is safe to use for the entire body including head, neck and chest wounds.

And what the heck is " intimidate lifesaving techniques " you are so more than happy to provide anyone with?

I feel sorry for the Airmen you are imparting info to, no telling what the validity of that info is. In the future, instead of relying on that vast store of
Quote " goo wealth of emergency knowledge" Unquote you and your wife supposedly have , try a simple product comparison , or maybe a goggle search.

You'll have to excuse me if I don't take you up on your offer to get me a ton more info on this subject , won't you? I think I'm good...

One last question ; What is an AirForce carpenter (from your profile, feel free to change it... ) doing teaching combat medicine to troops deploying to a war zone ?
When I was in , we got our info from those with a medic MOS.

 

[Magnum783]

Good question, everyone has to have a second job and mine is teach Self Aid and Buddy care. Not medical training but just basic first aid and learning of general medical care. Not really emergency medical care. Sorry I was not trying to bash your new tools I am sure they work great. That bandage works superb the best thing I have ever used to stop the bleading of a big cut. I actually applaud you on making the effort to have the best you can have to prevent a death in one of your team members that is quite noble. I had no idea there was so many different types of clotting tools available. My learning of these things is only what the AF has given me. The info I gave was what I read out of the book I teach from. I guess the AF like always is giving us some really crappy info. The immediate techniques I was talking of was no more than basic First Aid apply pressure and the like. I just would like all AS member to get all the info they can. I am by no means and expert in the medical career field and did not want to come across as one just was not sure if you knew what you had. Obviously you knew far more than I did. We had a bunch of Marines get the Quick clot stuff and think they knew what it was and how to use it and they used it by opening it with their mouth and it destroyed large amounts of tissue around their mouth. I was by no means insulting you and in fact I think you are a superb guy just for getting the stuff even more for obviously having all the info to back it. Also what branch did you serve in?
Jared

 

[Bermie]

Luckily we don't make to many trips to the truck to make repairs. But when we do it's usually just for neosporin and a band aid. Snap out of it and stop nicking your fingers, you'll feel better for it. :greenchainsaw:

That's why I carry the little FA kit on the belt, so a trip to the truck is only a last resort!
I get a small pouch, and custom fill it with what I might need, a big compress and a bunch of fabric band aids, whistle, knife, shot of rum....
I bought a new pair of gloves yesterday, that usually keeps the skin intact, cause I gotta keep my hands nice! Snapping.......

 

[jberg]

hi

Hi Im here because its cool to be queer

 

[oldirty]

Hi Im here because its cool to be queer

i dont think you can fix your problem with anything from the first aid kit man. good luck though.




oldirty

 

[Adkpk]

I bought a new pair of gloves yesterday, that usually keeps the skin intact, cause I gotta keep my hands nice! Snapping.......

In your business, I'm gonna suppose it's a good idea to keep your hands period.

 

[Bermie]

In your business, I'm gonna suppose it's a good idea to keep your hands period.

Yup, you got it, and to the other idiot who posted...guess he doesn't know the big secret...I'm a GIRL!

 

[wildbill]

First Aid

A few things first..
In Europe it's my understanding, by law, you don't climb unless another is suited up to climb up and render aid. As for gloves I'm somewhat fanatical about having a glove type for every situation. Thick gloves for sappy Pines, tight fitting climbing gloves, Elk skin for wood splitting, and Goat skin for most everyday use. Sthil sells Goat skins but i remove the lining for better feel.
As a paramed/fire/rescue the trauma kit is in the truck. I have a commercial sewing machine and have been making my own First Aid kits for years. I see a need now to make a kit for climbing available in the future.
Such items as a small signal mirror for dust in the eyes, solid tweezers, fabric band-aids, the Large size butterfly's work better than Med., cloth tape such as Durapore, and one of my favorites is Coban self sticking wrap. Battle dressing, and something called Petrolatum (petroleum impregnated gauze) in various sizes, I like 6x36 as I can cut what ever size i need and can use the foil packaging for sucking wounds.
Having the cell phone in a protected manner since I work alone at times.
At times I'll clip a Life safety rope onto harness and tow it up as I climb but attach it to the tree when felling limbs so if a limb catches on it it's not taking me for a hard jerk but available for an emergency rappel.
I have briefed my local firefighters on my Snorkel lift operation and made myself available to our mutual aid stations as a climber to effect rescues...

 

[Bermie]

An over the counter customized first aid kit for climbers would be a good thing...or do we continue to modify them ourselves? I'm talking about the little one that you carry on your person.
I know most places sell the kits with the big bloodstopper bandages for major incidents and a few other bits, but what about a really useful kit for your belt?

Shall we design one?

Parameters:
Small enough not to get in the way, waterproof, easy to open, range of useful items from the 'Oh my God' incident to the 'its not worth the time to get out of the tree but I'm still bleeding so I need a bandaid'...

1 x bloodstopper (of some description, pressure bandage with tie tapes)
Selection of small/medium/large 'bandaids' for annoying silky saw cuts and tree gouges - must be sweatproof and stick all day - Fabric
Tape to stop the blood leaking through the band aid and to hold stuff together till the end of the job, then you can go for stitches...
Eye wash??
Mirror???

What you think?

 

[wildbill]

One handed compress

Current military issue is a one handed battle dressing compress which incorporates a direct pressure device that is centered over injury during application. Seems to me to be just the ticket for typical injuries in our profession. Picture and description at;

http://www.1starmy.com/viewproduct.asp?Productno=2446