First Aid Kit

[dlofting]

EMT shears can also be used to remove clothing or, more likely in diving, a wetsuit.

 

[uncfnp]

The shears are (supposedly) sterile so are better for using for medical use. Also, while you may be willing to do CPR without a mask, would you not prefer a mask when the casualty has vomit all over there face?

Unless you are doing surgery under sterile conditions...you don't need sterile shears.

 

[Oldbear]

Honest question: For what use?

I almost always carry a small-to-medium-sized well-sharpened knife with a blade length of 7-15cm when I'm outdoors. I'll probably also be bringing my Leatherman tool. What kind of situation would require EMT shears, but couldn't be solved with a knife and the Leatherman?

EDIT: BTW, I second the suggestion of sports tape. It's extremely useful for many small repairs and fixes, not only for medical use. And re. the CPR mask: I think I'll be willing to give CPR even without the mask, so I think it's superfluous for me

Stoker,

Both a small-to-medium size knife and Leatherman are useful tools for general applications; I use to carry them too when working in construction or enjoying the great outdoors. While they are good for a lot of tasks, they are not as well designed for others. For a first-aid kit, knives and Leathermans are better than nothing, but just were not designed with patient care in mind. You chance injuring the patient if you are not very careful with their sharp tips.

EMT shears were designed for emergency medical personnel to quickly and safely cut clothing from injured people.^[1] They usually consist of a plastic handle with a metal blade, which is traditionally bent at about 150 degrees, giving them an unusual appearance as compared to normal scissors, and also a longer "lever arm". This lever arm is so strong you can cut a U.S. copper penny coin in half with them. Their rugged construction enables them to cut through strong materials such as car seat belts, dive harness, wet/dry suits, and even thin metal and other hard surfaces, such as that coin. They are increasingly being used by fishermen, soldiers and scuba divers as safer alternatives to knives. The wide, blunt tip on the shears is designed to slide across skin, minimizing the risk of injuring the patient while cutting clothing. When diving I have used them to cut fishing line off of reefs without endangering the coral or myself; shears will cut fishing line much easier than a knife will (in some regions and marine sanctuaries knives are not allowed on a dive).

There are also other advantages for using a pocket mask or CPR mask: 1) barrier to help prevent disease transmission ( and help keep puke out of your mouth); 2) you get a better seal around the patient's mouth/nose with a pocket mask (especially in water); 3) if you are giving rescue breaths to a victim in the water, the packet mask will help keep water out of the victim's mouth while you are moving the victim to shore/boat; 4) if oxygen becomes available you can supplement your rescue breaths with 100% O² thus increasing the effect of the rescue breathing.

~Oldbear

---------- Post added February 4th, 2013 at 12:13 PM ----------

I am starting to make up my own first aid kit, but im not too sure what to put in it. So far i have dressings, bandages, tape, foil blanket, water tubes for wound cleaning, tweezers, shears, gloves, butterfly stitches, CPR mask and DCI response check sheets. I all my diving (except abroad) is done with my club who have the oxygen so this is just a personal kit. Is there anything im missing?

cheers

p.s. if this is in the wrong place please move it!

Craig,

While you did not mention it specifically; I would also strongly suggest getting proper training in both first-aid and CPR and keep this training up to date.

Great question...

~Oldbear~

 

[fjpatrum]

I keep duct tape in my first aid kit. It stays on better (when wet) than most medical tape, in my experience. I also keep a lighter, a candle, a back-up signal mirror, forceps, needle and thread. Luckily I've never used the needle and thread for my body, just torn jackets and such... it's there for both though, in a real emergency.

In my larger kit I also keep a Gerber "multi-tool" type thing. Pliers, knife, saw, bottle opener etc.

Full list:
duct tape
band-aids of various sizes, 5 of each
2 inch gauze bandages (x20) (or several pantie liners)
medical tape 50 yd (I think, possibly 20 yards)
candle
lighter
waterproof matches
forceps
small trauma sheers
bacetracin (sp?)
tylenol
sunscreen "wipes"
hand warmers (x4)
bandanna
disposable space blanket
mirror
needle and thread
1 triangular bandage (large size for stabilizing arm/shoulder injuries)
rubber gloves... this is a personal kit but it's good to have these too...
multi-tool

EDIT: This all fits in a 6x4x3 inch "roll out" zippered pocket thingy. Works great. I even used to keep a small field first aid manual in it but decided I knew most of the material and the book was "too heavy" (this was built for backpacking).

 

[uncfnp]

I keep duct tape in my first aid kit. It stays on better (when wet) than most medical tape, in my experience. I also keep a lighter, a candle, a back-up signal mirror, forceps, needle and thread. Luckily I've never used the needle and thread for my body, just torn jackets and such... it's there for both though, in a real emergency.

In my larger kit I also keep a Gerber "multi-tool" type thing. Pliers, knife, saw, bottle opener etc.

Full list:
duct tape
band-aids of various sizes, 5 of each
2 inch gauze bandages (x20) (or several pantie liners)
medical tape 50 yd (I think, possibly 20 yards)
candle
lighter
waterproof matches
forceps
small trauma sheers
bacetracin (sp?)
tylenol
sunscreen "wipes"
hand warmers (x4)
bandanna
disposable space blanket
mirror
needle and thread
1 triangular bandage (large size for stabilizing arm/shoulder injuries)
rubber gloves... this is a personal kit but it's good to have these too...
multi-tool

EDIT: This all fits in a 6x4x3 inch "roll out" zippered pocket thingy. Works great. I even used to keep a small field first aid manual in it but decided I knew most of the material and the book was "too heavy" (this was built for backpacking).

I have to ask. What's the candle for?

May add to list...Cold pack

 

[fjpatrum]

I have to ask. What's the candle for?

May add to list...Cold pack

A single candle burned inside a car (or similar mostly enclosed structure) will keep you from becoming hypothermic for an astonishingly long time. (At least that's what they told us in driver's and hunter's safety courses in Maine when I was growing up.) In the outdoors, the single biggest factor for death is exposure... the candle, combined with the space blanket, will prevent that if used properly.

They also make some of the best fire starters you'll ever see.

 

[18diver18]

Craig,

While you did not mention it specifically; I would also strongly suggest getting proper training in both first-aid and CPR and keep this training up to date.

Great question...

~Oldbear~[/QUOTE]

I'm a lifeguard so regular training is always there! Good point though!

 

[ferris213]

I would recommend having a field dressing bandage as well. They are easy to use and perfect for any type of cut or wound where there is significant blood loss.

+1 on the EMT shears too.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

 

[KD8NPB]

A dedicated tourniquet.

I would rather use the proper tool for the task, rather than wasting vital seconds rigging something together. If you must deploy a tourniquet, seconds count. I would rather just tear a bag open, strap down, twist n' go.

 

[Storker]

According to what I've learned in my first aid courses, tourniquets are really not the best treatment of a heavily bleeding wound. A pressure bandage made from the field dressing package that both ferris213 and I mentioned upthread is a much better solution.

And again, +1 to the first aid course. If so happens that the manure really makes contact with the air conditioning system, you don't have time to look up in a leaflet finding out what to do. Sometimes it's a matter of minutes - or even seconds - and if you have to RTFM before giving first aid, the patient may well have died before you overcome your natural fear and reluctance to do anything at all, read the book and then start giving first aid.

The most important item in your first aid kit is the knowledge of what to do in an emergency and the ability to actually do it.