Who carries a med kit in their vehicle off-duty?

OP
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Trauma Cop

Trauma Cop

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I had no idea you were on the cast of Chicago Fire!

But seriously, I have some basic bleeding control stuff, tourniquet, and pocket face mask and gloves in a little bag in my trunk.

Work car (building inspector) I have a pocket face mask because I happened to have a ton of them.
I know you were joking but I think there's a lot of people especially in rural areas that operate like that. There's a volunteer fire department about an hour away from me and they are all certified EMTs and respond to all medical emergencies in their area. The road is very narrow and you cannot drive very fast making paid ambulance services response times very slow. I was teaching a stop the bleed class there a couple years back and I was really impressed at their organization. Bear in mind, this is in Kentucky so when you think of hearing banjo music, this is the type of place I'm talking about.there are two small country stores with attached gas stations in that area with no other businesses within an hour.
 

Bullets

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I have a small personal first aid kit in my truck. Bandaids, OTC meds, some gauze, a TQ and a chest seal. On my boat i have way more stuff since im more likely to be far from competent medical care or im in the woods, but this is all for me, my family and friends who may be with us. I do not carry anything to treat someone i dont know. I dont stop when im off duty
 

PotatoMedic

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I have a TQ, some lose gloves that were left over in my pocket after work. And some masks.
 

ffemt8978

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When I was a volly, I carried a jump kit for obvious reasons. Once I retired, I left the kit at home and now carry two IFAK in my survival pack.
 

Jim37F

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That totally makes sense where you are.
Yeah, even where I live now, I've always been in Urban/Suburban environments where response times are in the single digits usually.

At least for Fire first response. Even with the more rural areas of my current county (on the engine I have had to wait 40 some odd minutes once for an ambulance in the more remote corner before) FD will still have 10 min or less response usually.

So yeah, unless I can actually see someone laid out or otherwise obviously needing immediate assistance (someone layed out on the road, under a car, obvious bleeding) thats noticeable from a bystander driving by...

Otherwise there really isn't much point in the way of me stopping, even if I had a full IFAK, and someone with flashy lights, much better aid bag, etc, is right around the corner
 
OP
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Trauma Cop

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I have a TQ, some lose gloves that were left over in my pocket after work. And some masks.
I've never used a TQ while assisting others. I have however used a lot of gauze to treat minor bleeding.
I'm a believer in tourniquets. If you don't have one when you need it NOW, it might as well be on the moon.
I agree. I was one of the first to get the CAT tourniquet overseas in 2005. I'm a firm believer in them.
 

BobBarker

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I carry a MyMedic kit, an AED and fire extinguisher. But I use the AED to help train other staff in my 2nd job as a cpr/fa instructor and we have many locations, so it's easier keeping it in my car. Never had to use it and don't want to but I will if needed. Had to use some supplies over the years on minor/moderate accidents and used a fire extinguisher to save some millennial's car who was on fire. Poor lad bought the car the same day it caught on fire and parked it right next to an Audi while it was smoking.
 
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MMiz

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Over the years I carry less and less. I currently have nothing in my car.

A result of this thread I'm going to add Band-Aids, gauze, a couple tourniquets, and a face mask.
 

mgr22

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Over the years I carry less and less. I currently have nothing in my car.

A result of this thread I'm going to add Band-Aids, gauze, a couple tourniquets, and a face mask.
That's what I've been carrying, except for the gauze.
 

DrParasite

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Over the years I carry less and less. I currently have nothing in my car.

A result of this thread I'm going to add Band-Aids, gauze, a couple tourniquets, and a face mask.
I think I'm in the same boat. Event at standby events, the biggest thing we used on the ambulance was bandaids. I might get some 4x4s, maybe some roller gauze, and a TQ just in case I ever need it.
 

NomadicMedic

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I don’t think carrying a TQ and some gauze is a bad thing. I whole heartedly disagree with big whacker boxes, but some bleeding control and gloves can actually make a difference. Other than that, anything else in my first aid kit is for me or my family when we’re camping or out and about. I’m pretty accident prone and it’s a safe bet that if I’m using tools, I’ll need a bandaid in short order.
 

Seirende

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I just carry two tourniquets and some gloves in my backpack
 
OP
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I don’t think carrying a TQ and some gauze is a bad thing. I whole heartedly disagree with big whacker boxes, but some bleeding control and gloves can actually make a difference. Other than that, anything else in my first aid kit is for me or my family when we’re camping or out and about. I’m pretty accident prone and it’s a safe bet that if I’m using tools, I’ll need a bandaid in short order.
I've got my wife's vehicle set up pretty good. I've got two pouches in her glove box. One marked trauma and the other marked minor injury. They are out of the way and don't take up any space but have just about everything you need for roadside assistance. Trauma bag has tourniquet, hemostatic gauze, pressure bandage and chest seals. Minor injury bag has some medications, Band-Aids, moleskin, eye washed solution, triangular bandage and some burn cream. There may be a few other items in there but I can't remember.
 
OP
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Trauma Cop

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I just carry two tourniquets and some gloves in my backpack
I responded to a stabbing on the 4th of July where a girl had her throat cut by her ex-husband. I had a tourniquet on me but no gauze. I ended up taking a sheet and packing it into her neck until EMS arrived. They used quick clot.
 

hpclayto

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I always have an IFAK with TQ, hemo gauze, pressure dressing, chest seals and decomp needle in the car. My trauma work bag is usually in the trunk 95 percent of the time also when I’m off but that’s a last resort.
 

CANMAN

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I keep a fairly extensive kit in my truck, but it is for myself & my family only. I don't stop out at accidents and such when off duty.
 
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