yowzer
Forum Lieutenant
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I'm in the middle of the training academy for a volunteer SAR group. Once through the training, I'll be able to practice as an EMT on missions. I'm starting to put together a BLS aid kit for my 48 hour pack. Caveats are that we have to pay for everything ourself, and whatever I pack will be on my back for hours or days while looking for the victim, and again while packing them out to a trailhead or a LZ for airlift. So, AED and O2 are pretty much ruled out. (If we have someone who needs an AED, or otherwise immediately life threateningly ill or injured, it's going to turn into a recovery mission, not a rescue.)
I'm starting with the basic first aid kit that's served me well in years of hiking and backpacking:
Assorted bandaids, some 4x4s and 5x9s, a few rolls of gauze, some triangle bandages, alcohol wipes, ace bandage, gloves.
And adding some additional trauma and medical supplies:
c-collar, sam splint, baby aspirin, glucometer, tube of glucose gel, penlight, occlusive dressing, shears, penlight.
Things I'm seesawing over and need advice on from people with experience in the field:
Blood pressure cuff and 'scope? Weight versus getting more complete vital signs. I'm leaning towards a no; I don't think knowing the BP will result in any major changes in treatment plans.
BVM? I can compress one into a surprisingly small space, but see above about critical patients: Anyone ill enough to need one isn't likely to survive with or without one.
Small chemical cold packs: Temporary relief while they last.
Also, suggestions for a small waterproof bag to store everything in? A normal jump kit is way too big to fit in my pack, especially with all the other gear in it. (Not everything'll go in the bag (*cough* c-collar *cough*), but I want to keep most of the stuff together.)
I'm starting with the basic first aid kit that's served me well in years of hiking and backpacking:
Assorted bandaids, some 4x4s and 5x9s, a few rolls of gauze, some triangle bandages, alcohol wipes, ace bandage, gloves.
And adding some additional trauma and medical supplies:
c-collar, sam splint, baby aspirin, glucometer, tube of glucose gel, penlight, occlusive dressing, shears, penlight.
Things I'm seesawing over and need advice on from people with experience in the field:
Blood pressure cuff and 'scope? Weight versus getting more complete vital signs. I'm leaning towards a no; I don't think knowing the BP will result in any major changes in treatment plans.
BVM? I can compress one into a surprisingly small space, but see above about critical patients: Anyone ill enough to need one isn't likely to survive with or without one.
Small chemical cold packs: Temporary relief while they last.
Also, suggestions for a small waterproof bag to store everything in? A normal jump kit is way too big to fit in my pack, especially with all the other gear in it. (Not everything'll go in the bag (*cough* c-collar *cough*), but I want to keep most of the stuff together.)