Disaster First Aid Kit

[Big Sarge]

After the big tornadoes ripping through North Mississippi earlier year, I have decided create a disaster or 1 week survival first aid kit. I really need your advice. For reference in making your decision, from 1985 to 1990, I was an EMT-I. Also from 2005 to 2013, I maintained my Combat Lifesaver rating.

I guess this means I have enough knowledge to really screw things up. I guess I need a good first aid manual thrown in also.

[glatt]

I think you need to decide exactly what you want to be able to do with the kit. Do you want something portable that you have with you at all times, or something big that you bury in the woods where you can get to it after a tornado has flattened all the homes in the area? A first aid kit isn't much use unless you have it right at hand. Taking half an hour to get to your 1st aid kit means it's really not a 1st aid kit any more. Survival is a different thing. Lots of guides out there on FEMA's site and so on, but you want water, shelter, food, money, medication, etc.

I have an urban survival/1st aid kit that I carry on my back on my subway commute twice a day, and it sits on the shelf at arm's length while I'm at work. The most used items are my foul weather gear: rain coat, rain pants, and an umbrella. But I also have:
sunglasses
pencil
pen
a travel pack of tissues
a travel pack of shout wipes stain removers
1 CPR mouth barrier
3 evacuation smoke hoods
3 NIOSH N95 face masks
5 high intensity 30 minute glow sticks
1 reflective arm band with internal LED
1 space blanket
a small 4x6 inch first aid pouch containing:
tweezers
tape
gauze roll
liquid skin
8 antiseptic wipes
7 knuckle bandages
5 large patches
4 finger bandaids
3 1st aid cream packets
3 triple antibiotic packets
1 burn relief gel pad
4 wound closures
4 quick heal bandages

I'd like to incorporate some blood clotting pads in there too. Need to pick some up some time.

I think you need a basic plan. What's the largest kit you can have with you all the time? If it's not with you, it's no good.

[Big Sarge]

That's a nice get home bag you have set up. Do have energy bars and water? I keep a 3 day bug out bag with me. It has a small molle trauma kit from the military. I also carry my epi pens, benadryl tablets, immodium, and motrin.

I'm looking for a secondary bls bag as an add on. It would be in my tracker while camping or with me in a tornado shelter.

[Sundae]

You need a good book, a packet of tissues and a picture of me.
I think that covers most situations.

[BigV]

glatt, fyi, the kit you have *is* awesome, especially since you actually have it with you. but don't forget, there are perishable items in it, notably the batteries in any lights you have (led) but also the glow sticks. I've had unused glow sticks become unusable by aging alone. they do expire, so... forewarned is forearmed. a two to four year shelf life is what I've read. that fits with my experience.

[limey]

I wanna be on Glatt's team come the zombie apocalypse.

[footfootfoot]

Depending on the nature of the "disaster" you may need several boxes of these:

[Big Sarge]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Depending on the nature of the "disaster" you may need several boxes of these:

I had to climb all over the ass of a patrol officer when I was chief carrying these in an AR-15. LOL. I even had an officer put a small Punisher symbol on the rear sight of his Glock. If they had ever shot someone, think about the news headlines.

[Pamela]

Finally, a question that I know something about!

My answer varies depending upon the disaster in question.

In your mentioned case, a tornado, I would suggest thay you go heavy on the first aid, notably bandages. You are likely to encounter a number of casualties, including possibly yourself. You will be no help to anyone if you are injured too. Throw in a poncho, flashlight with good batteries (change annually), a Leatherman multi-tool (accept no substitutes!), some hi energy food bars, hard candy (for instant energy), have a good canteen at the ready (I use a GI canteen with the SS cup and keep it on a GI duty belt), a Lifestraw ($20 but totally worth it), your cell phone and a spare charger. I also keep a pack of Marlboros and a lighter, even though I do not smoke. Others probably will benefit from a smoke, however.

I also keep a BOB handy, with changes of clothes, a sleeping bag and mat, food and water (in a Camelbak), a good fixed blade knife, a small carbine and sidearm in .40 S&W, plus holsters and spare magazines, a portable ham radio (yes, I have a license) that also uses public bands and NOAA weather, chemlighs (changed every other year for new), another poncho (which can also be used as a pup tent), plenty of paracord in OD green, a personal trauma kit which includes suturing kit, antibiotic ointment, bandages, a few band aids, Bactine, iodine wipes, alcohol wipes, nitrile gloves, a biomask, a Mk II gas mask with two spare (new) cartridges, several types of minor surgical tools, all stainless and sterile and more that doesn't pop readily to mind.

I keep a medical turnout bag next to the BOB, which contains a TON of stuff. I bought a full kit and then modified the contents to suit me. This is the originl kit. I added some other stuff to suit my level of medical training which is similar to yours. There is a higher quality stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, extra meds (they only give ya a few aspirins!!!!!), more bandages, tourniquets, Israeli bandages, activated charcoal and more, plus there is a more useful field surgical kit which includes sterile saline, infusers, tubing kits, scalpels and extra blades, hemostats, clamps, suture kits and a handful of syringes plus a BIG one to deal with pneumothorax. There is a lot more but a list would bore most people.

I plan to be able to bug out in an emergency in less than five minutes with my bags, weapons, computer backups and my portable safe (has important papers in it).

Now, who wants to be on MY side during the zombie apocalypse???

[Big Sarge]

ME!!!!!!!!!!!! you rock and your cute

[glatt]

When shit gets real, can you swing by and pick me up, Pamela? I don't think I can make it all the way out West.

[Undertoad]

Lessee what's in mine

two USB to micro-USB cables
one USB to mini-USB cable
one USB-to-camera cable
two wall charger blocks
one 3.5mm male to male audio cable
one Scosche retractable 3.5mm male to male audio cable
one 3.5mm audio male to 3.5mm mono left and right female
one 3.5mm audio female to RCA left and right female
one memory card reader
DVI-D single-link video cable
HDMI to DVI-D adapter
Etymotics ER-4 earphones
Samsung earphones with mic
Mini Altoids tin containing toothpicks broken in half
Pen

[glatt]

OK. What are the broken toothpicks for?

[sexobon]

So he can start twice as many fires rubbing them together.

[Undertoad]

picking my teeth!