First Aid Kits - Views please

[Moray Outfitting]

First Aid Kits

Looking for some constructive feedback and views on this subject. Effectively market research, so with permission from admin we are making it a prize draw in return for your help.

Will run thread until 30th October 2011, then first thing Monday morning we will put the name of all contributors to the thread into a hat and draw one winner. Prize will be a Webtex Small First Aid Kit posted to the winner. REVISED _ CLOSING DATE MONDAY 17TH OCTOBER!!

Of all the items we sell, the First Aid kit ( FaK ) section generates the least amount of interest. Indications are this is pretty much true across the industry. Most sales are ‘must do’ – ie someone has been told they must have one or (more worryingly) has just had an injury or near miss. Worse, once bought, many are never opened until needed – in the hope the right things are in there!

There are lots of various reasons for this and happy to explore those in this thread for benefit of everyone – but do want to avoid this thread becoming bogged down with debate regards training or techniques etc - if interest there, will happily raise a separate thread.

So,

1. If you have a kit, why did you buy it? Where do you keep it?
2. Have you used it and if so, was the content effective?
3. What do you like and dislike about what you have?
4. If you don’t have a FaK, what would prompt you to get one?
5. How much do you think about your needs and how much do you just rely on an off the shelf kit?
6. Would a basic kit in a simple bag – to fit your pocket, pack or existing pouch appeal. One with a few essential items, just enough components but of good quality?
7. Anyone have an off the shelf kit where the plasters actually stick?

That’s it to get things rolling.

Many Thanks.

 

[willie_gunn]

1. If you have a kit, why did you buy it? Where do you keep it?
2. Have you used it and if so, was the content effective?
3. What do you like and dislike about what you have?
4. If you don’t have a FaK, what would prompt you to get one?
5. How much do you think about your needs and how much do you just rely on an off the shelf kit?
6. Would a basic kit in a simple bag – to fit your pocket, pack or existing pouch appeal. One with a few essential items, just enough components but of good quality?
7. Anyone have an off the shelf kit where the plasters actually stick?

1. I have two kits, bought as I guide clients on a somewhat regular basis. The small kit is in my stalking bag, the bigger one is in the car
2. Yes, and yes (though electrical tape works better than the plasters )
3. Like the fact that the kit is small, dislike crap plasters, dislike the fact that it's designed for a grazed knee and not a knife/shot wound
4. Would like a better one, more geared to knife/shot type injuries
5. Not enough, and too much
6. Yes, and yes
7. No, but I have a handkerchief where if I lick the corner it can cure all known ills

willie_gunn

 

[Briarquest]

Hi,
I have been a copper and a bouncer and the main thing I always wanted in a first aid kit were big trauma pads. The kind of thing that is the size of a face cloth and mega absorbant that you could jam down onto a stab wound, gusnshot wound or glassing and stem bleading. My kit on my car has several such pads, I have the od finger bandage and 1 triangualr bandage but most comercial first aid kits are full of them. I went on the web and bought a first aid box and filled it with the stuff I thought was important. I think you can buy direct from St Johns Amubulance.

Ian

 

[floyd]

Assuming we are only talking about human first aid kits, and not dog kits ( there could be an opening in the market for you) then here are my answers.

1. Yes I carry two first aid kits, a small one in my stalking bag, and a more comprehensive one is kept in the vehicle at all times not just for stalking.
2. Yes I have used both a number of times, my stalking kit when out with cuts mainly, and the larger one for cuts, an RTA, and a broken toe ( dont ask.>>)
3. I like the fact the small one comes in a waterproof bag, which is mainly soft and therefore easily packable, the larger one is more comprehensive but I have added items to both eg eyewash, matches, painkillers, bite relief, tick tools, super glue, spare laces etc. Dislikes would be that I had to add these items in the first place.
4 N/A
5. Very quickly learned the hard way not to rely on an off the shelf kit..
6. Yes and Yes, as long as it was aimed more at the type of injuries more likely to be sustained whilst stalking, than a general first aid kits aimed at burns/sprains/cuts.
7. In fairness the plasters I had in a small kit from GO outdoors were shite at sticking, the more expensive kit came from Boots and they were pretty sticky, even had some silver plasters in there to speed up healing/stop bleeding.

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Thank you for the prompt and detailed responses thus far - good stuff.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

If you have a kit, why did you buy it? Where do you keep it?
1 Tisos, in my rucksack.
2 Supplied by work, in the car boot.
3 Supplied by work, on my desk at work.
Have you used it and if so, was the content effective? Ok, but added the dressing tape myself.
What do you like and dislike about what you have? Needed to add the tape myself.
If you don’t have a FaK, what would prompt you to get one? Not applicable.
How much do you think about your needs and how much do you just rely on an off the shelf kit? See above. Small self inflicted cuts are the main issue I have.
Would a basic kit in a simple bag – to fit your pocket, pack or existing pouch appeal. One with a few essential items, just enough components but of good quality? Yes, that’s what’s in the rucksack.
Anyone have an off the shelf kit where the plasters actually stick? Yes.
Regards JCS

 

[Gingwa]

First Aid Kits

1. If you have a kit, why did you buy it? Where do you keep it?
2. Have you used it and if so, was the content effective?
3. What do you like and dislike about what you have?
4. If you don’t have a FaK, what would prompt you to get one?
5. How much do you think about your needs and how much do you just rely on an off the shelf kit?
6. Would a basic kit in a simple bag – to fit your pocket, pack or existing pouch appeal. One with a few essential items, just enough components but of good quality?
7. Anyone have an off the shelf kit where the plasters actually stick?

1. Bought it for work predominantly but also take it whilst stalking.
2. Not had to use it yet.
3. The kits can be quite compact, but they only ever seem to have basic stuff in there. Could be more geared towards the shooter.
4. N/A
5. The FaK off the shelf is basic, so I have added more things to cover my needs. Stuff like First Field Dressing/Israeli Bandage, Celox (Temporary traumatic wound treatment), Imodium.
6. Yes definitely.
7. Not had to try them yet!

 

[old man]

I have a self assembled kit.
Kept handy in stalking pack with the knives.
Blue plasters, sterile scalpel, hand cleansing tissue, a biggish trauma pad. triangular bandage and 4 aspirins.

mobile phone in the pack too.

regards old man

 

[sauer]

yes i have 1st aid kits one in a bum bag and another one in the car

the one on the bum bag was a make up affair with items i wanted rather than a bought kit

it contains big pads with bandages attatched think they get called "isralei bandages " or summit

but...............
i purposely bought a sachet of "QUICKCLOT" beleive it has other trade names....its basically a sachet of powder you pour onto a profusley bleeding wound and it clots helping to prevent or slow down rapid blood loss.....i think the forces guys will be able to shed more light on it i bought a large sachet baring in mind we are dealing with firearms here. rumour it causes bad scarring but if yer still alive to moan bout some scarring then you know it worked

hopefully never have to use it

plus one fur duct tape or leccy tape ...far better than plasters if things wet or yer in a hurry


sauer/ paul

 

[weeman]

Myself and the mrs have decent quality first aid kits due to our jobs of supporting young people with mental health and sever ADHD etc and understand the importance of maintaining one.

1. We have one in the bathroom and one a pieace in our car's, afther going on many re-fresher first aid courses and the nature of our jobs that was enough to convince us to have one.
2. Yes when sharpening the chain on my chain saw file slipped off my fore-arm slipped and caught the chain. My kit was effective used sterile wipes bandage and a gauze.
3. I like mine through pieace of mind, don't dislike anything about it.
4. I wood prompt anybody to get one who doesn't.
5. I dont think about my needs that much as times i do have to put myself in critical situations due to the nature of my job, i rely on the nurses store room.
6. Of course its not a case of how big your package is its how you use it and to what affect.
7. No, but im back on the chainsaw this weekend after a ash tree has blown down in my garden so might be able to let you no regaurding the plasters.

Weeman

 

[Chris Rob]

1. If you have a kit, why did you buy it? Where do you keep it? Always had one, keep one in both vehicles
   
2. Have you used it and if so, was the content effective? Never had to use it other than for minor cuts
   
3. What do you like and dislike about what you have? Did need to add a couple of items, scissors that actually cut, sachets of CELOX & CELOX impregnated gauze (similar to Quick Clot) could be especially useful when your involved with firearms regularly
   
4. If you don’t have a FaK, what would prompt you to get one? N/A
   
5. How much do you think about your needs and how much do you just rely on an off the shelf kit? See above, thought about it a lot & adapted accordingly
   
6. Would a basic kit in a simple bag – to fit your pocket, pack or existing pouch appeal. One with a few essential items, just enough components but of good quality? Yes
   
7. Anyone have an off the shelf kit where the plasters actually stick? Use spray on plaster, great stuff!
   

 

[alaskagray]

As Old man realy trauma patchs bandages few plasters letherman micra tool(scissor option)blue gloves, dephib bandages etc
all in a dicarded make up pouch of my duaghters ( pink)
Graham

 

[limulus]

1. If you have a kit, why did you buy it? Where do you keep it?One in the roe sack more comprehensive one in the car. When I say comprehensive it includes sutchers and needles and large wound dressings.
   
2. Have you used it and if so, was the content effective? Only used the mini kit on both myself and the dog!
   
3. What do you like and dislike about what you have? I like the piece of mind having it available. I would like to see a small dripper bottle of optrex in the small one (I've put this in myself and its very useful)
   
4. If you don’t have a FaK, what would prompt you to get one? NA
   
5. How much do you think about your needs and how much do you just rely on an off the shelf kit? Off the shelf then throw the crap out and add the useful bits
   
6. Would a basic kit in a simple bag – to fit your pocket, pack or existing pouch appeal. One with a few essential items, just enough components but of good quality? Already have one
   
7. Anyone have an off the shelf kit where the plasters actually stick? Nope, thats why I have a reel of tape and dressings
   

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Thank you thus far.

Meant to say Willie - under EU regs you must get them to lick the hanky - though understand Labrador dribble universally acceptable

Early versions of Quikclot could be severely exothermic. Latter versions are much better - but blurb still indicates some 'warming'. I switched to Celox and strong believer - very much worse case scenario, but nice to have. We looked at stocking, but CE3 categorisation makes it very hard to obtain wholesale - no problem retail. Cheapest I have found so far is the First Aid Warehouse ( no commercial link ). Used to the powder, but several experienced guys are raving about the impregnated dressings. I like the option of being able to pour deep into wounds. I would heartily recommend it.

Shaping up that lack of interest in the website first aid bits could be 'cos you're all sorted! Already had in mind to move from ready made kits to a base set of quality items in a simple plastic bag with a selection of add ons and restock packs - likely will go that way.

Additional question ( no bonus points ) - anyone include an emergency/ survival blanket or bag in their first aid set up?

Thank you again for everyone's input - hopefully interesting thread and helpful to others who dont ( yet ) carry a kit - whether they come our way or not.

 

[Gingwa]

The one I bought off the shelf already has a survival blanket in it as standard.

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Bootneck - you done good! I have come across very few that do.

 

[scrun63]

"Shaping up that lack of interest in the website first aid bits could be 'cos you're all sorted! "

Right, i'll buck the trend. I bought a small FAK for when i went hiking years ago. Supplimented the plasters etc with migraine tabs and used it on my belt. It's not of much use for stalking tho, but it is left in the truck. I HAVE been looking for a stalking and range FAK, but Boots etc only stock ones with small compression bandages. What i really want is heavy duty kit that would be useful in a severe accident - shooting, knife type. I'm not too bothered about small cuts, i'm thinking more of the life saving incidents. So i'd be interested in a pack that contained large compression bandages (described above as flannel sized), tourniquet, the blood clotting agent, possibly even a kit to sew the wound, disposable gloves. A few assorted large plasters with good quality scissors to cut them to size and enough space in the pack to put anything else i might want to, migraine and prescription drugs for example. Best bet would be a bag with compartments so that in an emergency you could locate what you needed without having to drop things on the floor. But the bag needs to be stalk portable and should retail for about 50 pence - now there's a challenge )

If you could do the above for a "reasonable" price, I for one would be very interested

ATB

Scrun

 

[Cyres]

I keep a smal FAK in the car, however have a rough assortment of Nitrile gloves, small plastic bottle of cleaning gell, Micropore tape or equivalent, which will stick to anything. Tend to always have some sheets of very absorbent kitchen towel in a plastic bag in jacket which has multitude of uses. Elastic bands courtesy og GPo usefull for torniquete if need be. In truth very rarely far away from habitation so no need for major first aid stuff. Also have in jacket sterile scapel blade, small LED torch, whistle, compass, windproof matches and small swiss army knife.

Used to keep similar in Skiing jacket + survival blanket.

D

 

[Moray Outfitting]

Scrun - some good points.

Forgive me all - but at this stage trying to sit on my hands as trying to gauge your views rather than float mine!

Please keep it coming - not sure how to do it, but appears I've not managed to catch the interest of those with little or no kit. It isnt a test or judgment exercise - if you havent a kit, your views are in some ways even more crucial than the Dr Kildares out there.

Under pinning all this is a basic philosphy of mine - I want YOU to have good kit - so YOU can save ME!

I want to give it a bit longer before giving a better response to some of the equipment issues raised - or if it risks muddying the water I'll do a new thread. But I will come back to it later. - promise.

 

[Caberhill]

I have one in my car, I think most cars nowadays do. I do have a little one for a rucksack though but it is ever so slightly to big to fit in my pocket comfortably so it never leaves the car. When I served in the forces I used to keep in my top left Brest pocket in a sealable little clear bag was a couple of alchol wipes, a strechy dressing with safety pin, a few absorbent pads, two of the little sterilyne solution, a couple of plasters and a pair of disposable gloves. In all that never took up much room. If there was little packs like that which were flat and 'pocket sized' I'd buy one but I've never seen one like it for sale. The only other thing that I've seen and thought I should have something like that is the tough bags for putting over a dogs foot incase they get a nasty cut on the pads. I also used to carry two aspirin as I worked with an old over weight guy who looked like he'd have a heart attack any minute!!