Sigboys IFAK, BOB FAK and (NEW!) Blow Out Kit, 04-08-10

[sigboy40]

I am treading very cautiously into the First Aid forum to share my kits with ya'll.

First a little background. I used to be a lot of things, a first responder, and in another life, I had my combat life saver badge (save the applause). I believe that these kits reflect my abilities and training.

MY BOB FAK is designed to treat 4-10 people for up to 14 days. The bag is designed more for trauma than for illness. I have plans to add a tourniquet, burn dressing and a way to irrigate wounds.

My IFAK is primarily designed to treat me and possibly one other person. I use it hiking, in my GHB, it goes to the range with me, basically anywhere where space and weight are an issue.

FAK open, bag is a CLS bag, courtesy of my Uncle.

First pouch:
Steri strips
Iodine
Moleskin
Triangle bandage x 2
Fingersplint
Body powder
Drugs-ibuprofen, upset tummy pills, benadryl, allergy pills, and tylenol
Neosporin
Cling
Durapore

Second Pouch:
2x2's (a lot)
Band aid assortment
Small kerlix roll
Large kerlix roll
Ace bandages x 2

Tools:
Tweezers
Scissors
Forceps

Third Pouch:
Sam Splint
BIG kerlix x2
CPR mask
Eyewash
Qtips
Temparin
Kerlix Sponges
4 x 4's (5)
Army Pressure Bandage
4" IZZY
6" IZZY

My IFAK


Durapore
Duct Tape
4" IZZY
Bandaid Assortment
Triangle Bandage
BIG Kerlix
Ace Bandage
Drugs: Ibuprofen, sinus meds, and tylenol

This is my IFAK supplement. It is vacumn sealed and is simply meant to carry just a little more stuff in the smallest area possible it contains:
Triangle Bandage
3x4 nonstick pads
Butterfly strips
3x3 (3)
4" Compress
small kerlix roll
Band aid kit

I need to add: Gloves, Tournaqet, Burn dressings and Irigation

I am open to suggestions, and I only have one rule:

Every Suggestion has to be latex free. My wife has an airborne latex allergy. If she is exposed she will very quickly go past my level of care.
I am not exagerating this, she cant even walk into a Dr's office. An ambulance ride will probably kill her. The last time she talked to an EMT she had a reaction.

[Paragon]

I am open to suggestions, and I only have one rule:

Every Suggestion has to be latex free. My wife has an airborne latex allergy. If she is exposed she will very quickly go past my level of care.
I am not exagerating this, she cant even walk into a Dr's office. An ambulance ride will probably kill her. The last time she talked to an EMT she had a reaction.

Given this you should definately carry a couple of EpiPens in your kit for the treatment of anaphylaxis, even if you/your wife EDC them. It would also be a good idea to add an oral antihistamine (children's Benadryl) for less severe allergic reactions as well.

Jim

[sigboy40]

I might add a few epipens, but they really are an every day carry item. I also carry benadryl tablets. I dont think the liquid benadryl would have a lot of effect. A minor reaction for her involves 6 hours in bed, under the covers. And thats after she takes the meds.

[BobtheBreaker]

I would probably ditch the finger splint. Next to every finger you could possibly injury, is another perfectly good finger to which the injured finger could be taped.

[whisk.e.rebellion]

I would probably ditch the finger splint. Next to every finger you could possibly injury, is another perfectly good finger to which the injured finger could be taped.

I was going to recommend moving the finger splint to the IFAK.

Btw, I love the IFAK bag. I have the same one, only mine's not packed as well as yours and my ace bandage rolls out when I open it.

[sigboy40]

Btw, I love the IFAK bag. I have the same one, only mine's not packed as well as yours and my ace bandage rolls out when I open it.

That is why I shoved it into the bottom, I have that thing packed so tight, if it comes open it will look worse than Michael Jacksons bedroom after a botched plastic surgery(What? Too soon?).

Ditch the finger splint, good idea, useless weight.

Does anybody have ideas about irrigation? What should I use? Would Hydrogen Peroxide work?

[Ovationman]

What about a Hemostatic agent and a Tourniquet?

[gillis]

Looks good. I like the contact solution you have. I have trouble finding those middle sized ones....

[VXMerlinXV]

I would say yank the 1" tape and replace it with a 2" or, dare I say it, 3" roll. After reflecting back on all of our spring hikes, I removed all of the 1" Durapore from all my FAK's and replaced them with wider versions. It just works in more situations I have come across.

ETA: Furthermore, not only is most of your kit Trauma oriented, which is ok, it is oriented towards stopping bleeding. Let us improve on that. You've got 3 pressure dressings, Two ACE wraps, and 4 or 5 Kling/Kerlex/Coban. That's a lot of bleeding stopped, but leaves some areas lacking. I would drop two of the Izzies. If you've got kids I would replace one with a cold pack (come to think of it, if you DON'T have kids I would also add a cold pack). They are one of the most used items out of my kit. I would replace the other Izzy with a 250 ml saline bottle to wash out wounds. I would replace one of the ACE's with the 6" version, yours appear to be in the 4" range. For a good size adult male the 6" is going to be more applicable for wrenched knees/twisted ankles. It also works better for getting the SAM on lower leg injuries. I would condense your gauze pads to 4x4's and ABD's. Debating between 2x2's, 3x3's and 4x4's is not worth the time in my opinion. This should free up a little more room for an NPA. In my kits where there is room for 1 BLS airway adjunct, it's always a 28 Fr NPA w/lube. It's not LOC dependant, in theory you can NPA anyone who is willing, unlike the OPA. I would also suggest an occlusive. I like an ACS/petroleum gauze combo. It takes up the same amount of space, and deals with both sides of a penetrating chest wound. As far as burn dressings go, I'm from the H2O+ Gauze school. Oh, and I have had bad luck with those tweezers doing anything besides removing sutures.

[BobtheBreaker]

Does anybody have ideas about irrigation? What should I use? Would Hydrogen Peroxide work?

Theres a ton of fun ways to accomplish irrigation, youll never use Hydrogen Peroxide to do it though.

You can buy a purpose built syringe, buy on OTC irrigation spray, reuse those bottles that eye solution comes in, even roll up large ziplok bags that you could fill with water and use to squirt.

[sigboy40]

Thanks for the idea. I cant seem to find sterile solution for irrigation in a small enough container.

What about a Hemostatic agent and a Tourniquet?

As for a Tourniquet, I'm thinking about going with the SWAT one that was posted earlier this weekhttp://www.swattourniquet.com/. Mostly because it is promised to be latex free.

[Ax-Man]

I see you also carry those plastic tweezers. Not to go off topic but what do you use them for?
viewtopic.php?f=43&t=48140

[elkhills]

Well done! You have trauma very well covered. You might want to add some immodium AD, the runs can mess you up in the woods. And some iodine tablets, the kind for water purification. You can use them to create the irrigation solution your looking for. I carry a smallish eyewash bottle for irrigation, it can shoot a jet of solution out pretty good for cleaning wounds, and it doesn't take up much room. A bulb syringe will work, too.

[Ovationman]

Thanks for the idea. I cant seem to find sterile solution for irrigation in a small enough container.

What about a Hemostatic agent and a Tourniquet?

As for a Tourniquet, I'm thinking about going with the SWAT one that was posted earlier this weekhttp://www.swattourniquet.com/. Mostly because it is promised to be latex free.

I would go with a CAT or SOFTT both are latex free and have a proven track record.

[sigboy40]

Well done! You have trauma very well covered. You might want to add some immodium AD, the runs can mess you up in the woods. And some iodine tablets, the kind for water purification. You can use them to create the irrigation solution your looking for. I carry a smallish eyewash bottle for irrigation, it can shoot a jet of solution out pretty good for cleaning wounds, and it doesn't take up much room. A bulb syringe will work, too.

Immodium is in there, I listed the as 'upset tummy pills' Although they are more for other people rather than me. I actually have never taken any.

Thanks for the idea. I cant seem to find sterile solution for irrigation in a small enough container.

What about a Hemostatic agent and a Tourniquet?

As for a Tourniquet, I'm thinking about going with the SWAT one that was posted earlier this weekhttp://www.swattourniquet.com/. Mostly because it is promised to be latex free.

I would go with a CAT or SOFTT both are latex free and have a proven track record.

Thanks for the adviced I will look into those this week.
I am also going to research the strength to make the iodine water for irigation.

I see you also carry those plastic tweezers. Not to go off topic but what do you use them for?

I put them there so that it looked like I had more tools! I'm actuall not sure what to use them for, other than the fact that they are sterile, where as the pliers on my multitool are not.

[The Highwayman]

As it just so happens, I have 1 SOF T and 2 CATs on sale in the TP right now. They even have links to check out the particulars.....

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=48182


BTW, nice bags. I also have a CLS bag that is my trauma/range bag. Good work!

[Aikidoka]

This is a great post. Im putting together a kit that I can take with me when I got to my Dads property in PA to play with my guns. You've given me lots of good ideas for stuff to keep with me.

Thanks.

[docrock]

What type of pouch is that IFAK? Is that the Eagle Medical pouch?

[sigboy40]

No, it is the Condor pouch. They also have redesigned it from this model and is actually better.

[BobtheBreaker]

Sigboy,

For whats its worth, I cut the elastic straps on my Condor pouch and it became significantly more usable.

[x-rey]

Nice kit well thought out

[Dogan]

Great job! Only one suggestion: Replace the cheap shears with all metal lister medical shears.

[sigboy40]

I have made some adjustment to my IFAK, I have added a small selection of Tylenol, Ibuprofen and sinus meds. I have also added a small SAM splint and eye drops. I removed a bit of the major trauma bandages to make room for the splint.

Here is my Blow Out KIt.
The list of contents is short, and contains only the basics to stop major trauma.
1.Olaes Modular Bandage. This thing is awesome! It is a pressure bandage, tourniquet, gauze wound pack, and occlusive dressing all in one. I personally think it is well worth the $8. It is also Latex free. Video here.

2.SWAT-T tourniquet. Relatively new on the first aid market, it is simply a wide rubber band. It functions a s a tourniquet, pressure dressing, and elastic bandage all in one. It is lightweight and more affordable than a lot of your traditional TQ's. A real bargain at $10. Also latex free.

3.Nasopharyngeal airway.

4.3" ACE Bandage. We all know what these are used for, splinting, sprains and breaks.

5.Triangular Bandage. Used for splinting.

6.Durapore tape. I prefer the 1" size myself, if you want the 2", just pack duct tape.

Pouch is a Maxpedition 7x5x2 Vertical Low Profile GP Pouch http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/7x5x2-Vertical-GP-Pouch-Low-Profile-7p773.htm. I prefer it because it isn't as deep as most pouches. This prevents me from stuffing it full of gear that I dont need. If I need more first aid stuff, I can pair it with my IFAK.

[phil_in_cs]

Have you played with the SWAT-T yet? I found it ok to apply to someone else, and difficult to apply to my own arms.