First Aid Kits

[chris snell]

What's your favorite first aid kit for vehicle-dependent travel?

I have a small kit from Adventure Medical from my mountaineering days so it's at least about ten years old. I'm sure that most of the goodies have expired. I want to replace it with something that's tailored to my trips. I want a wide variety of bandages and a few antiseptics, plus stuff to treat desert things like cactus thorns and such. A tourniquet would be another nice item.

Am I better off piecing together my own?

 

[Ray_G]

Chris-
I'd get another Adventure Medical, one of their mid-size units like the weekender (now labeled as the Mountain Classic Weekend it would appear) and then add to it what you know you'd want tailored to your needs.

I tend to look at first aid kits as something worth building to your level of proficiency; i.e. for me I know how to stop bleeding and the other MARCH steps-but beyond that...have some motrim, drink water, and face outboard.

I say that somewhat jokingly but in reality I've built the kit(s) in my truck accordingly.

Both my trucks have IFAKs that are really just some tourneys, Israeli bandages, hemostatic gauze, trauma sheers, a NPA, etc. These are easy to reach, tear off, and treat (i.e. blowout bags that typically you see spread out like a yard sale at the moment of usage for good reason).

Then elsewhere in the truck I have a larger medical kit (my D1's is built off the old squad medical bag before treatment got advanced over the past 15 years and Corpsman bags grew, my LR3 uses the Springtail Solutions medium STAT bag). This is filled with all the general medical stuff to do everything from routine wounds, splinters and the like through normal illness like diarrhea. Your thread reminds me it is time to check the expirations on everything-something I do with my kids which gives them passive contact with both setups.

My $.02 really comes back to Adventure Medical is a good start as a base, and then build on it with what you are comfortable/capable of.
r-
Ray

 

[Boswalt]

I use the Squad Kit from North American Rescue. Yes, it has lots of TQ and gauze but also throws in some SAM splints, chest seals and a large ab pads. Deep discounts for first responders / military. I carry the same kit at work so everything is in the same location.

https://www.narescue.com/squad-kit-ccrk

Separate boo boo kit for band aids and ibuprofen. I don't like mixing the two. Keeps People looking for the Midol from screwing up your important shit.

 

[Jeff B]

I always pack a band-aid, a Vicodin, and some Novacaine.



.

 

[DefendersNW]

I've worked with Adventure Medical - and run their kits for the last 20 years. Stock and sell them. For your trips and travels I'd run two kits. A blowout up front for buying time in a major trauma event for yourself or someone else. (keep it in a consistent easy access location so strangers can find it if you need help) And a comprehensive maintenance kit in a pelican or dry bag away from heat in the back of the truck.

ADVMED has good quality content, decent bags, and rational thought applied to organization for USE.

If there is a need for a few people to renew, replace, or add kits, I can run a NAS-ROW deal for March.

 

[rovercolorado]

I have an older Johnson & Johnson plastic box kit. I have had to replace some things over the years but it has served me well for many years.
The plastic box keeps stuff from getting broken inside. Low $ option.

 

[SARTech]

I have a small home based business that builds customer specific First Aid kits. I have a few pre-builts kits.
I look at what the customer is doing, the kind of hazards they might be exposed to and then their knowledge base and put a kit together for them.

For a generic over the road and trail kit, this is what I would recommend.

Bleeding control:
C-A-T brand, Tourniquet
Pressure Bandage
Z-fold Gauze
ABD pads
Several Stretch bandages,
3x3 sponges
Knuckle bandages, regular band-aid
Steri-Strips, and butterfly bandages
2' Tape
Antibiotic ointment

Scrapes and abrasions:
Petrolatum Gauze
2x2 and 4x4 Gauze
Coban wrap

Joint and bone stabilization:
Sam Splint
Triangle Bandage
Elastic wrap

Additional items:
Trauma Shears
Splinter Forceps
Wound irrigation fluid
Eye Wash
Gloves
For serious off roading I would add a Cervical Collar.

As for medications I recommend that the person purchasing the kit puts in their own medications. There are too many allergies and complications with me putting in meds. Its better left to the person who is using the kit, they know what they need and can't have.

Im not an NAS-ROW to promote my personal business but to get LR Defender info. If I can be of assistance in the First Aid department Im glad to help.
My business motto is "Live to Tell About It" I want what every you are doing to be safe and at the end of the day I want you to live to tell about it to your loved ones and those who are important to you and depend on you.