Be Prepared (...by Tom Lehrer)

by Armed Liberal at February 4, 2003 6:33 AM

OK, here are the contents of the first-aid kits we keep in the cars and house. Note that these are way too much for a simple accident; they are intended to support several people over several days and deal with a wide range of injuries and conditions. I have a reduced 'accident kit' that I carry on my motorcycle, and a much smaller one I carry in a pocket in my riding suit.

Things to wipe, clean, and disinfect with:

Qty Item

6 Povidone-Iodine Prep
4 Benzalkonium Chloride Wipe
10 Povidone-Iodine Ointment (in zip lock)
5 Neosporin
1 Eyewash/cleaner (Benzalkonium Chloride)
1 Tincture of Benzoin or Mastisol
15 Instant tears
1 Sheet Moleskin
1 Sheet NuSkin


Bandages, splints, wraps

Qty Item

10 Band-Aids
10 Telfa Non-Stick Sterile Pad
5 Shur-Strip Skin Closures
2 rolls Tape, Adhesive, Surgical, Camo. (cloth)
1 roll Tape, Transpore
4 x 4 Gauze Pads
2 Eye Pad
4 Bandage, Muslin, Compressed, Camo. (Gauze Bandage)
1 Splint, (SAM)
6 Dressing, First-Aid, Field, Individual. (Battle Dressing)
1 Bandage, Elastic (ACE Wrap) 2"
1 Bandage, Elastic (ACE Wrap) 4"
3 Bandage, Cohesive, Flexible (Co-ban, Co-flex, Vet. Wrap)
1 ACS Chest Seal
1 12" x 24" 3/8 wet suit material
5' Gaffer Tape (not duct tape)


Tools

Qty Item

1 Penlight, Exam
1 CPR Shield
1 CPR Mask
10 pair Gloves, Nitrile, Examination (in zip lock)
6 Zip lock bags
1 EMT Shears/scissors/tweezers/penlight in pouch
1 Pocket Medic Book
1 Recovery Blanket
3 Instant Cold Pack
5 paper thermometers
1 Metal mirror
1 box Waterproof matches
1 stick Wax firestarter
4 Batteries for penlight
1 Bulb for penlight


Medicines

Qty Item

2 packs Tums
2 tubes Tylenol
20 Motrin
10 Imodium
10 Benadryl
1 vial Ipecac Syrup
6 Burn Gel

plus misc family prescriptions (things we take chronically or that might be useful)

The base kits were designed by John Holschen of Insights Training, Inc., and have proved to be extremely useful over the last several years.

People do look at you a bit askance when you pull it out of the back of the car...it fits into a standard military-surplus field medical pouch...but I wouldn't be without it.

Obviously, the tools are relatively useless without a fair amount of training, and I thank John and my various First Responder instructors for all of that.

I've gotten useful additions and comments from folks more experienced than I in the past, and welcome comments and suggestions from readers.

Most of the products here are available from Gall's or Emergency Medical Products.

JK Note: Insn'taPundit thinks this little kit could have real Homeland Security implications, as part of a "swarm, not herd" defense strategy.

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