Apologies if this is in the wrong category, but I was wondering what kind of first aid kit do you pack in your work truck? We just have the generic band aids, alcohol wipes and gauze kit right now, but with this heat the way it is I am looking for one that has bold packs in it, and probably a hard case.
I have one of the small first aid kits from Lowes or Home Depot in my trucks. Pretty basic, but it is OSHA approved, and has most of what you need. Thankfully, I have not needed it for anything other than a minor cut or scrape.
If ya'll do any work far from a town, I'd honestly suggest you find a public safety store, or a medical supply store, and get a few more things than an OSHA kit has. If someone gets hurt real bad, and OSHA kit is useless. A fence post to the face cause a wire broke and you will use up every bandage in the OSHA kit in the first 2 minutes. A hand crushed in the door of the truck from a freak gust of wind with bone exposed, and the OSHA kit doesn't have enough bandages to wrap the hand, cover the bone, make a sling, and stop the bleeding. You really should look into getting a kit with much more roller gauze, many more 4x4 gauze pads, some abdominal dressings, eye dressings, triangular bandages, medical and duct tape, good scissors, a knife, large bottles of sterile water, ice and heat packs, non latex gloves, CPR mask, and a good first aid manual. Trust me, if a person is really hurt, the band aids in the OSHA kit won't fix it!
We carry the OSHA kit plus compression bandages and vicodin.
Monte, post: 385328, member: 11913 wrote: If ya'll do any work far from a town, I'd honestly suggest you find a public safety store, or a medical supply store, and get a few more things than an OSHA kit has. If someone gets hurt real bad, and OSHA kit is useless. A fence post to the face cause a wire broke and you will use up every bandage in the OSHA kit in the first 2 minutes. A hand crushed in the door of the truck from a freak gust of wind with bone exposed, and the OSHA kit doesn't have enough bandages to wrap the hand, cover the bone, make a sling, and stop the bleeding. You really should look into getting a kit with much more roller gauze, many more 4x4 gauze pads, some abdominal dressings, eye dressings, triangular bandages, medical and duct tape, good scissors, a knife, large bottles of sterile water, ice and heat packs, non latex gloves, CPR mask, and a good first aid manual. Trust me, if a person is really hurt, the band aids in the OSHA kit won't fix it!
That is one of the reasons I prefer to go between the wires of a fence and not climb it. One time I did cut myself in the field I knew we had a first aid kit in the truck, that was the most worthless first aid kit ever, I think I had a cold pack, aspirin, tweeters, and 10 band aids. I went to Sam's Club the next day and picked up some better first aids kits.
In this part of the country, tweezers to pull the cactus stickers. Also, a water container and liquid soap, a roll of paper towels, alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, large pad bandages, and disposable latex gloves.
I don't have a digital copy now but my wife (a Nurse Practitioner) prepared a presentation for SAMSOG a few years ago about first aid in the field. A part of the demonstration was a list of items that should be included in any first aid kit. I believe that list is now a part of the SAMSOG manual, I'll have to dig mine out of the attic but it may take a while.
Andy
expiration dates on some of the items only last a year or two. alcohol pads and bandages tend to dry up.
Do yourself a favor and go by Tractor Supply in the Equine department.
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/3m-vetrap-bandaging-tape-4-in-x-5-yd-teal
That and 4x4 bandaging will go a long ways toward wrapping something that a bandaid won't handle.
Comes in a variety of colors.
James
In my kit:
assorted bandaids
gauze pads
gauze roll
bandage tape
tube of antibiotic cream
bandaid hurt-free antiseptic liquid
allergy capsules
disposable gloves
[SARCASM]everyone knows that all you need is surveyor's flagging[/SARCASM]
I did a ARC first aid course (1 day) a few years ago. I had done a long course in high school at summer camp which was much better--because it allowed you time to absorb the information. Anyway, the biggest take-away for me was the change in procedure if someone has no pulse.
Make sure the airway is clear, but then just start doing compressions and don't stop. You're also supposed to go a lot faster. Don't bother to give breaths to the victim unless there's a second person to do it. The chest compressions will get some air into the lungs, and the start-stop of the previous procedure has even worse outcomes.
I'm an EMT. I found out the hard way liquid inside cold packs is quite irritating to the eyes. So sure, carry lots of them, but store them carefully, inspect them frequently, and have something (like a triangle bandage) to wrap them in before you apply them to the patient.
Ashton, Mi' compadre'! I am retired from EMS these days, having been involved in it since 1990 as either an army medic or as on-call for the county ambulance. Working all night on the taxi then coming in to survey didn't always work to well. Had a few days I was rather grouchy too.
On top of a standard first aid kit with the basics, I like to have a couple of these quick clotting bandages on hand for a real crisis. Machetes and chainsaws have the potential to create a very serious blood loss situation and help for us can be hours away.
For anyone who has not used the quick clot, it has been my experience that when applied, the person they are applied to will complain that it "burns like hell!", but it does work pretty good at controlling serious bleeding.
