First Aid Kits and Supplies

[3930dave]

I'm updating my 1'st Aid Kits, and the threads I could find on here were either pretty old, or a Trauma level beyond my capability.

I'm looking for input on favourite Kit supplies, and any particular First Aid product Brands that you prefer.

Specifically:

- Cases that stand up well to moderate transportation use

- Bulk Bandage material - looking for USA or Canadian manufactured product

- small band-aid recommendations. I used to be an Elastoplast fan years ago, not so much any more. About the only one I've found that stands up to water well is a plastic Band-Aid version - I'm still looking for a fabric one with an effective adhesive. (I know band-aids aren't supposed to stay on indefinitely , I'm just tired of them falling off the first time I wash my hands).

- antibacterial products with long shelf lives, and robust containers

- any other product suggestions or First Aid tips are welcome

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

I bumped this 10 y/o thread shocked on Stiptic powder.... adding link here....

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/safety/39470-stiptic-powder.html

Rgds, D.

 

[Looking4new]

You can still get Elastoplast strip bandaids, I think. You really gotta hunt for them. I have two bottles of Detol, one in the human kit and one in the animal kit. A Quart of Absorbine horse liniment, (for the animals) rubbing alcohol, ammonia smelling salts, triangular bandage, assorted splints.

 

[jaotguy]

don't forget 2 crucial additions : small bottle of crazy glue and roll of surgical tape ...

crazy glue to glue flaps for skin back in place and stop gross bleeding

surgical tape to hold it all together for those big cuts .....

 

[Looking4new]

Black electrical tape works for a pressure bandage after the gauze goes on. I like 4x4 telfa pads, too. They don't stick to the wound. Don't forget a pair of scissors and the forceps. Also, peroxide.

 

[brin]

I would suggest adding scalpels, sutcher kit and surgical staple kit as well as other surgical instruments...check Amazon...they have all of it at reasonable prices.

 

[3930dave]

Thanks All for the suggestions, it is appreciated.

I like Hydrogen Peroxide for general use on small cuts. Seems to do the trick for us, w/o the YOWWCCCHHHH factor you get into with alcohol based product. The one point I've come across lately was that peroxide can be a bit too aggressive in terms of oxidizing action - I need to research that issue a bit more, esp. re. larger wounds.

I've heard good things about Crazy Glue for skin fixes, but never used it myself. If a tube of Crazy Glue is NOT opened, how long a shelf life do people get ? I don't use it in my shop that often, so when I go back to an open tube, it is usually solid by then.

I've got some 3M surgical tape I like, but then again I can't recall being ever let down by a 3M product. Elec. tape is a good suggestion - strong, relatively easy to remove, and I always have some around anyway.

Elastoplast I can find, but the basic consumer level stuff I've found lately isn't what it used to be in terms of fabric thickness and adhesive qualities. Last I looked, the Elastoplast small bandaids we get here are made in Spain. Doing foundation work on my garage, I resorted to winding masking tape around dings on my fingers - worked at least as well as any bandaids I could find at the time.

Brin - I recently had direct experience with surgical staples - I have to say, from a Mech Eng standpoint, I was impressed - apparently they have been around for quite a while too. I'm going to update my kits in 2 stages - the items you touch on will go into a later Back Country/SHTF level kit. I always carry a reasonably sharp knife, that after a dose of peroxide can stand-in for an emergency basic scalpel. Same goes for the pliers on my Leatherman - not as sanitary as sealed products, but will work better than fingers if needed.

Rgds, D.

 

[jaotguy]

crazy glue will last forever unless exposed to air ( opened tube) or direct sunlight ( UV) or water ( solvent)

surgical tape will stick to bare skin and is flexible but strong. ( leaning more towards the really big OOOPS! what have I done?, cuts here...) as in taping up a good chunk of limb.

 

[KubotaToy]

I found elastic vet wrap works great to wrap almost any booboo. And it sticks to itself even when wet.

 

[3930dave]

crazy glue will last forever unless exposed to air ( opened tube) or direct sunlight ( UV) or water ( solvent)

surgical tape will stick to bare skin and is flexible but strong. ( leaning more towards the really big OOOPS! what have I done?, cuts here...) as in taping up a good chunk of limb.

Sealed tubes of Crazy Glue for the kit it is then ! I've seen it applied to a cut, then spread evenly using a layer of saran wrap briefly - just to distribute it over the cut area - saran wrap then removed. So I'll add some wrap too.

I've been pleased with the 3M surgical tape I have, so will buy more - hoping I don't have to use much of it though !

Rgds, D.