What to have in my first aid kit

[Darren]

One thing to remember, the first aid kit everyone should carry is to tread yourself an/or your dog. It's not necessarily there for treating the Misper, but most people I know will use it for that. I know SEBEV carry bigger search team kits which are for the Misper.

It's important to remember this when it comes to pills, potions and ointments etc.

Personally I carry a relatively large kit and when I get it out next and unwrap it, I'll post the contents.

[Darren]

My vest medical pouch/kit contains:

Laerdal Face mask
8 pairs of purple nitrile gloves
Assorted dressings
Bandages
Cleansing wipes
Assorted sticking plasters
Micropore tape
steri-strips
Paracetamol
Scissors
Tweezers
Safety pins (handy for wardrobe malfunctions)
Reinforced foil bivvy bag (not the cheap sheet that makes the casualty look like a giant turkey, ready for the oven)
4 glow-sticks. 2 white, 2 red of varying durations.

I also have a larger bumbag in the car that has more quantity and some additional items.

This is my personal choice and everyone else will have a different view.

[NickB]

Thanks to everyone for their personal input on the list - I have now purchased a smallish kit which should do in case of an emergency.
The only other thing mentioned by Darren that is also on the kit list which I need help with is emergency glow sticks. I did look on internet but most sites seemed to be novelty websites.
Could anyone point me in the right direction on this?

[Philip E]

Hi Nick
Sports Direct sell Glow sticks 3for £0.99 or Pound Land sell the same for £1.
I use them all the time come in red/orange/green .....
Happy to get you some just let me know how many
Philip

[roland and meg]

I agree light sticks are essential part of search kit. but first aid?

Edit public section

[Darren]

In response to the question "Why nitrile gloves?"

Many people have an sensitivity to natural latex and in acute case it can bring on anaphylactic shock and is potentially fatal. As a First Aider, it's not a good idea to use something (however unwittingly) that could make your casualty worse. If you have done a FAW course, this should have been covered but if you have has no FA training, you may be asked to assist.

I'm sure our resident healthcare professionals have their own views too.

From the NICE infection control guidelines for healthcare personnel (which first aiders are) - http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG2/NICEGui ... df/English

Gloves must be worn for invasive procedures, contact with sterile sites and non-intact skin or mucous membranes, and all activities that have been assessed as carrying a risk of exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions,
or to sharp or contaminated instruments.

Gloves must be worn as single-use items. They must be put on immediately before an episode of patient contact or treatment and removed as soon as the activity is completed. Gloves must be changed between caring for different patients, and between different care or treatment
activities for the same patient.

Gloves must be disposed of as clinical waste and hands decontaminated after the gloves have been removed.

Gloves that are acceptable to healthcare personnel and that conform to European Community (CE) standards must be available.

Sensitivity to natural rubber latex in patients, carers and healthcare personnel must be documented, and alternatives to natural rubber latex gloves must be available.

Neither powdered gloves nor polythene gloves should be used in healthcare activities.

[Darren]

I agree they essential part of search kit. but first aid?

I carry then as they give off a gentler, more even light and there is no danger of accidentally shining a bright torch into the eyes of a casualty.

[NickB]

Philip
My wife had the day off today so she went into Sports Direct for some Glow sticks for me so thanks for the offer anyway

[Darren]

Whatever you have in your kit, remember to keep an eye on the expiry dates...