testtest

First Aid kit

LastStarfighter

Operator
Founding Member
What is your first aid kit of choice? Obviously affordability is a want but so is quality. I found this one on My Medic but it is quite steep in price. Recommendations on others or reviews on the My Medic one?

 
I have several. For my Bug Out Bags (BOB), I have full and trauma kits from Adventure Medical that I purchased from Midway USA. For my Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK), I bought the Tier 1 ankle trauma kit from Every Day Ready (website link below), that I wear to the range (and probably should everyday).

 
"Rolling your own" is likely going to be the most affordable way to approach this need.

However, there's a few CRUCIAL things that anyone building their kit need to sort-out prior to doing so, and also a few considerations made as they are building their kits.

Before you build, you need to determine the purpose of your kit. Is this kit going to handle the basics of bleed and penetrating trauma (i.e. "blow out kit"), or is it going to address more generalized yet less-urgent needs (i.e. cuts-scrapes, sprains, etc. - "boo-boo kit")? Or are you being expected to build a more comprehensive kit with more in-depth requirements like a suture kit or stethoscope (field medic/physician)? Remember here that while some kits may look/sound sexier - such as the "blow out kit," "trauma kit," or "bleed kit" - having even a "boo-boo kit" at-hand to address sunburn, bug-bites, small cuts/scrapes and other skin irritation can make a tremendous difference in not only morale, but also physical performance (just ask anyone who's attended a multi-day handgun/carbine/shotgun class or competition ;) ).

In addition to your "mission," this kit will need to be built to your skill level. My wife is a physician, so she can take advantage of a more comprehensive kit. I went through some schooling, but am not a doctor, so the level of care I can provide with my training, skill and know-how is going to be significantly less - but that doesn't mean that a "blow out kit" is either beyond my means or is something that I shouldn't use (far from it, actually!). Rather, it is to serve as a reminder that just because a kit that you purchased may include something like a chest decompression needle or sutures and a scalpel, that you will want to defer the use of these items only to those who are properly trained to use them.

Now, as you are building your kit, no need to be aware of where/how you are sourcing your materials.

With the current popularity of "stop the bleed"/trauma kits, more and more crucial/critical items are being cloned by less-scrupulous sources. Counterfeit tourniquets are now commonly sold on eBay and Amazon, and while these items can save you a few dollars, their efficacy have not been confirmed (some are literally made to be props for airsoft gaming use), and in many cases even their physical structure and materials/construct are questionable. I would recommend that you only purchase from trusted sources. Here's a series of excellent videos from the popular YouTube Channel "SkinnyMedic" that highlights this problem:


Similarly, the popularity of tourniquets means that there's an ever-increasing mix of designs available. While some may claim to work well - and even work reasonably enough in demonstrations - we need to remember the context-of-use of these devices. For most in the industry, the TCCC recommendations remain the Gold Standard in this area, and for 2019, they expanded their list to include the following:


1578778238215.png


There remains a reason why the CAT and SOFTT-Wide are the stadard-bearers, and I would recommend that they - and only they - be among your first-line TQs. Avoid counterfits, and try to resist the urge to purchase gimmicky/"innovative" TQs because here, you'll want something proven to work, under austere and dire conditions (i.e. those reflected by TCCC documentation).

In terms of where to buy pre-made kits or components, these are pretty much the only sources that I trust (listed in no particular order) -

Dark Angel Medical - https://darkangelmedical.com/
BFE Labs/NoOneComing.com - https://www.noonecoming.com/
ITS Tactical - https://www.itstactical.com/
Blue Force Gear - https://www.blueforcegear.com/
Rescue Essentials - https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Chinook Medical - https://www.chinookmed.com/
H&H Medical - https://buyhandh.com/
North American Rescue - https://www.narescue.com/

Notes:

Dark Angel's prices are pretty high. but their gear comes with the caveat/guaranty that if you use it in a documented event, they'll literally replace it for you, free. There's a reason why my main range-bag kit - the one that's ostensibly most likely to be used - is theirs.

BFE Labs is currently undergoing some administrative restructuring - i.e. the change to "No One Coming" to better reflect their ethos - but this is a "good guy" company, and their prices are really on-point.

NAR runs their usual "Stop the Bleed Month" sales in May, with excellent discounts throughout on their open-market consumer products. They also offer discounts to documented first-responders.

-----

And as SMSgtRod noted above, you NEED to know HOW TO USE what you have -

Served many years as a ARC FA, CPR & BLS instructor.
Don't forget to get training to go along with your kit.

Everything from dedicated high-end training courses - such as those offered by Dark Angel Medical - to free-of-charge!!!!! "Stop the Bleed" seminars (https://www.stopthebleed.org/) are available from a variety of institutions and clubs. :)
 
Last edited:
"Rolling your own" is likely going to be the most affordable way to approach this need.

However, there's a few CRUCIAL things that anyone building their kit need to sort-out prior to doing so, and also a few considerations made as they are building their kits.

Before you build, you need to determine the purpose of your kit. Is this kit going to handle the basics of bleed and penetrating trauma (i.e. "blow out kit"), or is it going to address more generalized yet less-urgent needs (i.e. cuts-scrapes, sprains, etc. - "boo-boo kit")? Or are you being expected to build a more comprehensive kit with more in-depth requirements like a suture kit or stethoscope (field medic/physician)? Remember here that while some kits may look/sound sexier - such as the "blow out kit," "trauma kit," or "bleed kit" - having even a "boo-boo kit" at-hand to address sunburn, bug-bites, small cuts/scrapes and other skin irritation can make a tremendous difference in not only morale, but also physical performance (just ask anyone who's attended a multi-day handgun/carbine/shotgun class or competition ;) ).

In addition to your "mission," this kit will need to be built to your skill level. My wife is a physician, so she can take advantage of a more comprehensive kit. I went through some schooling, but am not a doctor, so the level of care I can provide, with my training, skill and know-how is going to be significantly less - but that doesn't mean that a "blow out kit" is beyond my means.

As you are building your kit, be aware of where/how you are sourcing your materials.

With the current popularity of "stop the bleed"/trauma kits, more and more crucial/critical items are being cloned by less-scrupulous sources. Counterfeit tourniquets are now commonly sold on eBay and Amazon, and while these items can save you a few dollars, their efficacy have not been confirmed, and in many cases even their physical structure and materials/construct are questionable. I would recommend that you only purchase from trusted sources.

Similarly, the popularity of tourniquets means that there's an ever-increasing mix of designs available. While some may claim to work well - and even work reasonably enough in demonstrations - we need to remember the context-of-use of these devices. For most in the industry, the TCCC recommendations remain the Gold Standard in this area, and for 2019, they expanded their list to include the following:


View attachment 240

There remains a reason why the CAT and SOFTT-Wide are the stadard-bearers, and I would recommend that they - and only they - be among your first-line TQs. Avoid counterfits, and try to resist the urge to purchase gimmicky/"innovative" TQs because here, you'll want something proven to work, under austere and dire conditions (i.e. those reflected by TCCC documentation).

In terms of where to buy pre-made kits or components, these are pretty much the only sources that I trust (listed in no particular order) -

Dark Angel Medical - https://darkangelmedical.com/
BFE Labs/NoOneComing.com - https://www.noonecoming.com/
ITS Tactical - https://www.itstactical.com/
Blue Force Gear - https://www.blueforcegear.com/
Rescue Essentials - https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Chinook Medical - https://www.chinookmed.com/
H&H Medical - https://buyhandh.com/
North American Rescue - https://www.narescue.com/

Notes:

Dark Angel's prices are pretty high. but their gear comes with the caveat/guaranty that if you use it in a documented event, they'll literally replace it for you, free. There's a reason why my main range-bag kit - the one that's ostensibly most likely to be used - is theirs.

BFE Labs is currently undergoing some administrative restructuring - i.e. the change to "No One Coming" to better reflect their ethos - but this is a "good guy" company, and their prices are really on-point.

NAR runs their usual "Stop the Bleed Month" sales in May, with excellent discounts throughout on their open-market consumer products. They also offer discounts to documented first-responders.

-----

And as SMSgtRod noted above, you NEED to know HOW TO USE what you have -



Everything from dedicated high-end training courses - such as those offered by Dark Angel Medical - to free-of-charge!!!!! "Stop the Bleed" seminars (https://www.stopthebleed.org/) are available from a variety of institutions and clubs. :)
Nice write up TSiWRX. Enough information to get one started in picking out a Med Kit.
 
"Rolling your own" is likely going to be the most affordable way to approach this need.

However, there's a few CRUCIAL things that anyone building their kit need to sort-out prior to doing so, and also a few considerations made as they are building their kits.

Before you build, you need to determine the purpose of your kit. Is this kit going to handle the basics of bleed and penetrating trauma (i.e. "blow out kit"), or is it going to address more generalized yet less-urgent needs (i.e. cuts-scrapes, sprains, etc. - "boo-boo kit")? Or are you being expected to build a more comprehensive kit with more in-depth requirements like a suture kit or stethoscope (field medic/physician)? Remember here that while some kits may look/sound sexier - such as the "blow out kit," "trauma kit," or "bleed kit" - having even a "boo-boo kit" at-hand to address sunburn, bug-bites, small cuts/scrapes and other skin irritation can make a tremendous difference in not only morale, but also physical performance (just ask anyone who's attended a multi-day handgun/carbine/shotgun class or competition ;) ).

In addition to your "mission," this kit will need to be built to your skill level. My wife is a physician, so she can take advantage of a more comprehensive kit. I went through some schooling, but am not a doctor, so the level of care I can provide with my training, skill and know-how is going to be significantly less - but that doesn't mean that a "blow out kit" is either beyond my means or is something that I shouldn't use (far from it, actually!). Rather, it is to serve as a reminder that just because a kit that you purchased may include something like a chest decompression needle or sutures and a scalpel, that you will want to defer the use of these items only to those who are properly trained to use them.

Now, as you are building your kit, no need to be aware of where/how you are sourcing your materials.

With the current popularity of "stop the bleed"/trauma kits, more and more crucial/critical items are being cloned by less-scrupulous sources. Counterfeit tourniquets are now commonly sold on eBay and Amazon, and while these items can save you a few dollars, their efficacy have not been confirmed (some are literally made to be props for airsoft gaming use), and in many cases even their physical structure and materials/construct are questionable. I would recommend that you only purchase from trusted sources. Here's a series of excellent videos from the popular YouTube Channel "SkinnyMedic" that highlights this problem:


Similarly, the popularity of tourniquets means that there's an ever-increasing mix of designs available. While some may claim to work well - and even work reasonably enough in demonstrations - we need to remember the context-of-use of these devices. For most in the industry, the TCCC recommendations remain the Gold Standard in this area, and for 2019, they expanded their list to include the following:


View attachment 240

There remains a reason why the CAT and SOFTT-Wide are the stadard-bearers, and I would recommend that they - and only they - be among your first-line TQs. Avoid counterfits, and try to resist the urge to purchase gimmicky/"innovative" TQs because here, you'll want something proven to work, under austere and dire conditions (i.e. those reflected by TCCC documentation).

In terms of where to buy pre-made kits or components, these are pretty much the only sources that I trust (listed in no particular order) -

Dark Angel Medical - https://darkangelmedical.com/
BFE Labs/NoOneComing.com - https://www.noonecoming.com/
ITS Tactical - https://www.itstactical.com/
Blue Force Gear - https://www.blueforcegear.com/
Rescue Essentials - https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Chinook Medical - https://www.chinookmed.com/
H&H Medical - https://buyhandh.com/
North American Rescue - https://www.narescue.com/

Notes:

Dark Angel's prices are pretty high. but their gear comes with the caveat/guaranty that if you use it in a documented event, they'll literally replace it for you, free. There's a reason why my main range-bag kit - the one that's ostensibly most likely to be used - is theirs.

BFE Labs is currently undergoing some administrative restructuring - i.e. the change to "No One Coming" to better reflect their ethos - but this is a "good guy" company, and their prices are really on-point.

NAR runs their usual "Stop the Bleed Month" sales in May, with excellent discounts throughout on their open-market consumer products. They also offer discounts to documented first-responders.

-----

And as SMSgtRod noted above, you NEED to know HOW TO USE what you have -



Everything from dedicated high-end training courses - such as those offered by Dark Angel Medical - to free-of-charge!!!!! "Stop the Bleed" seminars (https://www.stopthebleed.org/) are available from a variety of institutions and clubs. :)
Great piece! Thanks for all the in depth info.
 
^ Great question.

I couldn't find any, but that has been an overriding worry for me as well, mainly in terms of adhesives (chest seal) and the hemostatic properties of the Combat Gauze - and this goes for the cold, too.

I can only imagine that items carried by our soldiers in varied conditions would be OK in the vehicle context, but I honestly don't know. My wife, despite being a physician, is not capable of answering these questions based on her training.

I don't really have a way of testing the Combat Gauze in a practical manner.

In terms of the chest seals, their adhesives seem to still work well at the 5-year mark in my own "back-yard lab" testing.

The adhesives for Band-Aids and the like also seem to hold up well in the in-vehicle context. The only problem I've had is with them carried in my back pants-pocket med kit (mixed trauma [Combat Gauze/SWAT-T/HyFin] and boo-boo [Band-Aids, Moleskins, Advil/Tylenol/Immodium]), where the only adhesive that seems to hold well are that of the chest seals and the rip-tabs that I made out of duct-tape for the SWAT-T and Combat Gauze.

I know that items like Epi pens and insulin should definitely *NOT* be stored for any amount of time in a vehicle that is not environmentally controlled, but aside from that, I'm afraid I really don't know.....
 
^ Great question.

I couldn't find any, but that has been an overriding worry for me as well, mainly in terms of adhesives (chest seal) and the hemostatic properties of the Combat Gauze - and this goes for the cold, too.

I can only imagine that items carried by our soldiers in varied conditions would be OK in the vehicle context, but I honestly don't know. My wife, despite being a physician, is not capable of answering these questions based on her training.

I don't really have a way of testing the Combat Gauze in a practical manner.

In terms of the chest seals, their adhesives seem to still work well at the 5-year mark in my own "back-yard lab" testing.

The adhesives for Band-Aids and the like also seem to hold up well in the in-vehicle context. The only problem I've had is with them carried in my back pants-pocket med kit (mixed trauma [Combat Gauze/SWAT-T/HyFin] and boo-boo [Band-Aids, Moleskins, Advil/Tylenol/Immodium]), where the only adhesive that seems to hold well are that of the chest seals and the rip-tabs that I made out of duct-tape for the SWAT-T and Combat Gauze.

I know that items like Epi pens and insulin should definitely *NOT* be stored for any amount of time in a vehicle that is not environmentally controlled, but aside from that, I'm afraid I really don't know.....
As an Epipen carrier, I can attest to that.
 
Thanks for the great info TSiWRX. I wasn't aware the Chinese had infiltrated the CAT market as they have the US nuts & bolt market, the US dog food market, the US baby toy market. Makes you wonder if they do it intentionally.

I have seen a few military surplus sites selling tourniquets but thought they were high priced...now I see why....getting what you pay for.

Just threw out some salmon filets that I bought at Aldi's. Noticed they were from China and I figure they catch them in Japan's radioactive waters or rinse them in mercury before exporting them here.
I always thought the same about Chinese exports. It’s seems like their plan is to send us harmful and defective products. I also won’t trust their electronic devices which probably record & track movements for their hackers later use.
 
"Rolling your own" is likely going to be the most affordable way to approach this need.

However, there's a few CRUCIAL things that anyone building their kit need to sort-out prior to doing so, and also a few considerations made as they are building their kits.

Before you build, you need to determine the purpose of your kit. Is this kit going to handle the basics of bleed and penetrating trauma (i.e. "blow out kit"), or is it going to address more generalized yet less-urgent needs (i.e. cuts-scrapes, sprains, etc. - "boo-boo kit")? Or are you being expected to build a more comprehensive kit with more in-depth requirements like a suture kit or stethoscope (field medic/physician)? Remember here that while some kits may look/sound sexier - such as the "blow out kit," "trauma kit," or "bleed kit" - having even a "boo-boo kit" at-hand to address sunburn, bug-bites, small cuts/scrapes and other skin irritation can make a tremendous difference in not only morale, but also physical performance (just ask anyone who's attended a multi-day handgun/carbine/shotgun class or competition ;) ).

In addition to your "mission," this kit will need to be built to your skill level. My wife is a physician, so she can take advantage of a more comprehensive kit. I went through some schooling, but am not a doctor, so the level of care I can provide with my training, skill and know-how is going to be significantly less - but that doesn't mean that a "blow out kit" is either beyond my means or is something that I shouldn't use (far from it, actually!). Rather, it is to serve as a reminder that just because a kit that you purchased may include something like a chest decompression needle or sutures and a scalpel, that you will want to defer the use of these items only to those who are properly trained to use them.

Now, as you are building your kit, no need to be aware of where/how you are sourcing your materials.

With the current popularity of "stop the bleed"/trauma kits, more and more crucial/critical items are being cloned by less-scrupulous sources. Counterfeit tourniquets are now commonly sold on eBay and Amazon, and while these items can save you a few dollars, their efficacy have not been confirmed (some are literally made to be props for airsoft gaming use), and in many cases even their physical structure and materials/construct are questionable. I would recommend that you only purchase from trusted sources. Here's a series of excellent videos from the popular YouTube Channel "SkinnyMedic" that highlights this problem:


Similarly, the popularity of tourniquets means that there's an ever-increasing mix of designs available. While some may claim to work well - and even work reasonably enough in demonstrations - we need to remember the context-of-use of these devices. For most in the industry, the TCCC recommendations remain the Gold Standard in this area, and for 2019, they expanded their list to include the following:


View attachment 240

There remains a reason why the CAT and SOFTT-Wide are the stadard-bearers, and I would recommend that they - and only they - be among your first-line TQs. Avoid counterfits, and try to resist the urge to purchase gimmicky/"innovative" TQs because here, you'll want something proven to work, under austere and dire conditions (i.e. those reflected by TCCC documentation).

In terms of where to buy pre-made kits or components, these are pretty much the only sources that I trust (listed in no particular order) -

Dark Angel Medical - https://darkangelmedical.com/
BFE Labs/NoOneComing.com - https://www.noonecoming.com/
ITS Tactical - https://www.itstactical.com/
Pet Dog Pals - https://petdogpals.com/dog-first-aid-kit/
Blue Force Gear - https://www.blueforcegear.com/
Rescue Essentials - https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Chinook Medical - https://www.chinookmed.com/
H&H Medical - https://buyhandh.com/
North American Rescue - https://www.narescue.com/

Notes:

Dark Angel's prices are pretty high. but their gear comes with the caveat/guaranty that if you use it in a documented event, they'll literally replace it for you, free. There's a reason why my main range-bag kit - the one that's ostensibly most likely to be used - is theirs.

BFE Labs is currently undergoing some administrative restructuring - i.e. the change to "No One Coming" to better reflect their ethos - but this is a "good guy" company, and their prices are really on-point.

NAR runs their usual "Stop the Bleed Month" sales in May, with excellent discounts throughout on their open-market consumer products. They also offer discounts to documented first-responders.

-----

And as SMSgtRod noted above, you NEED to know HOW TO USE what you have -



Everything from dedicated high-end training courses - such as those offered by Dark Angel Medical - to free-of-charge!!!!! "Stop the Bleed" seminars (https://www.stopthebleed.org/) are available from a variety of institutions and clubs. :)

Holy moly, that's such a helpful post! I was looking to put together a first aid kit for my car as well as whatever you'd want to have at home. I thought this was just a simple purchase but this really helped me better appreciate the details of it and what should go into it. I think I have some more research to do 😊
 
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