Thread: Whats in your medkit??

For some reason I can't search at present, but there's 3-4 good threads on this topic already. Would normally link them all here, but... can't seem to find them.

I recall a rather firm response to the tampon thing from someone in the medical profession saying as Woods223 says above, that they absorb more blood than they stop, so better to carry a pressure bandage. Some good tips on what works and what doesn't when using celox too from what I recall - something about the sachets being rather difficult to apply when you're shaking like a shitting dog and blood is pissing everywhere?

Some thoughts. Internal bleeding is hard to stop. Just because you can stop visible blood loss from a wound, it doesn't mean that internal bleeding has ceased. This applies to the chest and abdomen. It's easier to stop bleeding from limbs because they can be compressed more effectively. You see the kind of damage hunting rounds cause on game animals. It's a real mess. Assistance may not come quickly even if a PLB has been triggered. Carrying trauma kits and chest seals is great, but I can't see that many would survive a shot from a hunting calibre to the chest or abdomen unless help came very fast. I don't mean to put anyone off carrying or using this stuff, just a reality check.

@MB. You are right regarding gunshot wounds. A shot to torso with most hunting bullets is highly likely to result in death from irreversible blood loss and/or organ trauma, FMJ bullets your chances of survival are better but still not great. All it takes is for part of the circulatory system to be compromised for major internal blood loss to occur. Wounds to arm’s and legs there’s the potential to apply tourniquets or pressure bandages. Shoulder wounds; pressure bandages can help patient survival, same with major flesh wounds. A working knowledge of arterial ( brachial, femoral and carotid) pressure points can be useful for controlling major bleeding. First aid kits are important to carry but the reality is that chances of surviving certain gunshot wounds is not great. I can speak from experiencing both sides of the coin. I was lucky to survive my experiences.

Originally Posted by yeah_na_missed

For some reason I can't search at present, but there's 3-4 good threads on this topic already. Would normally link them all here, but... can't seem to find them.

I recall a rather firm response to the tampon thing from someone in the medical profession saying as Woods223 says above, that they absorb more blood than they stop, so better to carry a pressure bandage. Some good tips on what works and what doesn't when using celox too from what I recall - something about the sachets being rather difficult to apply when you're shaking like a shitting dog and blood is pissing everywhere?

You are right, this is frequently discussed topic. Here are some threads covering very similar/same discussions on what is in a first aid kit (or should be etc).
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....id-kit-103480/

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....id-kits-81044/

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....article-96187/

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....aid-kit-69199/

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....aid-kit-50098/

I just work on the theory of something is better than nothing

Isnt the Israeli bandage mostly designed for penetrating wounds to arms & legs ?
Those arent actually very common in the bush (yet key for army medics who leverage their prior training once out).
Common injuries are:
Burns
Wrist / ankle sprain or fracture
Hypothermia & trench foot / hand
Head injury
Minor cuts and abrasions.
Allergic reaction ( bee can be worse than wasp)
Medical events & pre existing conditions hence the single asprin tab for heart attack and a supply of your usual meds.

you forgot hurt feelings

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Isnt the Israeli bandage mostly designed for penetrating wounds to arms & legs ?
Those arent actually very common in the bush (yet key for army medics who leverage their prior training once out).
.

@Bagheera, you've hunted the Kaimai. You know EVERYTHING there is aiming to taking you out.

Another thing to know is that a human can survive a gut shot if got quickly to ICU.
A bullet fragment MAY have gone through a big artery but maybe not too. Even an amputated arm or leg is seldom rapidly fatal.
So if it happens to you or your mate, dont give up. Pull his PLB / iPhone / In Reach straight away DRSABC try and get them evacuated then look to compress and stop as much bleeding as you can. Dont bother with CPR: only works if its a heart problem and theres plenty of blood to push around.

Mines more of a boo boo kit for the most part, pain relief, antihistamines, plasters, blister pads, Superglue, elastoplast tape wrapped on various things and replaced yearly.
And for more serious wounds, Z fold gauze, Israeli bandage and tourniquet from PracmedNZ.
Plus the PLB

Base your med kit on "What If?" What if: you cut yourself badly; shoot someone, or you get shot; you get badly burnt; break a bone; fall into a wasp nest; get hypothermia; AND you realise help may be a long way/time away?

Originally Posted by Ranger 888

Base your med kit on "What If?" What if: you cut yourself badly; shoot someone, or you get shot; you get badly burnt; break a bone; fall into a wasp nest; get hypothermia; AND you realise help may be a long way/time away?

Ffs, do you ever go out of the house?

Originally Posted by Bagheera

Another thing to know is that a human can survive a gut shot if got quickly to ICU.
A bullet fragment MAY have gone through a big artery but maybe not too. Even an amputated arm or leg is seldom rapidly fatal.
So if it happens to you or your mate, dont give up. Pull his PLB / iPhone / In Reach straight away DRSABC try and get them evacuated then look to compress and stop as much bleeding as you can. Dont bother with CPR: only works if its a heart problem and theres plenty of blood to push around.

The success rate of CPR is around the 5% mark. If help is more than an hour away, and there's only 2 of you, chances are not good. An hour of solo CPR isn't something I'd like to try. An amputated limb is survivable, but you'll need to be very much onto managing hypovolemic shock, and hopefully have a quart or so of blood expander handy.
Getting help is definitely the best option.

Half a roll of physio tape and nothing else. That's basically duct tape for the human body though. Cuts, bullet holes, broken bones, it will hold someone together as well as anything else.

Originally Posted by SneedFeed

Half a roll of physio tape and nothing else. That's basically duct tape for the human body though. Cuts, bullet holes, broken bones, it will hold someone together as well as anything else.

Yes, Strapping Tape is good to carry and handy for many uses but if using on open wounds always apply a gauze pad or similar first. If used directly on wound more damage may be caused upon removal by medical staff, don't make their job harder than it may already be. Sure, you may be in a life threatening situation but think of what others in the chain of treatment may have to deal with.