Boo Boo & Trauma Kits

mercop

mercop

Joined
Mar 26, 2002
Messages
4,940
Being a part of the personal protection and preparedness industry in addition to perusing the forums in search of new and useful gear, I see a lack of first aid information that is easily digested. It seems that most stuff is either written for a Delta Force Medic or a Mommy tending to a scraped knee. When you add this to selecting a pre-made kit or putting your own together, things can become overwhelming.

In the beginning of every MCS class, we go through introductions during which I ask who my first responders, EMTs, paramedics, and doctors are. Then, I ask who has kits with them. This is always important stuff to know in a group. During our last Combative Pistol Course in Indianapolis, I was pleased to have about four students with kits within arms reach.

We believe in overall preparedness and the need for individuals being able to deal with problems from falling through a plate glass window, to dealing with a violent attack. We also believe in trickle down training. This means that all students should be able to teach the principles of what they learn to others they care about. This is especially true when it comes to first aid.

I recently used a rainy weekend to check all first aid kits, including my personal kit that rides in the Bag of Evil.

All kits are basic and include items that will let the people that are most likely to use them in the situations that will most likely occur in the enviroment.

Household Boo Boo Kit- small plastic box with things like burn gel, band aids, and Sting Eze. This kit is kept in kitchen.

Household Trauma Kit- contains some of the same things as the Boo Boo kit with the addition of lots of blood stoppers, 4X4s, Kerlix, and ice packs.

Mobile Family Kit- this is a larger kit that combines the contents of the household Boo Boo and Trauma kits to manage emergencies on the go. The family kit is adorned with lots of red parachute cord so as to be identified by anyone set to retrieve it.

All kits contain 3 pair of nitrile gloves packaged in a small Zip-Lock bag. The driver and passenger side door pockets of all vehicles also contain 3 pair of gloves packaged the same way.

FAK3.jpg


The last kit is my personal one. Having a higher level of training than my wife and kids, some things are included in mine that are not in the other kits. My FAK is always in the Bag of Evil, which is never more that a few feet from me. My kit is contained inside of an Eagle Industries Shaving Kit bag. It too is broken into a Trauma and Boo Boo Kit packed in two Zip-Lock bags.

EAFAK.jpg


Trauma Kit contains-

* Asherman Chest Seal
* CAT Tournaquit
* Quik Clot
* Kerlix

FAK4.jpg



Boo Boo Kit contains-

* Bandaids
* Steristrips
* Neosporin
* Tape
* Dermabond
* Tagederm
* Burn Gel
EAfAK2.jpg



Obviously missing are OTC and RX meds that are carried in the front of my pack with other EDC stuff. When possible, I try to pack individual packets of pills instead of big bottles and liquids. The bottles take up valuable space and liquids dry with constant temperature changes. Some of what I carry includes:

* Decongestant
* Pain reliever
* Antidiarrheal pills
* Antacids



We also have bandaids stashed all over the place. You can set a good example for your kids and make them feel safer by not having to search for a band aid. This promotes overall self reliance.

I am not the burning book of emergency medicine and this article is not meant to be an end all be all guide to FAKs. It is intended to provoke thought and conversation about first aid skills and gear for everyone regardless of their level of likely need and interest.

Starting in 2010 every MCS class, regardless of subject, will include a block on management of traumatic injuries.
 
Great stuff! Mine is admittedly mostly a boo boo kit. I pack in a few larger gauze pads and a triangle bandange for trauma. In our wilderness first aid course we were taught the multi-use triangle bandage as the sort of deal with everything trauma package. Probably not great for gunshot wounds, but it can be used to place pressure on a wound or emergency turnoquit with a stick if it comes to that, also good for slings, emergency bandana, tie down a splint etc.

In my boo boo kit, I have found that the single pack alcohol wipes don't cut it for longer term cut care. They are great and multifunctional, but one time I cut myself. Not so bad as to cancel my trip, but bad enough that I had to clean it daily and maintain the dressing. I had a bunch of the wipes and was flying through those. Now I add a full tube of neosporin. It takes more room, but that stuff is great under bandaides and a tube will easily last a week of cleaning and redressing. As for bandaides, when I ran out of them, a piece of cut gauze and duct tape worked fine.

DSC_0018-8.jpg


DSC_0019-8.jpg
 
I like your idea of adorning your car FAK with paracord so that someone sent to your vehicle can identify it. I have thought before how I might direct someone to the CPR mask, etc. in my vehicle, and thats a good idea. Anything that might ID the correct bag would be good.

In addition to car and home FAKs, I have a mini boo boo FAK as you call it which is contained in an Altoids container. I normally do not carry a manbag, but carry this Altoids kit when out somewhere with my progeny. I guess that a dedicated EDC bag of some sort would be preferable, so it would always be with me no matter what. I just hate carrying a bag, but there is really no way to avoid it if I want to be prepared.

I'd like to know whats in your Bag of Evil, to the extent that you are willing to elaborate. Edit: maybe this is it. :thumbup:

thx
 
Last edited:
The BOE may have changed a little bit. I will try and take some notes this week.
 
I have everything from a PPG (Person Protective Gear) kit, to a SWICK (Small Wound Incidental Closure Kit), to a CUDK (Clean Up & Decontaminate Kit) to a GSW&T (Gun Shot Wound & Trauma),to a 3MTK (Modular Mobile Minor Treatment Kit) to a CTK (Chainsaw Trauma Kit).

the smaller kits are stored in ALOKsaks, the larger stuff in Pelican 1500, 1650 & Cube Cases for when i'm in the forest chainsawing, or on jobsites, or working festivals. for festivals and groupl camp settings, i have a HSGI drop leg pouch with a basic kit and PPG, if required i can radio other staff to bring the truck with the other kits.

EDIT: good to see don rearic online, he has some great setups!
 
fantastic guys! I too, use the same size lock and lock. I make sure I can get to the bandaids and steristrips one handed :P
 
Terrific write up Mercop. We have several "Boo Boo" kits at the house, mostly because we have two rough and tumble boys, ages 9 and 12. :)

One thought, be sure that if you carry or store nitrile gloves in your car/truck, they are stored out of the sunlight. Both time and sunlight will cause gloves to breakdown, and when you are wearing them, they will split. If you are unsure how old the gloves you have are, you might consider double gloving, just in case. Having had a pair split on me when I was at a car accient and getting blood on my skin directly was unnerving.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top