Something I realized day before yesterday: I have two major bleed kits in the truck, but I don’t even carry a band-aid. Kinda dumb, Ain’t?
I have a decent enough (big) First Aid kit at home, but I don’t want to duplicate it for every day driving. I looked around for containers and ordered n MTM 30 Caliber Ammo Can which I believe will be enough for the occasional booboo in the urban environment and then I’ll figure out what to put in.
Ideas? Share your vehicular first aid kit’s components and a brief explanation why if you don’t mind.
We live in the mountains and in an area with a real possibility of an emergency forcing an evacuation of the whole town on short notice. My truck kit is based off an Echo Sigma get home bag, so there’s more than just first aid.
Anyway, I transferred most of the stuff to a safety-color Pelican case with a lid organizer, added a few lights that clip onto the organizer (so I can find stuff if it’s dark out), and moved a basic first aid kit to a small bag that clips onto the back of the seat. Added a few more things like a small hatchet and extra flashlight, and, done.
Of everything in it, I had to use the first aid part once when a coworker wandered into my office looking for a bandaid (paper cut), and I pulled out a couple of cyalume glow sticks when our neighbor’s kids were going out trick-or-treating.
If I never have to use the rest – good! At least I had some fun with the organization and setup… 🙂
I have a full kit in a compartmented back which also utilizes small pouches. It goes from adhesive bandages to trauma pads. It also has a couple of meds, BP cuff & stethoscope, scissors, splinter forceps, & gloves. I also have an O2 tank and hand-powered suction. I also have a mini-kit with Israeli bandages, TQ, and gloves in the driver’s door pocket.
A little over-prepared I may admit. Part of being a nurse and a past EMT I guess.
The bandaids get used most often. I did need more at my local polling place when an elderly man tripped and smashed his face on the sidewalk. The FD ambulance guys were somewhat surprised when they arrived. Ha, ha.
I purchased one of those molle webbing bibs they hangs of the back of a car seat. It doesn’t have well but it gets the job done.
To the back of that I have two condor rip away pouches. One in medical red with a red cross patch. This holds bandaid and boo-boo level first aid. If I tell anybody “grab the first aid kit from the back of the drivers seat of my truck” they will grab that.
Just to the left of that bag is the same bag in dessert tan. No red cross patch. But there is a C.A.T. on top and it is filled with stop the bleed/blow out gear. Israeli combat bandage.
For the boo-boo or minor things kit…
hand sanitizer
bandaids, gauze, tape
spray bottle of anti-septic/pain reliever (for big scrapes or for burns)
aspirin & motrin
Not part of that kit, but same kind of handy- I always keep a box of kleenex in each vehicle. Not just for nose-blowing but just handy. More than once that kleenex has been emergency TP when parked out in the woods.
Bandaids, sport tape, gauze pads and roll
Antiseptic, ace bandage, gloves, scissors
Chemical cold packs, sling, paint stirrers ( splint )
Motrin aspirin
Packed in an ammo box
Instant cold packs are awesome.
Better living though chemistry!
I have three kits in each vehicle: medic bag, stuff happens kit, boo-boo kit.
I reported on the inventory of my medic bag several years ago (Survival Blog as “Skyrat”).
Each medic bag has a stop-the-bleed kit attached (Wirecutter, Our Esteemed Blogpost, and Aesop of Raconteur Report have spoken to contents of a “Blow Out Kit”, elsewhere)
The lessed kits started as Big Box Store family or individual kits. The bigger one (I think sold as (“100 Essentials!” sort of kit) got upgraded with a dozen roses of Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, Zyrtec, Imodium, and LOTS! more band aids.
The little one (glove box sized) got bandaids and gauze.
For booboo kits I recommend the “Nick Fixer” from https://www.rescue-essentials.com/the-nick-fixer/
Good price and it has all the things to have an off the shelf ready to go. The team there also makes reload modules and extension modules. So you can buy the module with replacement single dose meds for a reasonable cost.
One of the things I added to my kit was the poison ivy kit. I’m allergic to the damn stuff and it was something that I might need.
Most of my kits start there and I add on. The exception is when I’m building out a blowout kit (stop-the-bleed) which is built on speed of access, ease of one handed use, and STOPPING the bleed.
I have two first aid kits in my truck.
My “when seconds count” one is also my “extrication kit” it lives in the driver’s side door pocket where I can grab it in an emergency. It is a MOLLE IFAK bag. It contains 1 tourniquet, 1 large Israeli bandage, 1 small Israeli bandage, 1 chest seal (front and back), latex gloves, EMT scissors, pen light, Swiss Army emergency tool with seatbelt cutter, and a ZAK tool window punch.
The second first aid kit lives in the toolbox of the pickup. I used a bright orange sportsman’s box (about the size of a 50 cal can) so it’s easily identified as first aid. I have a backup tourniquet and Israeli bandage set, just in case (this is the truck I take to the range for IDPA/USPSA, so I want to be prepared for an AD gone horribly wrong).
This one also contains the other useful things a first aid kit needs. Tweezers are a must. So many range trips involves splinters from wooden barricades or target stands. An assortment of adhesive bandages. Small gauze pads. These are great for nosebleeds or alike. A roll of medical tape just incase you need to make a large bandage with the gauze pad. Antibacterial ointment. Cotton swabs to apply the ointment. Alcohol wipes for cleaning up small cuts and scrapes and wiping off the tweezers. Antihistamine ointment for bug bites.
I don’t carry oral meds or cool packs. If someone needs something like that, they are going home from the range. This kit is mainly for cuts and scrapes at the range.
The biggest advice I can give for a vehicle kit like this is to buy individual use packs. It’s more sterile and you don’t have to worry about waste or open containers leaking.
I don’t have a tube of antibacterial ointment, I have a bunch of little packs like these.
https://www.amazon.com/Ever-Ready-First-Aid-Antibiotic/dp/B079H3H92Y/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=antibacterial+ointment&qid=1610810716&sr=8-1
Alcohol prep pads (for splinters):
https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-Alcohol-Prep-Sterile-Medium/dp/B005BFL0RQ/ref=sr_1_7?crid=32S48F69O03JK&dchild=1&keywords=alcohol+wipes&qid=1610810756&sprefix=alcholol+wip%2Caps%2C157&sr=8-7
Single cotton swabs:
https://www.amazon.com/Cotton-Tip-Applicator-Sterile-100/dp/B000BI3M60/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=individual+cotton+swabs&qid=1610810840&sr=8-14
Bulk bandages:
https://www.amazon.com/Ever-Ready-First-Aid-Adhesive/dp/B0179S0IAW/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?crid=3USWZIUWNVR1K&dchild=1&keywords=bulk+bandaids&qid=1610810863&sprefix=bulk+band%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-4-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyVDM1VkZRQzkyTlEmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxMzQ1ODdJTDA5SEdLVDM4UUUmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDUzMTkwNzNPUjVUR1U3Q1hBMUQmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl
I suggest some Benadryl capsules for unexpected allergy reactions, insect bites, etc. May even be of some use in snake bite envenomations.. (never cut a snake bite, get to a hospital with really antivenin drugs). I suggest some sterile saline for eye irrigation for debris in eye. I do carry laryngoscope and tracheal intubation tubes but I am a surgeon. Do get a BLS card and if a medic an ATLS or ACLS card.. Training changes, but is invaluable. Yes I am a surgeon.
Trauma bandage, tourniquet, tin of band-aids, triangular bandage, first aid cream, alcohol pads, etc. Some of your other letters have very good suggestions also. I’m not a surgeon like Bob…but I am a medical first responder and a fireman so I carry my radio wherever I go.
Some great suggestions here. I have a fairly comprehensive emergency bag in my truck and although I’ve never put it to really heroic use, little things have come in handy from time to time (never know when somebody will need a lighter, duck tape, flashlight, bandaid, bottle of water, etc.). Never used the blowout stuff, but it’s there.
Hygiene items, however, are GOLD. Having a couple of tampons or a pad on hand can save the day if there are any females in your life!
I also make Poop Kits: heavy-duty 1-quart Ziploc bag containing a cored-out roll of TP, a travel pack of wet wipes, and a travel hand sanitizer. By removing the core of the roll, TP can be pulled from the inside and the bag will protect it from the wet nasty environment. I keep these in every bag, just in case.
I am going old school to save space.