EMERGENCY FIRST AID KIT

          I don’t claim to be a medical expert but I have some experience and background. I have saved a few and lost a few.

What goes in your first aid kit depends a lot on your own skill set and situation. Are you prepping for just you, to help a few others too, or an extended family or large group? Are you prepping for your level of skill or hoping to find someone to use your gear? Is mobility a top priority? If so are you afoot? Is weight and space an issue? Not all of my medical supplies are in my first aid kits or my B.O.B. - i.e. some antibiotics which I keep refrigerated, etc. To me a good first aid kit doubles as a semi survival kit. Before I get into what you would expect to see in a first aid kit I am going to cover a few items you may not expect. These are items I carry both in (small amount) and out (larger amount) of my first aid kit.

SPACE BLANKET

          They are inexpensive, lightweight, compact, etc. Prices and quality vary. Get what you can afford - some is better than none. Shock is a quick killer and a space blanket is a great way to keep a patient’s temp stable and help stave off shock. It can also be used to keep warm to prevent hypothermia - wrap up in it (makes a decent emergency ground cloth too) and to provide warmth to treat hypothermia (crawl in with them). It can be used to keep cool by providing shade to prevent or treat heat injuries.

          It is waterproof so it can be used as an emergency rain poncho or rain fly shelter. Because it is waterproof it can be shaped to form a waterproof container for purifying and carrying water - quality counts here (line a boot or tied up t-shirt if needed). It can be used as a heat reflector for a fire to keep a whole group warm. It reflects light as well as heat so it can be used as a signaling device and to reflect a small light to illuminate a greater area.

PARACORD (550 Cord)

Prices and quality vary but paracord is generally fairly inexpensive, compact, lightweight, readily available, and multipurpose. If you can find and afford it, get the best - MilSpec 550 cord (Military Specification). Each strand of paracord is actually composed of an outer braided wrap over multiple (often 7) strands of smaller cords.

It can be used as a tourniquet, to secure splints in place, etc. If needed, it can be wrapped like lashing to act as a splint by itself, or to secure bandages. Unlike most tape it is completely waterproof and reusable (disinfect before reusing for wound care). It can be woven between poles for a stretcher or litter. In a real pinch it can be used to pull teeth. It can be used to suspend weight for traction. The inner cords can be used as sutures, dental floss, etc.

The cord, when whole (the real stuff), is actually good enough for climbing/rappelling if you can grip its small diameter (learn your knots - it is small enough in diameter to use as a boot lace). As for climbing, it forms awesome ascenders/descenders (i.e. Prusik Knot) on larger climbing ropes. Braid several strands together and it is strong enough for an emergency tow strap (not an extraction rope - be gentle). It makes a very effective garrote (don’t forget your knots). It also works well as a bow string or snare material for larger animals.

The outer wrap is tube shaped and quite strong all by itself. It can be used the same as most any rope - i.e. lashing. The inner strands resemble a cross between fishing line and heavy duty sewing thread - and can be used for both. Rather than use a whole piece for a small animal snare, you can remove the inner cords and recombine/braid them to a variety of diameters and strengths.

WAPI

          A WAPI is a Water Pasteurization Indicator. This simple reusable device is awesome. It is fairly inexpensive, compact, and lightweight. Infection is a killer and many can be prevented by washing all skin breaks - no matter how minor - in safe, clean water. Safe, clean water is essential to good health. All water should be treated - especially for medical purposes - so too all medical hardware. Boiling water is old school - it is a waste of resources (i.e. wood, gas, etc.). A WAPI can save more than fuel - it can save precious time when medical attention is needed.

Water is actually pasteurized when held at 140 degrees for a few minutes. A WAPI uses a soy based wax which melts at 140 degrees and enough of it so that by the time all the wax melts the water is pasteurized. It is good for water, milk, fruit juices, etc. It works great for solar water pasteurization too. You don’t have to guess if it got hot enough or if it was exposed to UV long enough - you can leave it and come back the next day and still be able to tell if it worked or not.

I have used this system for purifying water from many water sources in AZ and highly recommend this item. When I go trekking (which is often) it is the only water purification method I use on a regular basis.

Tampons/Pads

These take the place of regular cotton balls basically because they are more versatile. They do all the work of cotton balls (but are easier to keep sterile) - i.e. wound and weapon cleaning, tooth removal plug, etc. and like cotton balls these work fantastic with Vaseline as a fire starter. The pads work as makeshift battle wound dressings, eye patches, etc.; and, the tampons work well on puncture/bullet wounds. They even work for feminine hygiene. There are actually a myriad of uses depending on whether you prefer paper or plastic - which I may cover at another time.

Honey Packets

They are inexpensive, compact, lightweight, and readily available. Honey works as an excellent antibacterial and antiviral ointment. In fact, it is more effective than Neosporin and can even be used for wounds that go all the way through the skin (muscle showing). This is based on hard core mainstream medical science, not herbal/homeopathic treatments (which agree).

Anyone who has ever taken honey for a sore throat knows it helps. It’s good for minor scrapes and minor burns, chapped lips, ingrown nails, blisters, etc. It is the perfect quick energy booster when fatigue hits. It’s just all around good for what ails you.

A little honey works wonders on making many emergency drinks more palatable - i.e. pine needle tea, dandelion root coffee, etc. In an emergency it can also be used to attract edible insects - which go down better with honey on them anyway. Ants with honey are almost like a sweet and sour sauce.

Last but not least it has no expiration date!

COMPRESSED TOWLETTES

I have already posted a separate article on these (The Bottom Line); but, suffice it here to say I love these little things.

FLASH DRIVE

          Flash drives are common, compact, lightweight, and fairly inexpensive. Battery powered laptops are fairly prevalent across North America and many smart phones can read USB flash drives. It makes sense to have as much medical information as possible available as a prepper. I have three identical flash drives in three different locations - one in my first aid kit. Mine have 3 GB of storage each and I have all sorts of information on them - enough to rebuild a post-industrialized but pre-computer society. I am beginning to make this all available free on the internet via my website (thepathtolight.com - a prepper page/library with downloadable PDF’s). Coming later: Where There is No Doctor, Where There is No Dentist, Where There is No Doctor for Women, Where There is no Veterinarian, and more military medical manuals than I can list here (100+).

SUPER GLUE

          This little item is fairly inexpensive, compact, lightweight, readily available, and multipurpose. It is excellent medically for many uses - i.e. wound closure, dental repair, etc. A drop placed on a chigger bite will kill the chigger (by suffocation). A drop placed on a splinter and allowed to dry will give you something to grab a hold of without the need for tweezers or at least stabilize the splinter to prevent further penetration (needles shouldn’t be used due to increased risk of infection from enlarging the break in the skin). It can also be used to fabricate and repair more items than are feasible to list here.

SURGICAL TUBING

          Ever since I went thru a gamut of U.S. Navy schools - CWEST (Cold Weather Environment Survival Training), DEST (Desert), JEST (Jungle), WST (Water), S.E.R.E. (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, & Escape), SAR, NACCS, etc. I have been partial to surgical tubing. Repeating a lot of that training while in the U.S. Army didn’t change my mind. Another good way to keep some handy is to wrap your knife sheath with it.

          It can be used for its original application as a medical device - a surgical tourniquet; or it can be used as a regular tourniquet. It can be applied a little looser for a waterproof way to hold bandages or to hold splints in place (it has too much give to be used alone as a splint). It works well as a power source for sling shots, spear fishing, snares, booby traps, etc. It can be used as a drinking straw (it lets you keep your head up so you can watch your surroundings). It works well in most lashing situations; and, most situations needing a hose - i.e. as a siphon.

You can even hold your pants up with it! For the little weight and space it takes up it provides a great deal of utility and versatility limited only by your imagination.

Next are some items I want to stress that may or may not be in the average kit:

Antacids/Anti-diarrhea Medication - Between stress and the possibility you may be eating a few things your system is not used to these are essential. Yes, there are several natural sources; but, if it hits unexpectedly before you have access to them you will regret not being prepared. I recommend chewable Pepto-Bismol - it serves as a good combination medication for most stomach and intestinal issues.

Plain Aspirin - Acetaminophen works for fever and aches but not swelling. Ibuprofen works for swelling and aches but not fever. Only aspirin works for all three. Plus, it has been proven that taking an aspirin at the onset of a heart attack can save the person’s life.

Military Battle Wound Dressing - this is designed for quick self-aid.

Moleskin - if you are mobile and afoot this stuff may be a life saver.

EMT Shears - These are scissors on steroids. Besides being great for what they were designed for (cutting clothes off without cutting the patient) they can cut a wide variety of material. A good pair can do double duty as wire cutters - they can even cut a penny in half. They also work well for field dressing game - you won’t accidentally slice thru the guts.

Chapstick - Chapped lips can be more than an annoyance - with long exposure they can be painful and subject to infection. Chapstick works well for another long exposure injury - cuticles. Many lip balms (i.e. wax based) can also aid in fire starting, lubricating gear, etc.

Vaseline - This stuff can be used the same as Chapstick but it also works great to sooth/protect most any chapped or chafed area - which is very important if you are mobile and afoot and/or if your TP isn’t up to par. It also works as a good fire starter aid and as an emergency lubricant for firearms. Many debate its use on minor burns.

Prescription Meds - For me that just means pain meds. For a friend with a heart condition it includes a myriad of meds - some crucial, some “beneficial”. I slowly built up my emergency stash by skipping a pill every now and then when I felt up to it. So did they. I don’t give medical advice (couldn’t afford the lawyer) so follow your own path on this.

Now for items you might more readily expect to see. I include the usual array: various size and style band aids (extra butterflies), bandages (ace and wound), gauze, tapes, alcohol wipes, tweezers, etc. Living in an area rife with snakes I carry a Sawyer Extractor. I have an emergency dental filling kit. I have miscellaneous medications - Ambesol, Oral-Gel, Visine, Sting-Eze, etc. Even with the honey I still carry Neosporin. Even with the WAPI I also include iodine based water purification tablets to make an iodine paste or for water purification - just in case. I include mega multivitamin/mineral supplements. Finally, I separate and store items in quality Ziploc bags that can double as water or food containers.

There are some things you won’t find in my first aid kit or B.O.B. that you might expect. I have them but they are not critical to most non-advanced emergency medical care. Thermometer - even most mothers know you can tell a fever without a thermometer. Blood pressure device/stethoscope - all patients should be kept as calm as possible; if an injured person’s blood pressure is too high or too low they need specialized medicines beyond my resources. IV gear - an IV is actually more complicated than most people realize. Medicating via IV is dangerous even if I had the meds. I recommend you go oral or injection - with training first. As for injuries I don’t have plasma and can’t afford pre-made solutions. Homemade solutions can be deadly even though I know the ratios for making various solutions and know how to give an IV. Oral rehydration solutions are much safer if possible. Surgical gear - sew a guy up in the field and you will probably kill him with infection. Stabilize and transport. Combat medics can risk it because the wounded are quickly evac’ed to higher level care with ER doctors and the best equipment and meds in the world - think instead of the Civil War era. I might risk doing some surgeries - but not in the field. Know your limits - do no harm.

Whatever you chose just remember to cover all you can afford. Emphasize the items in your first aid kit that you, and most folks, won’t know how to make. Once you have the first aid gear and skills covered then you can move on to “second aid” gear and skills. When resources are limited, remember triage before treatment. Training can go a long way to cover equipment shortages. Don’t just survive - thrive.