Northern Ireland Outdoors Forum - Hiking, camping and more
General => General Chat => Topic started by: Rusty Madra on June 06, 2013
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I'm currently in the process of replacing/updating a little emergency medical/survival kit that I've got into the habit of putting in my rucksack
(some hood stole my last one when they broke into my car, thankfully they left me some of their blood so they should be getting a knock on the door when the DNA results come back ;D)
Anyhow I've taken the opportunity to update and replace the contents of my medical/survival kit. I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas of items that would improve it? I try and tailor any kit for the location and activity. For this one we can assume that it's for use in the UK/Ireland for hiking in Mountains and Woodland. Never more than 3 hours walk in any direction from sources of food and medical attention.
Here's the list so far: I'd be interested to see if there's anything anyone would add/remove:
1) Thermal Spaceblanket. Always a good idea for exposure etc.
2) Face Shield: Nice if you have to do CPR on a stranger and aren't too sure where they've been!
3) Laytex Gloves: Again for body fluid contamination issues but can be used to hold water too.
4) Crepe Bandage: For Sprains, to hold dressings, can be used as an emergency tourniquet
5) Cool Gel Sachets for burns.
6) Water Purficiation Tablets: Self-Explanatory
7) Hydration Salts: Drop a Nuun tablet into your water to hydrate properly and treat/prevent cramp
8: A Tampon: Strange but there's no better dressing for absorbing blood.
9) Zinc-Oxide Tape: For strappping, use as plasters and generally handy.
10) Packet of Lucozade Energy Tablets
11) Compeed Blister Packs
12) Strong Painkillers, Anti-Inflamatories and Asprin ( for thining the blood during cardiac events)
13) Swiss Army Knife: A host of different uses
14) Small LED Light
15) Surgical Blades: Sounds weird but more useful than you'd think... once almost had to do an emergency trachyotomy (incision in the windpipe) on a choking victim. Never been so glad not to have had to use a blade!
16) A Small Field Mirror for signalling/inspecting wounds
I think that's a pretty comprehensive small medical/survival kit but I'd be interested in seeing what people would add or ditch from it
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I would add:
Plasters - range of sizes
antiseptic cream
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I was going to suggest Leukoplast tape but after a quick google I see the zinc oxide tape is the same thing, brilliant stuff, highly recommended to have on you.
http://www.bsnmedical.co.uk/en/products/alphabetical-product-search/l/leukoplastr.html
(http://www.bsnmedical.co.uk/typo3temp/pics/8a4badcb2b.jpg)
You could add a whistle too, I know you'll probably have one elsewhere on your kit, but i always carry a spare one in my first aid kit.
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The only think I would add is a fire steel & a packet of suchers,handy to have when a plaster just won't do the job