Can we create a First Aid Kit from first hand experience?

The Princess Bride · 26-10-2015 11:52AM

Mad Englishman wrote: »

Hydrogen Peroxide is great for cleaning out wounds and flooding it with oxygen. You would pour a little over the open wound and apply your steri-strips and dress the wound as normal. It's really cool stuff, the first time I used it it felt so weird! Almost as if a fizzy drink was coming out! :-/ But I healed up really quickly. :-) If you are purchasing in the Republic of Ireland you will have to explain WHY you need it, I think my wife said she needed it to remove sweat stains from some clothes.

Just a thought! :-)

The Mad Englishman.

Er....not sure on current practices but we (health care professionals)stopped using hydrogen peroxide to clean wounds in the last century, I personally haven't used it since the late 80s most likely.
It's far too corrosive to healthy tissue, especially for someone not used to wound care.
Just saying.

Another addition to our box, which is small, is a fabric swimming cap.
If someone has a wound on their scalp, it's difficult to keep the dressing in place .Wearing a cap over the dressing works wonders.

ShadowFox · 28-10-2015 10:49PM

Just as I used them today cotton buds. I was cutting wire and it sprung and caught me at the eye lid cotton bud to clean it and another for applying Vaseline to it . Also useful with a chapstick to use as a candle

my3cents · 28-10-2015 11:30PM

ShadowFox wrote: »

Just as I used them today cotton buds. I was cutting wire and it sprung and caught me at the eye lid cotton bud to clean it and another for applying Vaseline to it . Also useful with a chapstick to use as a candle

:eek: I can't think of a worse place. I've been nursing the tiniest cut in the edge of an eyelid and its still not heeled after nearly 2 weeks. Unless you wear an eye patch how do you immobilise and eyelid?

ShadowFox · 29-10-2015 12:37AM

my3cents wrote: »

:eek: I can't think of a worse place. I've been nursing the tiniest cut in the edge of an eyelid and its still not heeled after nearly 2 weeks. Unless you wear an eye patch how do you immobilise and eyelid?

You were safety glasses so it doesn't happen again lol

my3cents · 29-10-2015 01:02AM

ShadowFox wrote: »

You were safety glasses so it doesn't happen again lol

I had a full face shield on but wiped something into the corner of my eye when I took it off :rolleyes:

ShadowFox · 19-11-2015 02:38PM

I used to have my led lenser p2 in my first aid kit but seen these on eBay eBay: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=350967806680&alt=web and picked one up much brighter and easier button to use with gloves on and for 2.27 it's a lot cheaper

my3cents · 19-11-2015 03:08PM

ShadowFox wrote: »

I used to have my led lenser p2 in my first aid kit but seen these on eBay eBay: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=350967806680&alt=web and picked one up much brighter and easier button to use with gloves on and for 2.27 it's a lot cheaper

Good idea, although first thoughts were do I really really need another torch, but then the only answer can be yes

Its really duplication to add a torch to the first aid kit but this is a really small one and will be where its needed when its needed, I already double up on foil survival blankets which are in every survival kit and first aid kit.

ShadowFox · 19-11-2015 03:20PM

my3cents wrote: »

Good idea, although first thoughts were do I really really need another torch, but then the only answer can be yes Its really duplication to add a torch to the first aid kit but this is a really small one and will be where its needed when its needed, I already double up on foil survival blankets which are in every survival kit and first aid kit.

The reason I used the p2 and now this one is you can reverse the pocket clip and clip it to the peak of a baseball cap for use as a headlamp as the ultra fire I carry on my belt can't do this as the pocket clip is one way only and it's too heavy for the cap peak

my3cents · 19-11-2015 04:15PM

ShadowFox wrote: »

The reason I used the p2 and now this one is you can reverse the pocket clip and clip it to the peak of a baseball cap for use as a headlamp as the ultra fire I carry on my belt can't do this as the pocket clip is one way only and it's too heavy for the cap peak

Not a baseball cap wearer. Nearly always have a headlamp handy but reminds me I meant to get one of those webbing tape things that will hold a maglite or similar like a head torch on the side of your head.

ShadowFox · 19-11-2015 04:29PM

my3cents wrote: »

Not a baseball cap wearer. Nearly always have a headlamp handy but reminds me I meant to get one of those webbing tape things that will hold a maglite or similar like a head torch on the side of your head.

Only ordered the nite ize one this morning

ShadowFox · 26-11-2015 11:04AM

I'm on the hunt for an EDC first aid pouch at the moment I'm using a lifesystems pocket first aid pouch but it's too small as I've more out of the pouch than I have in it . I have 2 maxpedition first aid pouches and a condor one ( pay the extra for maxpedition quality of the condor is crap) but these are too big for EDC. The vanquest fatpak looks like it would do what I need but I'm not sure of the quality as it's really only pm101 on YouTube that reviews it and at around 40 Euro it's an expensive risk . Any ideas or suggestions on a pouch preferences on a pouch that opens fully has molle or pocket for tweezers flashlight scissors and around 5x8 inches or slightly smaller

my3cents · 26-11-2015 11:25AM

ShadowFox wrote: »

I'm on the hunt for an EDC first aid pouch at the moment I'm using a lifesystems pocket first aid pouch but it's too small as I've more out of the pouch than I have in it . I have 2 maxpedition first aid pouches and a condor one ( pay the extra for maxpedition quality of the condor is crap) but these are too big for EDC. The vanquest fatpak looks like it would do what I need but I'm not sure of the quality as it's really only pm101 on YouTube that reviews it and at around 40 Euro it's an expensive risk . Any ideas or suggestions on a pouch preferences on a pouch that opens fully has molle or pocket for tweezers flashlight scissors and around 5x8 inches or slightly smaller

Lots of reasons it might not be any good but take a look in Euro Saver they do a €6 first aid kit that might be the right size? Its a sort of flat fold up roll with 3 transparent pockets inside. Nearest thing I can think of to describe it is a large womans purse. Quality wasn't bad but the contents are nothing to be bothered about however I was in too minds about getting one. The biggest problem with the little Lidl personal first aid kit I carry is that it has so much stuff in it that it takes ages to repack if I use it. I also had thoughts that this might make a suitable start to a first aid kit for a large (magazine pouch) jacket pocket as it would be flatter than the Lidl personal first aid kit.

ShadowFox · 26-11-2015 11:51AM

I'll give it a look later cheers I'm going cross eyed looking at first aid pouches on line any I've found that I think will suit are too big for the pocket of my bag where I want it store it . The lifesystem pouch I'm using only has a small zip on top nightmare when trying to get a plaster for yourself

my3cents · 09-12-2015 08:20PM

So I went and got one of the cheap Euro Saver €6 first aid kits to see if it was any good.

Here's what you get

Red nylon folding carry case approx 22.5cm x 12cm which is about 4-5cm thick when packed there are three clear plastic storage pockets inside

Top Zipped Pocket
4 Cleaning Wipes
15 finger plasters ~ 2cm x 7.5cm
1 butterfly type finger plaster (for cuts on the knuckle etc)
1 Sterile Wound Dressing 7cm x 10cm
1 Sterile Wound Dressing 5cm x7.5cm
Middle Zipped Pocket
Single use ice bag, squash and crack the internal bag of water to use.
Bottom Pocket Popper Closure
1 Pair Sterile Vinyl Gloves
1 Conforming Bandage 5cm x 400cm
1 Conforming Bandage 7.5cm x 400cm
1 Very small roll of tape
10 Small 3cm safety pins
1 Small Pair of Scissors - sharp but won't last long in use
1 Single use Mouth To Mouth Apparatus - their words

First impression is that the cheapest Lidl First Aid Kit is better value but the nylon carry case you get with this one is much handier than the zipped up outer bag with a plastic bag liner full of pockets that the Lidl one has. The bag/case isn't great quality but I think it will be good enough for the job, I'll pop it inside a heavy duty ziplock bag to protect it and keep it all dry.

First thing I've done is chuck out the Ice Pack, nice idea but its too heavy and bulky. Now the nylon carry case is at least one centimeter thinner and a nice thickness to store in a large jacket pocket. There's room for a few more flat items so I'm going to see what extras I can squeeze in.

So far the extra items on hand that have made it in are, mini LED torch (key ring type), mini BIC lighter, Small Tube Antihistamine cream, a lot of Shaped Finger Plasters, another Conforming Bandage 7.5cm x 400cm and some alcohol wipes (the supplied ones are NaCl) and its still not too big. I had a spare Leatherman Style so I've included that and thrown out the scissors (the style is knife, scissors, file, small flat screwdriver and tweezers. I'll see what else makes sense to fit is later. The conforming bandages make for the bulkiest items but once you have them in the case will be no thinner if you put a few more items between them. I tried adding a decent sized foil space blanket but that made it too thick. I'll try and post a photo with a list of items when I'm happy with the results. The plan is to keep this is an EDC First Aid Kit that will slip into a jacket pocket.

my3cents · 10-12-2015 01:24AM

The Euro Saver First Aid Kit seems to be the same as this one on Amazon.co.uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Piece-Deluxe-First-Aid/dp/B00EJLXSY6 also http://www.amazon.co.uk/EMERGENCY-BANDAGE-PLASTERS-GLOVES-DRESSING/dp/B00SHTGIP2/ manufacturer is the same PMS.

Can we create a First Aid Kit from first hand experience?

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