Post by shinester on Nov 19, 2015 11:58:12 GMT 10
I've been putting together my IFAK packs, part of my current push to get all the things I already have in order before moving ahead with any more additions of gear. I'm no expert in this area, and I've had a certain familiarity for a very long time as well as spending time learning about these things. So I thought I'd put down what I've done, get some feedback on it and provide links to where I got the gear in case that helps people out as it took quite a while to get to this point. There's better gear out there sure, though my interest is in being 'good enough' and then clone it a bunch of times as I have various friends and family I'm taking care of and it adds redundancy. This makes price and necessity important considerations and I've sometimes purchased in bulk where prudent to do so, adding the extra to a centralized medical kit. Prices are in Au and are readily available.
This pouch is more than big enough [I could get plenty more in there, folds out for easy finding of components and with the Molle can fix to just about anything including a belt without issue. Cost is great too.
1x Medical EMT First Aid Pouch $13.29
Space blanket for shock. They're really a one use item as you can't really fold them back up very easily.
1x Space blanket $1.39
I also remember the Boston Attacks and the guy who saved the life of someone who had his legs blown off who pulled out the arteries and pinched them with his fingers, where they might have been employed. aka for arterial bleeds.
1x Sterile Kelly clamp curved $4.50
Not as fancy as a proper Israel bandage though does the job well enough and 1/4 the price.
1x Sterile No 14 [10x15cm] & $2.25ea [bulk]
1x Sterile No 15 [15x20cm] Compressed Dressing $2.65ea [bulk]
Antiseptic wipes for small cuts, gloved hands, reuse of instruments [hopefully not] etc.
10x Povidone [iodine] $1.10 total [bulk]
Used for keeping airways open in an unconscious person if other typical first aid avenues don't work. A potential life saver. Bought as a set [there's sets with infant sizes too] and I've accounted for only 4 being used in IFAKs
Guedel Airway $3 [bulk]
Conforming bandage, to wrap around to tighten dressings to slow bleeding and many other uses.
2x 75mm Conforming bandage $2 [bulk]
Non adherent dressings are used for more minor wounds and scratches that don't warrant the No14/No15 dressing. Taking it off is much more pleasant also. Apply conforming bandage over the top to secure.
2x 10x10cm non adherent dressing $1.80 [bulk total]
Tourniquet for stopping major bleeding.
1x Tourniquet $9.68
Bandage scissors used for cutting clothes in an emergency, made readily available to get 'to' wounds. I went a little better quality here noting that I really don't want a pair that won't cut anything if need be. Widened tip to allow easy inserting between skin and clothes.
1 x Bandage scissors $6.60
1 x permanent marker for writing on tourniquet or wound details on wound card - $1
1 x Torch - got a red one from Kmart, though any small LED torch - $2
1 x wound data card printed out on cardstock - $0.10
2 packs [4] of sterile gloves - $2.20
1 x surgical/medical tape or gaffa tape - $3
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What I've not included and I'm hardly an expert is
- Ammonia inhalants - not sure in their use, other than waking people, considering
- quick clot. I'm looking into it still and there's been a lot for and against.
- chest seals - they're priced at $25+ when a piece of plastic and tape could do the trick.
- dressings for packing wounds - The US talk about packing dressings into wounds with a chance of nerve damage and almost all first aid advice isn't geared for SHTF so I'm still working on this. I would imagine that it has to be sterile also.
- major wound irrigation, cleaning, closing. IFAKs are about stopping the loss of blood and keeping people alive. Further treatment would have to be considered. There's certainly options here and it might be necessary in some situations, those 'pig-dog staplers' look like a potentially good option for wound closure in the middle of no where, as would having antibiotics and so on. Perhaps another kit with those added items would be in order. The idea is that this is for post SHTF, when people are gardening and perhaps at an OPLP but have some nearby support.
So, we're looking at $57.50 with that set up all inclusive, feel free to share comments, additions, ideas and improvements.
This pouch is more than big enough [I could get plenty more in there, folds out for easy finding of components and with the Molle can fix to just about anything including a belt without issue. Cost is great too.
1x Medical EMT First Aid Pouch $13.29
Space blanket for shock. They're really a one use item as you can't really fold them back up very easily.
1x Space blanket $1.39
A handheld, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects. Forceps are used when fingers are too large to grasp small objects or when many objects need to be held at one time while the hands are used to perform a task.
1x Sterile Kelly clamp curved $4.50
Not as fancy as a proper Israel bandage though does the job well enough and 1/4 the price.
1x Sterile No 14 [10x15cm] & $2.25ea [bulk]
1x Sterile No 15 [15x20cm] Compressed Dressing $2.65ea [bulk]
Antiseptic wipes for small cuts, gloved hands, reuse of instruments [hopefully not] etc.
10x Povidone [iodine] $1.10 total [bulk]
Used for keeping airways open in an unconscious person if other typical first aid avenues don't work. A potential life saver. Bought as a set [there's sets with infant sizes too] and I've accounted for only 4 being used in IFAKs
Guedel Airway $3 [bulk]
Conforming bandage, to wrap around to tighten dressings to slow bleeding and many other uses.
2x 75mm Conforming bandage $2 [bulk]
Non adherent dressings are used for more minor wounds and scratches that don't warrant the No14/No15 dressing. Taking it off is much more pleasant also. Apply conforming bandage over the top to secure.
2x 10x10cm non adherent dressing $1.80 [bulk total]
Tourniquet for stopping major bleeding.
1x Tourniquet $9.68
Bandage scissors used for cutting clothes in an emergency, made readily available to get 'to' wounds. I went a little better quality here noting that I really don't want a pair that won't cut anything if need be. Widened tip to allow easy inserting between skin and clothes.
1 x Bandage scissors $6.60
1 x permanent marker for writing on tourniquet or wound details on wound card - $1
1 x Torch - got a red one from Kmart, though any small LED torch - $2
1 x wound data card printed out on cardstock - $0.10
2 packs [4] of sterile gloves - $2.20
1 x surgical/medical tape or gaffa tape - $3
=========
What I've not included and I'm hardly an expert is
- Ammonia inhalants - not sure in their use, other than waking people, considering
- quick clot. I'm looking into it still and there's been a lot for and against.
- chest seals - they're priced at $25+ when a piece of plastic and tape could do the trick.
- dressings for packing wounds - The US talk about packing dressings into wounds with a chance of nerve damage and almost all first aid advice isn't geared for SHTF so I'm still working on this. I would imagine that it has to be sterile also.
- major wound irrigation, cleaning, closing. IFAKs are about stopping the loss of blood and keeping people alive. Further treatment would have to be considered. There's certainly options here and it might be necessary in some situations, those 'pig-dog staplers' look like a potentially good option for wound closure in the middle of no where, as would having antibiotics and so on. Perhaps another kit with those added items would be in order. The idea is that this is for post SHTF, when people are gardening and perhaps at an OPLP but have some nearby support.
So, we're looking at $57.50 with that set up all inclusive, feel free to share comments, additions, ideas and improvements.