Category Archives: First Aid

Level 1 First Aid Kit by Nutnfancy

Check out the  Level 1 first aid kit by Nutnfancy.

Sooner or later you will get hurt. And if it’s not you, it will be someone in your party. Therefore be smart and self-reliant and always have some medical capability integrated into your systems. Here I cover my first option to do just that, a “Level 1″ First Aid kit of my own construction. Siding with the emphasis on “Mobility”, this kit doesn’t contain supplies to handle every medical emergency. It is designed to handle most of the medical problems I’ve encountered in my adventuring. And at just 5.5 ounces and being very slim in profile, it is designed for high-speed outdoor, backpacking, tactical, or Xootring adventures (to be explained).

This Level 1 kit has an emphasis on stopping blood loss, disinfecting wounds, minor pain stoppage, and bandage exchange. Components of the kit and some of the POU involved are explained; your preferences and needs may vary. Additional Level 1 kit items that I sometimes integrate include: sharp REI tweezers, surgical gloves, moleskin, Gorilla-brand duct tape (unless carried elsewhere in system), superglue vials (for wound closure), ACE bandages, salt and/or electrolyte drink mix (to revive dehydrated hikers), needles, and a scalpel. Integration of these items in the desired Level 1 size and weight constraints may be difficult however and is they are needed than maybe portaging a “Level 2″ (more complete) kit would be warranted.

I do not use “QuickClot” in a Level 1; too heavy and bulky and not necessary. Compared to even a quality first aid kit, like ones from “Adventure Medical Kits” this version has more depth. It is difficult for makers like AMK to make kits to this level because of the elevated cost in doing so (and then they wont sell well). Handling medical emergencies on your adventures is your responsibility and help may be far away. You will also find that few people even carry a First Aid kit with this much capability and you will be the on-site medical expert since you’re prepared (been there!). Having such a kit will minimize pain, injury, and maybe even save a life possibly yours.

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Israeli Bandage: My Newest Piece of First Aid Gear

My former Army room mate recommended the Israeli Bandage to me when he was visiting me last week. He’s in Afghanistan at least twice a year for several months at a time teaching US troops various things that keep them alive. He says that the Israeli Bandage is a great piece of gear and is worth having in your IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit). He has seen them used on wounded soldiers first hand and he carries at least two of them on his person when he goes out on patrol.

I trust my friend and value his opinion. Aside from his recommendation I also looked into what other people had to say about the bandage and the reviews are pretty good. Like anything that I do to prepare I hope to never have to use this bandage but it will be good to have just in case something goes wrong. I paid under $10 for one of these. I bought several of them for the GO bags, in addition to my Celox Gauze, Celox Clotting granules and SOFTT-W Tourniquet. I’m hoping this will do the trick if I happen to bust my ass in the middle of nowhere and I need to prevent myself from bleeding out.

If you are reading this I would like to recommend taking a first aid course by the Red Cross. It’s well worth it and if you run into a situation where you have to use these items you will be prepared. Check out the classes offered on the Red Cross website here.

Here is a video of how to use the Israeli Bandage properly and pics of the Israeli Bandage, Celox Gauze, Celox Powder and SOFTT-W Tourniquet.

Israeli Bandage Video

Israeli Bandage

Israeli Bandage

Israeli Bandage

Israeli Bandage

Celox Gauze

Celox Gauze

Celox Powder

Celox Powder

SOFTT-W Tourniquet

Tourniquet

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List of Contents – Individual First Aid Kit aka IFAK

I forgot to list the contents of my individual first aid kit in the last post. The complete list of items is below.

Complete List of Contents

    1. 1 Specter Gear medical pouch
    2. 1 Tourniquet
    3. 1 Celox gauze roll
    4. 1 Celox 25 gram granule pouch
    5. 1 Medical shears
    6. 1 Quickclot sport 3.5 x 3.5 in gauze pad
    7. 2 2×2 in gauze pad
    8. 3 large knuckle band-aids
    9. 3 medium knuckle band-aids
    10. 4 large band aids
    11. 3 butterfly closures
    12. 1 small needle tweezer
    13. 4 pks ibuprofen
    14. 1 10 count advil travel bottle (not shown)
    15. 1 chapstick (not shown)
    16. 2 doses benadryl / diphen
    17. 6 doses sudafed
    18. 3 pks triple antibiotic ointment
    19. 5 antiseptic towlettes
    20. 2 alka seltzer
    21. 2 pair vinyl gloves
    22. 1 5×9 in gauze pad
    23. 2 3×4 in gauze pad
    24. 1 4×4 in gauze pad
    25. 2 3×3 in gauze pad
    26. 1 6.5x4in mole foam
    27. 2 3in wide gauze rolls
    28. 2 ft duct tape roll
    29. 1ft duct tape roll
    30. 1 small roll medical tape
    31. 3 safety pins
    32. 1 triangular bandage
    33. 1 elastic bandage
    34. 1 betadine solution ampule
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      Individual First Aid Kit aka IFAK

      It’s about time that I got my Individual First Aid Kit in order. As most thing this is a work in project and it changes constantly. My current IFAK is encased in a Specter Gear PALS/MOLLE Compatible Modular Individual First Aid Pouch. I combined an Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight 7oz First-Aid Kit and a Adventure Medical Kits Trauma Pack with QuikClot and added a SOFTT-W Tourniquet, a CELOX Gauze Roll, 5-Foot by 3-Inch, a 25 gram packet of CELOX First Aid granules, a pair of Medical Shears, a tube of Advil (not shown), sudafed, a couple a packs of Alka Seltzer, a stick of chapstick (not shown) and a some hand sanitizer wipes.

      I put my IFAK on my magazine carrier to use when I go to training classes. It is a little bulky and sticks out a bit from my side but once I start moving around I don’t really notice it. The size is 6 inches wide 7 inches high and 5 inches deep. I estimate it’s weight at about 2 plus pounds. I wanted to have the first aid kit portion of the kit in a separate pouch that  I could easily remove. I made sure to put a small carabiner on it just in case I had to hang it on my gear or put it somewhere else. The first aid kit itself is split into two individual waterproof pouches that allow me to access the individual components. Here are some pics.

      individual first aid kit

      individual first aid kit

      individual first aid kit

      individual first aid kit

      individual first aid kit

      individual first aid kit

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      ASE30 Safe Escape Fire and Smoke Hood

      My work place just bought a dozen of these just in case we have a fire and we’re walking down a million flights of stairs. At first look the picture on the case made me laugh. After making several jokes with my coworkers the reality of a potential fire situation in a high rise sobered me up. Hopefully I won’t get back to anyone about the fire and escape hood and if I do then hopefully it works really well.

      ASE30 Safe Escape Fire and Smoke Hood w/Soft Case - Qty 1

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      Online Combat Lifesaver Course

      Along the vein of the last post here is an excellent online resource for first aid. Nothing beats a hands on course but this is definitely better than not knowing anything at all. Here is the link to the Combat Lifesaver Course.

      I have been swamped with work and the holidays are not making it easy to put up well written and though out posts. I will continue to write small posts at least twice a week. I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays. Be safe and prepared.

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      Hiking First Aid and Trauma Pack

      I was thinking about IFAK’s (Individual First Aid Kit) and BOK’s (Blow Out Kit) the other day for my tactical vest but I’ll go over that in the future. Since I had first aid kit’s on the brain I stopped in Kenco which is located in Kingston, NY. It’s a two story outdoor store.

      I was browsing through the first aid section on the second floor and picked up the following two items for when I’m hiking through the woods. I do not expect to ever use them except for a band-aid here and there but as we all know being prepared is the way to go. I like these two kits because they were small, lightweight and water resistant. They were under $30 each so I didn’t feel all that bad about having a dedicated kit in my hiking backpack.

      Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight & Watertight 9

      Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight & Watertight 9

      Adventure Medical Kits Trauma Pack with QuikClot

      Adventure Medical Kits Trauma Packwith QuikClot

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