Field Trauma Med. Kit for GSW/Slash/Stab

[Milagro303]

I am looking to piece together, or purchase a field medical kit that can stabilize a patient until a higher level of medical assistance can be obtained.

I am most interested in the tools necessary to stabilize for gunshot wounds and stabbing and slashing injuries. I know of products like quik-clot and the like, and I am curious if anyone has some suggestions for or experience with good ready-to-go packs, or some ideas for things to include when piecing together one from scratch.

All help is appreciated- as I'm looking to get this together ASAP.

Thanks, and be safe!

[Resq14]

What level of training do you have?

[phillyrube]

I'm also a paramedic. I would get a couple of Israeli battle dressings, or the Cinch-tight self applied dressing. Abdominal battle dressings (ABD pads) and cravats. Tourniquets are also in vogue again, as evidenced by the saves in battle. You can use commercial ones, or learn to tie a cravat and make a windlass. 4x4 pads (I use the bulk ones, vs individual wrapped) and 6" kling or Kerlix.

[Linkshinter]

If you are a road cop and you want to use something like this, make darn sure you have the training involved....

As phillyrube said, the israeli battle dressings are standard issue for military these days.

I wouldn't use a tourniquet on anyone unless you are a licensed medical professional...too many ways it could go wrong.

[DCPSDcop]

When I was an officer on the street, I used to have a thigh bag with some good stuff in it ... including: Israeli Bandages, Ascherman Chest Seal, Quik Clot and Nasal Airways. Now that space and mobility isnt an issue, I have a regular full sized jump bag, with many, many more toys available.

Have you considered who your med control will be?

In my case, my agency has a medical director and attached emergency medical response group. So, I am functioning under that when rendering aid.

Additionally, I have Tactical Medic training ... maybe something you should consider yourself, if this stuff interests you. The training is awesome, because you learn how to render aid while under fire and blindly. It's pretty intense. There are several programs offered around the country and most just require that you hold an EMS ALS license and be sponsored by a law enforcement agency.

[ArkansasFan24]

http://www.galls.com/style.html?asso...og&style=TK068

Have a look at this one. Use your training to supplement it as necessary. Just off-hand I'd probably throw in a couple OPAs and a CPR mask. If you've got a vehicle then why not consider something larger to handle a wider variety of problems aside from GSWs and stabs. The bag in my vehicle is huge, plus it's got oxygen. I've also got an AED.

[Milagro303]

Originally Posted by Resq14

What level of training do you have?

I am an EMT - Basic. And I don't have the ability of carrying a lot of equipment as I don't drive a squad or operate in uniform. I don't need things like O2 and some of the more "mundane" (yes, I realize that O2 is necessary at times) items.

The battle dressings sound like a good suggestions. I don't need all the accoutrements of a med. bag- as those things don't fall within my realm of duty. I only need the things to assist in the gravest of scenarios. Namely the GSWs, Stabbings and slashing injuries.

I appreciate all the suggestions thus far. Anyone have further advice?

[dogcop]

For me, I have a smaller easy to grab "Bail Out Bag" (kinda like the Blackhawk bag but cheaper), that has extra mags and ammo, flashlight batteries, non-melty protein bars, a general small first aid kit, then the stuff you are talking about, I have one Quick Clot Sponge, bunch of 4x4 pads and gauze. I figured I would grab this bag in case of an Active Shooter, or longer deployment where I might be away from my squad. That way I have ammo, food and basic medical supplies. In case myself, a fellow officer or civilian gets hit at least I can render some quick life saving care because it can be awhile before the FD or Medics would enter a "hot zone". I kept the bag as light as possible and not "junked up" with too much stuff cause when SHTF things can get complicated real quick and I want fast and easy supplies to use. I only have Basic First Aid training, but the most important thing is being able to apply that direct pressure to that gushing wound, so I have enough supplies for that.

[Milagro303]

Alright, with some research and your suggestions, I purchased the items noted below:

2 Israeli Emergency Bandage - 6" Slider

2 Field Dressing/Pressure Pad - 7.5" x 8"

1 QuikClot ACS+ - New Cooler Formula!

1 QuikClot Combat Gauze

1 "Big Cinch" Abdominal Bandage

1 "Bloodstopper" Dressing

1 "Tourni-Kwik TK-4" Combat Tourniquet

As overall weight is a huge concern for me I had to keep it focused. Anyone see anything else that I ultimately can't live (I realize the irony) without?

Also, I'd like to get a small tac. bag to keep everything together. Maybe a blackhawk or something relative. Any suggestions for that?

Thanks again all. Stay alert, stay safe.

[dogcop]

Milagro, did you purchase all your items above from one place, if so where? Seems like a nice setup I'd probably copy. For a bag, take a look at the link I'll post from LA Police Gear. I have this bag, and like it, and it's cheap. The middle pocket is large, then the extra ammo, etc. that I listed above I carry in the external pockets.

http://www.lapolicegear.com/baouttabag.html

[Resq14]

You've got some duplication in there, which isn't a bad thing. If you want to go "lean and mean" though, here's my input on what to carry.

The items with asterisks will depend on many things:
- #1 legalities/protocols/rules
- public use vs. "friends and family" use
- your training and proficiency
- your comfort level
These represent LIFESAVING techniques that are not hard to learn, and are relatively safe unless you try hard to screw up. Some EMS folk will be shocked at such a suggestion... tough. Find a doc who will teach you. We have several teams in my area where EVERYONE is trained by the team Docs to start IV's, do surgical airways, and chest decompressions.

Or just ignore them and consider the rest of my list.

Wound Packing
I'd go with a few Pri-Med compressed gauze packs, or Z-Pak gauze.. or cheap regular Kling (it just takes up more room)

Hemostatic agent
I'd just go with one... the QC Combat Gauze

Pressure dressing
Whether you want an Israeli dressing, Cinchtight/Big Cinch dressing, Bloodstopper, Olaes dressing, H bandage, etc etc etc... or a make-you-own gauze pad/Kling/Coban bandage, they're all basically the same.

Tourniquet
CAT, TK-4, etc

small Water-Jel burn dressing
these things can actually extinguish fire...

Chest seal
Whether it's the Bolinger, Hyfin, Asherman, aluminum foil.. doesn't hurt to have one (they're thin)

Nasopharyngeal airway
an adult size... cheap way to assist in airway maintenance, conscious or not

Scalpel*
Learn when and how to do a surgical airway... it's a monkey skill

big catheter/needle*
Same for chest decompression...

Compact roll of duct tape
many uses

Shears

EMS gloves
many uses

chem light/glow stick

If you have room to carry more, great. I think the above is a good start for an individual LEO kit though. Remember that even in the most urban areas, care rendered under hostile and austere conditions can delay transport to definitive care -- "bright lights and cold steel" -- for a LONG time. You should try to address injuries that could be fatal in this time frame.

As for a bag, check out the active shooter bag threads in the Squad Room:
http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88723
http://forums.officer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91138
You'll see my med kit in my bag.

[BeansBaxter]

I carry one of the quickclot kits with a asherman chest seal. Fits (barely) in my BDU cargo pocket. Once you get used to it you won't even know it's there.

[Milagro303]

Originally Posted by dogcop

Milagro, did you purchase all your items above from one place, if so where? Seems like a nice setup I'd probably copy. For a bag, take a look at the link I'll post from LA Police Gear. I have this bag, and like it, and it's cheap. The middle pocket is large, then the extra ammo, etc. that I listed above I carry in the external pockets.

http://www.lapolicegear.com/baouttabag.html

Hey DogCop-
Just wanted to let you know that I purchased all the stuff from Chinook Medical Gear Inc. (www.chinookmed.com)

It's the first time that I have dealt with them, but I received everything today. All items are in good condition, and we expiration dates 2+ years out.
I'm happy with the purchase.

I appreciate the suggestion for the bail out bag. I need the smallest bag possible as it has to be carried inside another bag when I'm working...