First Aid: Are you prepared

[LittleRedToyota]

i have some formal first aid training. i also have a friend who is a physician's assistant who has give me a lot of informal first aid/wilderness emergency medicine training (where you have to go beyond first aid because the next level of help ain't gettin' there any time soon).

i actually carry a small first-aid kit around with me in my pocket everywhere i go. have a much more complete one in my truck.

[96D]

Yes! Firstaid,CPR & AED Instructor

[BearTitan]

Good thread, Randy.

Along the same lines, how many carry a fire extinguisher? I always have (since my days as a fireman) and had the opportunity to extinguish a car fire and perform CPR on the driver one late night back in 1995.

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by BearTitan

Along the same lines, how many carry a fire extinguisher?

i have two in my truck. once used one to save a pig roast.

[KeithPA]

Yes I'm that weirdo that keeps a MOLLE pouch on my bookbag. If I don't have my bookbag near me it comes off and stays in the car.

-Non-Stick Pad
-Direct Pressure Bandage
-Sterile Dressing
-Tourniquet
-Extra large size strile dressing
-Bandage, Muslin in OD of course
-Stitch kit
-Lighter

I've a lifeguard since I was 15, not the absolute best training but it's pretty good I'd have to say.

That kit along with my Gerber Multi-tool is enough in my mind.

[Coustain]

Being in the Army has it's own set of benifits, not to mention the Combat Lifesaver Course. I think the majority of Army First Aid training deals almost exlcusively with "gunshot wounds". We also get into heat and cold injuries, burns and shock. Nothing like having the knowledge on how to stop a sucking chest wound.

[glassman]

I've been a registered nurse working in an operating room for the past 25 yrs. I guess that qualifies as advanced first aid training. (wife is also a nurse). I do carry a first aid kit in my truck. That being said, If I came onto a situation where someone needed help, I would render all aid possible but wouldn't mention my name or profession.

[LittleRedToyota]

Originally Posted by Coustain

Nothing like having the knowledge on how to stop a sucking chest wound.

yet another use for duct tape (and cellophane)

[SGTUSArmy]

As Coustain mentioned, CLS is a great tool for those who want to do First Aid. Until recently, I carried my CLS bag (one of the big ones) in my truck which included sterile dressings, bandages, pressure dressings, tourniquet, Atropine, Tylenol, IV sets, 2 1 liter, and 2 .5 liter iv bags (changed out every 6 months), and J-tubes. I am no longer one of the primaries for my unit, but I have just about everything besides the IVs, Atropine, Tylenol, and J-tubes behind the seat. As well as a Marine Fire Extinquisher.

They day after I turned in my CLS Bag, was the day of the accident on the B/W Parkway. I learned my lesson. I need to add gloves, but that is not one of my primary concerns.

I have a minor suture kit at my house that was received from a veterinarian one time. He said I did a good job with the sewing needle and thread, just needed something with more strength when my dog tore it's leg in Okinawa. (the vet didn't open until 9:00 am and I couldn't get the Japanese Doc to understand me at 0130.)

[MarcS]

I'm an EMT with 5 years of street experiance, the last 3 of which are in and around the city of chester. I carry a full trauma kit in my trunk and a smaller blowout kit that i stuff in whatever i'm carrying or bring with me when we're taking other people's cars. Even my messenger bag for school has a small gunshot kit.

I'll post some pictures for you all to marvel at later.

The biggest problem is the lack of available, convenient and affordable training. It's out there, but is either time consuming (emt course) or expensive (some of the 2 day courses being taught at various shooting schools can cost more than a 136hr EMT Course). If any forum members around philadelphia want to do some informal basic (very basic first-aid level, nothing that can get me in trouble if you use it) training on the treatment of violent trauma, shoot me a PM and offer to buy me lunch or something. I'm all about the good guys being armed with knowledge to keep themselves alive.