[Closed] Barest minimum first aid kit

Take out 1 tri bandage, inner tube doubles as a good sling/strap. Sounds pervy but sanitary towel is an excellent dressing as is a tampon for deep puncture wounds. Oh and insulation tape to hold it all together. 🙂

Lose the crepe bandage - can do more harm than good

what about a tick remover.

Knowledge is the important thing. all slings and wound pads can be improvised from clothing and spares.

Myself I carry stuff for "walking wounded" as with them you may make the difference between finishing the ride and going to hospital - closing small cuts, covering gravel rash etc.

The reason I put in 2 triangular bandages is that once upon a time many moons ago an ambulance man said they were the most versatile things in a first aid kit and to always put in 2. Can be used for a sling, wound dressing/pad, a strap etc etc.

In a VERY small first aid kit versatility is key.

I know what you mean about crepe bandages but if they are used properly and you know the problems they can be invalauable and are great for helping to apply pressure to wound dressings in the case of significant bleeding

knowledge. Otherwise you can cope with most stuff by using stuff already in your pack: zip ties, instant patches, water, inner tubes.

Totally agree on the knowledge, the most comprehensive first aid kit in the world is virtually usless in un trained hands.

Improvisation is ok to a point. The reason this first aid kit was put together in the first place was following an accident one evening on the Marin where a friend gashed his knee pretty badly and required an ambulance. No one had anything with them to plug the wound properly and in the end a perfectly good windproof was used and trashed.

Its difficult to improvise barrier gloves and a recusitation barrier

Get on a course first, then make a kit you really don't need very much a few dressings, gloves, triangular bandages are handy but use them as a sling use the dressings as dressings, crepe bandages are a bit unnecessary again with good dressings just no need. Your resuscitation barrier isn't essential rather personal preference.

Mountain rescue advised me to take duck tape to strap back together enough to hold bits in place and manhandle from a mountain anything else is just surface wounds!

I also take some absorbent largeish plasters and very limited personal skills.

Space blanket is a useful extra in there. One of the few things that I always carry now following an incident several years ago.

yep, the only thing i would add is a space blanket - mine was 2 or 3 quid from decathlon and packs tiny and flat. very useful even in the height of summer.

[i]Mountain rescue advised me to take duck tape to strap back together enough to hold bits in place and manhandle from a mountain anything else is just surface wounds![/i]

I really wouldn't have recommended that at all.

What Drac said - if you need to be manhandling someone down a mountain you call in the pros. Moving a badly injured person is not something you want to be trying unless there is really imminent danger to leave them where they are.

I didn't notice anyone mention a mobile phone to call for help, it worked for me when I broke my ankle, (nothing in a first aid kit would have been any use).

I never said I would manhandle them down a mountain did I?
Rereading it though my post is a bit unclear/misleading /rubbish.
Duck tape to support limb/brace etc whilst awating professionals to remove (manhandle) from the mountain.

Sorry for the lack of clarity.

you can cope with most stuff by using stuff already in your pack

Two points about this approach: none of this stuff will be sterile, and some of it might be needed elsewhere, e.g. dressing someone's wound with your extra clothing could seem pretty foolish if you end up having to wait around in the cold for a few hours.

Wrap some duck tape around your pump - handy for bike / tyre repairs too.

I remember the controversey last time this came up and I said don't bother carring anything.

I'd lose the triangular bandages. The last emergency first aid course I went on (outdoor specific) the guy basically said that an injured person will normally hold the bad arm with a good and it would be fine like that until proper medical attention came. From friends who have broken colar bones and dislocated shoulders there is nothing worse than some idiot trying to tie a triangular bandage one. If you do need to support the arm. Just get them to hold it across their chest and tie an inntertube around it and the body. Try it, it holds very well.

Wound dressings is probably the main consideration, tampons ad sanitry towels. No point being sterile, you'll be covered in cow shit anyway. Something to stick them on with. I'd use electrical tape or an innertube.

As for gloves, take out the nitrile and latex efforts and get some marigolds in there. From experiences on rivers, they are much easier to work with especially trying to get them on if cold and wet. Much tougher as well.

Think about what is likely to happen in an emergency. You are not going to be able to mend a broken bone so you need to make the person as comfortable as posible and get them help. Shock and hypothermia are big concerns.

[i]none of this stuff will be sterile[/i]

Not necessary it's first aid your doing not surgery.

[i]Duck tape to support limb/brace etc whilst awating professionals to remove (manhandle) from the mountain.[/i]

Please don't just bandages, clothing or leave alone.

Jonb does have a small point with the injured party will find comfort area but once you have that's when you hold that position.

not necessary it's first aid your doing (not) surgery.

True enough, but having spent the best part of a week in hospital with an infected wound, I would think it's better to avoid introducing any more crap into what may be a pretty minor injury. And assuming you're not a lady, or a bloke with an embarassing medical condition, what's the point in carrying tampons instead of a proper dressing?

[i]nd some of it might be needed elsewhere, e.g. dressing someone's wound with your extra clothing could seem pretty foolish if you end up having to wait around in the cold for a few hours. [/i]
well don't use your extra clothing then. Unless you'd consider making an injured friend more comfortable more important than you being a little cold.

Hmmm, some good foor for thought here folks, thanks for your opinions.

Going to consider maybe exchanging the crepe bandage for another wound dressing. I have an old skool liking for my crepe bandage though :-S

Yep the resusitation barrier is personal preference but having done it once without it may just make the experience a bit less brutal if it comes up again and that was without any facial injuries.

Having dealt with a few wrist and collar bone injuries yes people do find their most comfortable position but I've found supporting it really helps casualties as they are being walked out.

(Soapbox- I have always believed in being as self sufficient as possible and where people can deal with an incident with out either the voulentary or professional emergency services they should. Particularly the volentary emergency services have better things to do with their time (i.e. work for a living) than help people who really should be helping themselves. There is obviously a balance to be struck and where not seeking outside assistance could make an injury unacceptabley worse then its a no brainer to make the call)

Mobile phones- I'm not sure they come under the first aid kit banner. Suppose my old cub scout first aid kit did have to have money for a phone box in it so the same logic could apply. Problem is with mobile phones and phone boxes is that either there is likely to be no reception and/or no box there when you need it. They are certainly shouldn't be considered a replacement for a first aid kit imho.

Problem with marigolds is they are a bit big for the nature of this first aid kit. The disposable nature of the 'surgical' barrier gloves is an important principal I guess and I have quite a few pairs in my 'normal' hill first aid kit.

I'm a big fan of gaffa tape and would recommend everyone to wrap a couple of meters around anything cylindrical that take with them 'on the hill'. Pumps, pens, flasks and water bottles are all good candidates for this. Its invaluable stuff.

I guess 'mummifying' people with lower limb injuries is not such a good idea and makes clearing it all off so that proper treatment can be administered a right royal pita for those involved including the casualty. I've worked on courses though where medical doctors have produced a roll of gaffa tape as their first aid kit so its all a case of opinion as with everything else.

While sterile is not crucial clean and dry is better than muddy and wet surely.

There is an issue with how a first aid kit makes a casualty feel. In the case of something like significant bleeding someone pulling out a couple of wound dressings and clean bandages is going to make a casualty feel a lot better than a fleece and a roll of gaffa tape. I think its easy to underestimate how important this is when managing someone hurt

sorry about my spelling its shocking :-S

Unless you'd consider making an injured friend more comfortable more important than you being a little cold.

Remember that it's important to avoid becoming a casualty yourself. And if you're nice and warm, you can wait for the injured party to go under from hypothermia and then go through their pockets. 🙂

Tricky question. I carry nothing specifically for the task.

The key is the knowledge to do the least additional damage! That is do the minimum that is exactly the right thing to do to manage the situation.

Not too helpful. A Mountain First Aid course.

Cheers
Paul

What I carry depends to some extent on what I am doing - solo or local rides - nowt usually.

Out in the hills or in a group I carry the kit.

You hve to consider what you would do in common circumstances and what are the likely injuries. Gravel rash / cuts and sprains/ broken bones are the two most likely types of treatable injury.

so I carry stuff to make a permanent repair of cuts and gravel rash. This should be enough to make evacuation more comfortable but hopefully continue the ride. Steristrips and colloid / film dressings.

I also carry serious painkillers for broken bones. then immobilise and either evacuate or wait for help as appropriate in which case a space blanket is a little help in keeping warm. I am of the " get yourself off the hills" tendency - calling out mountain rescue I would see as a failure but obviously some circumstances you have to.

So I carry - space blanket, half a dozen various sizes film and colloid dressings, kaltostat to control bleeding, steristrips in two sizes, cling bandage, tubular bandage and a couple of different types of dressings for blister treatment ( I go hillwalking as well) painkillers in several flavours and antihistamines

Once again please don't use gaffer tape just dressings, clothing or leave well alone. You may well have seen a Dr produce some but with a huge amount respect Drs aren't really trained in immediate care.

TJ - funnily enough its been the local rides that I know have caught myself and friends out. Bearing in mind the Marin carpark is less than 10 minutes from my front door (by bike) we have some excellent local rides out of the door. The very badly gashed knee occured on a local evening ride and was evacuated by ambulance from Nant BH (top of the hill basically) and another very deep thigh would happened on another morning 'local' ride over at Penmachno.

I have a background working in the outdoors and when with groups would never be without my 'normal' first aid kit.

It was precisely the 'other' times that the first aid kit being discussed here was put together for. To be small enough and light enough to be taken on even local rides in the same way as a pump and inner tube would be

The first aid kit specified in the last adventure race I did was minimally this:

First aid kit (at least 1 crepe bandage, wound dressing, 2 safety pins & a selection of plasters)

Safety pins?

Did you do your last adventure race in 1972?

Ewan - I guess if every competitor is required to carry that though then you've actually got quite a bit of stuff available in the event of an incident requiring it as you can just grab it off other entrants.

If every mountain biker carried that first aid kit then the same would work on trails and in groups. In the same way as we carry more spares though when we are going further off the beaten track same goes for wound dressings, bandages and plasters.

Painkillers for a bit of instant relief

Drac - I presume those are for the bandage. Maybe if you have a 'number' emergency as well.

You normally have to carry a mobile as well, which is probably a more useful first aid tool.

[i]Drac - I presume those are for the bandage[/i]

No need what so ever safety pins and really should be avoided.

[i]Painkillers for a bit of instant relief [/i]

I take it you me just for yourself and not for others, they must be some serious painkillers to for instant relief.

Drac - double diffs for me ( DHC 60mg) Crunch 'em and they work in a fairly short time. 🙂

Your gums must feel like you just came out of the dentist crunching those TJ. 😆

which is probably a more useful first aid tool.

Surely a phone is a communication tool

My idea of first aid is about saving a casualties life (rescue breathing, CPR, plugging major bleeding etc), stabilising and making comfortable for evacuation / transport to further medical assistance and a phone won't do any of that particularly well.

Sure calling for assistance asap if needed is a crucial part of dealing with significant injuries but a phone should not be carried instead of a first aid kit but 'additionally'

This is an interesting debate, would someone mind doing a "definitive" list of what should be included please? Thanks James

James - no such thing is available - its an issue of huge debate. the only consensus is that knowledge is the important thing. Drac as a paramedic chappie, myself as a nurse and one of the doctors will all give different lists as we all have differing skills and priorities.

Myself I aim to be able to do permanent repairs on moderate cuts and wounds so carry the stuff to do this and thus avoid a trip to A&E or cutting the ride short. Most folk might not feel competent to do this so no need to have the kit.

I also carry stuff to make a major injury casualty comfortable for evacuation.

James

My list would be (nb changes from OP due to this thread)

2 x pair of barrier gloves
1 x Polythene / valved resus barrier
2 x Med wound dressings
2 x Triangular bandages

I use an small passport sized Ortlieb Document Case to put it in to keep it dry and compact. It is labled clearly as a first aid kit

All up this weighs about 200g and packs to the size of a beefy inner tube and mine lives in my camelbac in the same way the inner tube, pump, tyre levers and mini tool does.

Others carry different stuff including plasters etc. There is no definative concensus

As a mountain first aid kit I have an adapted version of this one.

http://www.lifesystems.co.uk/psec/first_aid_kits/mountain_leader_first_aid_kit.htm

Kit Contains:
Primary care leaflet & scissors
Tweezers, safety pins, shears
Fabric dressing strip & burn gel
Wound closure strips
Woven & triangular bandages
Crepe bandage & thermometer
Zinc oxide & micropore tape
Low-adherent dressings
Medium & eyepad dressings
Fabric & blister plasters
Vinyl gloves & guaze swabs
Paracetamol & ibuprofen
Antiseptic wipes & duct tape
Resusci-Aid & glow stick

I have it packed in a small lightweight drybag. If I'm taking responsibility for people in an outdoor enviroment then this size of kit I find appropriate and this one is a good starting point imo.

If I was part of a group (4-6) going well of the beaten track then collectively it would be good if as a group we were carrying about this level of stuff. Now whether one person carried THE first aid kit or everyone had a small kit is another discussion

never carried anything, even though im first aid trained...

however following the foreign object/open fracture radius and suspected broken ribs that my mate got on saturday I will be packing a few bare essentials for future use.

2xtampon
2xmedium sterile wound dressings
1xspace blanket
electrical tape

things that we did have that were useful.
mobile phone
map

Mine - I am sad enough to open up the box and check whats in there. Bear in mind this is the full kit I carry for multiday trips or when going with a large group. I do adjust the contents depending on the activity. Sometimes I carry a very abbreviated version

Dressings:
3x duoderm extra thin various sizes ( hydrocolloid - great for gravel rash and blisters)
2x tegaderm ( film dressings - for covering cuts)
2x packs of steristrips - small and large ( for sticking cuts together)
Mefix ( for blisters / general sticking stuff together)
Kaltostat ( stops bleeding)

Medicines:
Paracetamol x8
Ibuprofen x 6
diclofenac x6
Piriton x10
Cetrizine x 10
Rennies x 10
Dihydrocodine 60mg x 3
Ventolin puffer

I pr gloves ( plus a pair always in my wallet)
Tubular bandage ( for sprained ankles etc -
Crepe bandage for splinting / strapping stuff)
Space blanket

Its interesting the different backgrounds that people have and how it reflects what they carry.

My first aid kits reflect my outdoor instructor background, the first aid training courses I've attended over the years and the experiences I've had dealing with instances.

TJ and Drac are both medical proffesionals and so will carry quite different stuff to me because of their higher level of training, experience & expertise.

Thanks for the responses to this thread folks, really appriciate the information and thoughts

[i]Drac are both medical proffesionals and so will carry quite different stuff to me because of their higher level of training, experience & expertise.[/i]

I don't carry anything. 😮

If I may thin this out for you.

Primary care leaflet & scissors - scissors aren't really needed but can be handy
Tweezers, safety pins, shears - Not needed at all
Fabric dressing strip & burn gel- Not really needed
Wound closure strips - Please don't close them unless you know what your doing
Woven & triangular bandages - Ok maybe not the woven
Crepe bandage & thermometer - None of which are needed
Zinc oxide & micropore tape - Micropore maybe
Low-adherent dressings - Hmm ok
Medium & eyepad dressings - Not needed
Fabric & blister plasters - If your prone to blisters maybe
Vinyl gloves & guaze swabs - Yes
Paracetamol & ibuprofen - For self use maybe
Antiseptic wipes & duct tape - No need
Resusci-Aid & glow stick - Personal choice

If I was to compile and I do keep meaning to for trips away.

Wound dressings
Triangular bandages
Micropoe
Abosrbant dressing
Gauze dressings
Non latex surgical gloves

I may add some other stuff but only as I know how to use it.

Just pack Drac in your camelbak. Sorted.

Hahaha! I probably weigh less than all that too, sadly without most of my gear I'm limited to first aid too.

It is interesting different peoples thoughts.

I quite like zinc oxide tape, its so goddam sticky it solves a lot of problems and I've used it in the past for strapping my once weak ankles.

I tend to carry antiseptic wipes and plasters to look after other people. Most of the time my first aid kit gets opened for 'there, there' first aid where an antiseptic wipe and plaster make someone feel better, rightly or wrongly!! :rolleyes:

Fortunately I haven't needed to use my first aid kits for anything significant for quite a while, its expensive for a start 😉

The list I posted was cut and pasted from the lifesystems website and is not what is in my first aid kit as thats evolved over time. Haven't got a definitive list of my group first aid kit at the moment.

[i]I quite like zinc oxide tape, its so goddam sticky it solves a lot of problems[/i]

Which part of it's problem too sticky.

[i]Most of the time my first aid kit gets opened for 'there, there' first aid where an antiseptic wipe and plaster make someone feel better, rightly or wrongly!! :rolleyes:[/i]

Ah! Right I see you'll be looking if I acknowledge such wounds.