A VSSL First Aid Kit for Handling Common Medical Emergency Problems: A Case for Two-Tool Bags with Extra-large Info Sheets
The variety, sturdiness and convenience of the kit make it just as handy in your cupboard as it would be in the trunk of your car or backpack.
The kit is a heavy-duty case and a variety of high-quality items inside, which makes it our top pick. Right out of the box we noticed that the case was rugged and well made and that it felt as if it was made from metal. A wide handle also made it convenient for carrying around the house during our testing. The bright red color makes it easy to spot in a cluttered car trunk or backpack.
The other factor that separate the kit from the rest was its focus on providing clear and concise instructions for first aid. In addition to a manual that includes straightforward instructions on dealing with common medical emergencies like choking, stroke, seizures and cardiac issues, the kit also includes several extra-large info sheets. These sheets are presented in large clear pockets on the left-hand side, with their corresponding first aid items on the right-hand side as you flip through.
We tested only one of the three kits and they all provided all of the essential items recommended by our Red Cross expert. It also included two pairs of non-latex exam gloves, which, as the Red Cross explains, will allow you to change gloves if needed, or allow a second responder to help out at the same time. The quality of the 115 pieces inside was something that we were impressed with. The tape roll was the most notable, and it held up well during hands-on testing. Although the scissors were relatively small compared to the EMT-style shears found in other kits, they had no trouble cutting through the tape or trimming gauze.
Looking for a first aid kit that’s a little more functional? This VSSL kit has a metal tube, which holds a flashlight on one end and a compass on the other. There is a rolled-up sleeve inside, which contains the first aid items, and it is also transparent with mesh pockets. It takes some time to remove the ends of the caps and pull out the sleeve, which isn’t the most convenient. It’s a tight fit inside the tube too, so reinserting takes a little finesse. The supplies themselves were of high quality and we’ve found the 3M brand Steri-Strips to be extremely useful for closing longer cuts that bandages struggle with. This kit didn’t include a pair of scissors, but the compact metal tweezers were nice quality and should hold up well. The disposable temperature instruments were a pleasant perk, but I found the result from my home thermostat to be a tad warmer than my actual temperature, which was 2 degrees lower. The 45 piece total is low compared to the other options so it will be hard to cater for more than a couple people. It is waterproof and could be sold as a selling point to kayak or river rafters.
The bandages performed very well in our testing, especially the Water Block bandages that stayed put after washing the dishes. The Red Cross manual contains a wide range of information about emergency situations, as well as details on how to treat them effectively.
The first aid manual is a feature that was included in all three AMK kits that we tested. This “Guide to Wilderness Medicine” was by far the most comprehensive and helpful manual we found in our testing, and with so much information, it would be invaluable if you found yourself in an emergency situation while away from roads or the ability to call for help.
We interviewed and consulted with several experts in the first aid field, including Pellegrino. Pellegrino helped inform us as to the essential items that should be included in a first aid kit as well as other factors to keep in mind when choosing one. We cross- checked each kit with his recommendations to see if there were any missing items or poor quality. It’s worth noting that you can purchase items separately to supplement your kit, so missing an essential item or two isn’t an automatic deal breaker.
It might not be for the inexperienced but it could be good if you have proper training and know how to use medical instruments. As long as you know how to use the items in the kit, they can be used to treat serious first aid events. If you’re not specifically trained in these instruments, you could end up doing more harm than good if you attempt to use them during an emergency. The relatively brief first aid manual makes it even more important that a trained responder use this kit. We were most impressed with the sturdiness and organization-friendly design of the backpack itself, which features a mind-boggling amount of compartments, pockets, pouches, sleeves and elastic straps. You can store your most used and time sensitive items within easy reach if they are located on the exterior of the bag. The kit includes a large number of professional instruments and useful tools, making it a good choice to have at a sports camp or scout trip.
You can split the cost of the supplies with a few friends if you don’t want to buy more than you need to. While your mind is on preparedness, check out more of our guides, including Hiking 101, Best Home Emergency Gear, and Emergency Car Essentials.
How to Make a First Aid Kit: The Three-Quartic Zip-Loc Bags for all-Purpose Medicines
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In order to put your kit into a bigger Zip-Loc bag, you need to organize it into three quart-sized Zip-Loc bags. Zip-Locs are waterproof, lightweight, compact, and cheap. You can see what’s in them without having to open them. For your medicines quart-sized bag, you should include these items.
Keep a few common over-the-counter medications in a pill case. There are some useful all-purpose ones that could include such items as anti-diarrheal medication and painkillers. Wrap a rubber band around the case to keep it from popping open during storage. Write each medication’s expiration date (found on the original packaging) on a sticky label to stick to the case. It is a good way to know when it is time to replace them.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-make-a-first-aid-kit/
How to Make a First Aid Kit Using Antihistamine-Contained Gel for Treating Foot Fungus and Its Effect on Nerves
This antihistamine-containing gel relieves bites from biting and stinging insects. After Bite comes in the tube, you simply rub it on the affected area. It provides pain relief from mosquitoes, fire ants, black flies, bee stings, and more, as well as poison ivy. If you have or need an epinephrine pen (EpiPen) or Instant Glucose ($30), add those to the medications bag, too.
In an emergency situation, your feet will probably be your transportation. If you’re going on a long outdoors trip where you might get your feet wet, you should be prepared to address foot fungus problems. A lot of fungi can be extremely painful, and can be left untreated, so they can become chronic health issues and even damage nerves. A tube of inexpensive cream can save you from a lot of problems.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-make-a-first-aid-kit/
Wrapping a wound to save a life: Handling an extra piece of gauze with a hemostatic powder to keep it moist
In the event of a large wound, these are used to absorb blood and stop bleeding. Make sure you buy them in assorted sizes and individually wrapped. The box’s worth should be crammed into a few different sizes of med kit. Put them in their wrappers. There are a number of uses for triangular, lightweight cravats, including building slings for broken arms andpping up blood. The ster-Strips and Transpore Medical Tape will hold gashes and cuts closed.
These pads help relieve the pain and keep burned patches of skin clean. It’s a good idea to keep the burned areas moist, and bandaging them dry doesn’t work well since it will leave the burned flesh and make removing it difficult.
This piece of gauze is impregnated with a hemostatic treatment that encourages rapid clotting to stop heavy bleeding better than regular gauze. If you decide to carry a QuikClot gauze, you can swap out one of the larger pieces of standard gauze. Alternatively, Celox ($30) is a hemostatic powder that does the same thing. In case of life threatening heavy bleeding, both can be lifesavers. If you’re around firearms or hunting where accidental gunshots can create deep channel wounds, get a Celox kit which comes with a plunger that will allow you to inject Celox powder into the wound channel.
Managing wounds requires more than stopping the bleeding. It is important to do it in a sanitary way, so the patient can be successful and the caregivers are free from contracting illness from the patient.
You should put these on before treating anybody else’s wounds, if you have time. You don’t want to pick up any blood-borne pathogens while taking care of a patient. nitrile gloves are the best choice for people with latex allergies as latex gloves aren’t used as much.
These adhesive-backed transparent wound dressings are useful for keeping wounds waterproof for days on end. It’s a good idea to slap a Tegaderm over your wound when you’re not sure if you need to go back to work or not. These are needed for backcountry trips, but not when you’ll be closer to civilization. Pack a few and they are not that heavy.
Use sterile water from your water bottle to flush out wounds with a syringe prior to dressing them. Don’t scrub wounds! It doesn’t matter if you get one that’s straight or curved, as long as it is a 10cc or 12cc model.
You need them to make sure you don’t get wound infections. Each packet combines three types of topical antibiotic meant to be applied to wounds after they’ve been irrigated. Although they’re vital in the kit, you should keep them in any kit at all. It’s better to put the antibiotic on while you’re healing and not remind yourself to buy it at the store when the infection begins to set in.
There are a few things that could happen in the third Zip-Loc bag. These don’t fit into any particular category, but that doesn’t make them any less useful or necessary. Take a safety pin and a tweezer into this bag to dig out splinters. Popsicle sticks can be used for finger splints if you plan to use your kit in the wilderness.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-make-a-first-aid-kit/
Avoiding Ticks in Backcountry Trips. Treatment and Consequences for Your Oral, Bone, and Nerve Trauma
The treatment is the best that I’ve ever used. I’ve found Moleskin ($4) to be less effective than the Hydro Seal on ankles, but it can be useful for more awkwardly placed or shaped body parts, such as toes.
You don’t want to die from ticks. While they will detach, first they’ll vomit into your skin and potentially pass on nasty germs. Even though this is an obvious one for backcountry trips, keep one in all med kits. Even at home, you may come inside from mowing the lawn or walking the dog and find you’ve got a nasty bugger clinging to your skin.
Tooth injuries can be extraordinarily painful. Ask anyone who’s ever visited the dentist for more than a routine cleaning. It is safe to numb the pain. Bring dental wax when you’re more than a few hours away from medical care. Timely application of dental wax to replant a tooth in the socket can save it, not to mention protect sensitive nerve endings from hurting.