I have a question… I see alot of people have these HUGE first aid kits with medicaitons, occlusive dressings, needles for decompression and the like.

I was wondering why? Im just as in to being prepared as the next guy but I don’t quite understand these huge FAK. Alot of the things that I see everyone carry is redundant.

There are tons and tons of small bandages, toppers, 4×4, triangle bandages, ect. I think that everyone should evalute what they have in their FAK, why it’s there, and if they are trained well enough to use it and actualy understand what it is they are doing. Taking a local first aid class is sufficient for basic bandaging and splinting, but otherwise it’s not much good.

I’ve been a paramedic in Houston, Tx for over 7 years and I can honestly say that it is rare for us to even use small bandages. petroleum gauze, and the like. I’m not saying this to be mean or hostile, I just think we all need to make sure that we are not “over stepping” our “scope of practice” (the legal term for our boundries of treatment).

If you are trained and know how to use the equipment you have then great, I’m all for it. But I see too many people carrying sutures, surgical kits, ect. This is a poor decision and could also get you in legal trouble if your not supposed to have it.

I do have one suggestion though… I have yet to see a glucometer in any EDC kits. If you do not know, this is a device that mesaures your blood glucose level. If your a diabetic and had to leave quickly from wherever you were at a spare glucometer could really be beneficial. (They cost about $18 and comes with about 10 test strips which shud be sufficient for a few days at a minium.)

If anyone has anything to add – good, bad, or indiffent I’d like to hear it. Email me at Thclay@yahoo.com or reply!