JIM’s new car trauma bag

[admin]

Time for a new car trauma-kit. This is what I used to have in the boot: http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=41257 (yes, I go though a lot of trauma bags… :shrug: )

But this time I did it a different way. I grabbed a bag I already had lying around (Countycomm EOD bag), started compairing all sorts of equipment and made a list of the real ‘he’s hurt and needs first aid NOW!’ items I really would need in a MVA.

Advantages of this setup vs. the last one:

– It’s more compact and lighter. You don’t really notice it’s in the boot untill you need it. Also much easier to carry to the scene and get yourself in tight quarters (such as in car wrecks)

– PALS webbing to add pouches. I added the Maxpedition M2, Maxpedition 5” flashlight sheath and the pouch of the Benchmade 7 hook (buy from these guys BTW, really great!) to the front using MALICE clips (also, tac ties suck..)

– I used to have stuff like IV-equipment and oxygen in my car, but decided that for pre-ambulance care, you don’t need that stuff. Stop bleeding and keep them breathing, that’s all you need to do as a first-responder and that’s the purpose of the equipment that I have included in the kit. If you have the space, money and training to include a full ALS bag, by all meanings do that (*as far as legally possible) but I’ve decided that isn’t the route I’m taking.

– It’s cheaper. Keeping all your IV’s and other equipment up-to-date isn’t easy, let alone in the back of a car which further shortens the exp-date. I think this kit costs $200-250,- max. as opposed to the $3000+ kits I’ve seen around here (and have myself). Keep in mind that EMS is more likely to replace simple stuff like ABD pads, kerlix and tape you’ve used at the scene than give you a new O2-tank, C-collar or IV-bag.

– And lastly, it doesn’t stand out as a FAK. People get expectations of you when you approach the scene with a brightly coloured trauma bag with a star of life on it. My only interest is to keep you alive untill EMS gets here, not sticking bandaids on your booboo’s. I assess the situation and if there are no serious injuries, I’m out of there. This is easier with a non-FAK marked bag.

So, just to make this clear: this isn’t a FAK, it’s a trauma bag. There are no bandaids, 2×2’s or Neosporin in here. The emphasis is on gauze and dressings.

For now all my family members that use the car now that it’s this bag is where the first-aid supplies are stored in. As I said the bag is unmarked, but I might get a name-tape or subdued star of life to go on the EOD.

I’ve got a lot more equipment in my car like a crowbar, warning-triangle, traffic vests, fire extinguisher, wool blanket, gloves, firefighter jacket, etc, etc…

So enough chatter, let’s take a look:

This is the bag with the 3 front pouches mounted. These are the items I want to have access to first in a MVA.

Back of the bag has the carrying strap mounted such that, when it should be needed, it can be easily pulled out.

First front pouch has the Benchmade 7hook in it which can be used for cutting seatbelts, boots, clothing and even for punching in a window. Including one of these in my kit was a no-brainer. In fact, I’ve got another one mounted on the visor near the drivers-seat.

The flashlight sheath contains a Surefire G2 LED. I was recommended this light by someone on the EDC-forums and am very impressed with it. 80 lumen for 12 hours in a bombproof package fits this purpose perfectly, because in a MVA, a good flashlight can be critical.

This M2 pouch has a rite-in-the-rain notebook, pen, sharpie, gloves and hand-sanitizer.

You definitely need a note book and pencil to write down the number of injuries, type of injuries, etc, etc. Just include it in your kit, you and the EMS that will take over from you will be helped a lot by this. Sharpie is included for marking wrecks or patients.

There are 8 gloves in there as well, as BSI is one of the first things you need when providing care. The gloves are thicker than usual, made of Nitril and have a longer cuff (30cm) so that they will also cover your wrists. Hand-sanitizer explains itself, doesn’t it?

If you unzip the main EOD bag, you’ll see Kerlix, ABD-pads and ACE-wrap at the top, so you can immediately grab&go.

With a couple of the kerlix rolls removed you can see the interior of the bag.

All of the kerlix, ABD-pads and 4×4’s removed. In the center you see a SOFT-tourniquet for severe bleeding. On the left there’s a AMK Heatsheet blanket taped to the side, opposite side has a 60ml syringe and catheter tip for improvised suction.
The EOD bag has only 3 interior pouches: 2 small and 1 large, mesh pouch.

Small pouch no.1 (marked with blue duct-tape for ‘airway/breathing’). This pouch contains a pocket-mask, OPA’s and some Medshields (protective eyewear)

I only carry this equipment (plus the suction syringe) for airway management. Reason is that ventilating a victim pre-hospital should be as simple as possible. A lot of people include NPA’s which I don’t use. I only insert an airway when the unconscious victim’s airway is compromised.
An AMBU-bag would be better than a pocket-mask but I decided to go with the pocket mask because more people with less training can use it. It’s also more compact in my kit.

Second small pouch had 3 ACE bandage (3’’) and 4 rolls of 1’’ 3M Durapore, which I plan to replace with 2 2’’ rolls as soon as my order arrives. Durapore tape is by far the best medical grade for trauma-situations, and 2’’ will be do nicely for securing dressings and bandages fast.

I haven’t included ready made field-dressings such as the ETD or OLAES-bandage because they take up too much space and aren’t versatile enough. The ACE-Bandages combined with the gauze rolls, pads or ABD-pads will work much better.

Opposite there’s the large, mesh-pouch. You can also see a blue pair of EMT-shears attached to the bag with a quick-release snap. In the mesh-pouch I have a chest seal (BCS) packed in a ziplock together with 2 vaseline-dressings, Aluderm burn sheath (40x60cm.) and a pouch of the new CELOX-D.

Contents list:
– CELOX-D, 100gr.
– 8 Nitril gloves
– Aluderm burnsheet 40x60cm
– BCS with 2 vaseline dressings
– 2 ABD-pads (20x30cm)
– 3 ACE-bandages 3’’
– 4 3M Durapore 1’’
– SOFT- Tourniquet
– Kerlix, 4 large rolls
– 10 4X4’’ Gauze pads
– 60ml syringe with catheter tip
– OPA-set with lube
– Medshields
– Surefire G2-LED
– Laerdal Pocketmask
– AMK Heatsheet 1pers. Blanket
– Benchmade 7-hook
– EMT-shears
– Hand-sanitizer
– sharpie marker
– Waterproof note-book
– pen

[Author]

Posts