Soldier's 1st Aid Kit

[Matt_Fisher]

Just wanted to see what the various opinions are on what a soldier should have as part of a personal first aid kit on their fighting order.

When I was in the CFs during the mid 90's the only 1st aid item we were issued was a single field dressing.  Granted, I never served overseas on a tour, but this was all we ever were issued.

Now in the Marines, our individual 1st aid kit comprises of 2 Israeli style field dressings, a pack of quick clot, a "Tourniquick" brand tourniquet set, a burn dressing, some assorted sized band-aids, a bottle of betadyne, a bottle of water purification tablets and 2 packages of gauze.  While operating in Iraq, it was SOP for every Marine to carry a 500ml IV starter kit.

What would be the recommendation on a suitable individual first kit for a soldier?

 

[kincanucks]

I like the Marine Individual Kits but I would add gloves and extra battle dressings.

 

[Fraser.g]

2x Field Dressings
One handed tourniquet
Betadine/ alcohol swabs (they don't spill)
Tylenol
Motrin
Assorted Band-aids
1x small pack of steri-strips
Blister pack including second skin and mole skin
2x2 and 4x4 Gauze pads
1x Med Tensor Bandage
1x tape
2x Pr Exam Gloves
1x Micro shield for CPR


Loose the Quick Clott! see http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/26415/post-167526.html#msg167526

I am sure others will add to this list but with the above you can get through most stuff.
The only thing that I could think of to add would be an asherman chest seal and a 14G cathlon
GF

 

[medicineman]

There is a personal first aid kit, LFC with a NATO stock number - it's barebones though (excuse the pun).  Gloves, Fd Dressings, pocket mask, betadine, bit of gauze and bandaids.  I used to make up personal kits for people that would fit well into a medium size ziplock with the same items , a couple of triangulars, a speed splint, extra gauze, kling and some decent tape and scissors.  The tropical first aid kit, indivual, comes in that big shaving kit, but seems to have more medicine and such than first aid supplies.  It does have some LCF to it though  ;D.  The rule of thumb I use is pack it to task.

You can go to the CMED site and look at the kit lists they have for the pre-packaged kits to get an idea of what THEY think soldiers should carry.

mm

 

[Jamtorky]

I have always wondered why we do not have and "Individual First Aid Kit" issued for all soldiers., more so for the troops on operational deployments. I would suggest the same responsiblity as the Atropine pen for NBCD.. use thiers on them ...


I think somethig as simple as this is something the CF should look at since we are in the mood for getting all this new kit...

 

[Grunt]

I made my own and carry it in a medium Ziplock baggie in a utility pouch on the vest.

I carry:

2 Gauze pads
2 gauze rolls
1 Triangular Bandage
1 Medical tape roll
2 Gauze rolls
1 bottle of Ibuprofen
10 Alcohol Swabs
assorted bandaids
1 Antibacterial cream (ozonal)
Blister care pack (moleskin/bandaid blister pads)
1 CF field dressing (meaning to add another pretty soon)
2 pairs latex gloves


Im trying to find a 1 handed tourniquet

Im putting together a larger first aid kit for my assault pack.

Any suggestions on stuff I should add to my aid kit?

 

[Canadian Sig]

I  definatly support the idea of a pocket mask in your F/A kit. We were issued them before deployment on Athena and I always keep it in my Tac vest.

 

[Fraser.g]

The triangular bandages are a great idea  as well as the Polysporin antibiotic ointment.

GF

 

[Armymedic]

Are we talking about a soldiers first aide kit or personal ones...

for a personal one for you to carry, then all your suggestions are valid.

As for a standard issue...size, space and actually useage is a problem. Also the CF medical side is leery about letting everyone carry pharmaceuticals, or items with an expiry date.

 

[Trinity]

Dunno..

I carried a medic jump bag all my career.....

that was my personal kit. 


(which i have for sale incidently in Cadpat and OD green)

 

[Matt_Fisher]

What I'm talking about is an individual kit that a soldier would carry on his fighting order/tac-vest/webbing that would be used mostly for trauma injuries.  Stuff that will save your life if you're injured.

Items such as tylenol, moleskin, etc. have been suggested, but I think these would be better off as part of a secondary kit that's carried in the patrol pack/ruck.  Stuff that will improve the quality of your life if you're injured.

 

[Armymedic]

I carried a medic jump bag all my career.....

that was my personal kit.   

I carry a jumpbag as well...but while the bag intself was my personal kit, everything inside is meant for everyone else....

What you throw into your patrol pack for yourself, can be as varied as the person doing it. But the army is lacking in direction as to a dedicated FA kit, not that CF H Svc Gp doesn't have one...it is expensive and a pain in the butt to actually get.

My personal thought about it is we should carry....

2x pr gloves,
2x field dressings,
2x muslin bandages (triangular in your speak),
1x touriquet (or in lieu of, 5 tongue depressors taped together to make spanish whiplash tourniquet)
1x band aide pack, of 25 various sized band aides
1x pocket mask, or other barrier device for rescue breathing

 

[Trinity]

OK.. here is the irony of a personal kit

you get shot..... you're lying on the ground

One of two options
1) self aid...  patch yourself until a medic arrives
2) you can't do self aid.


So you have this nice first aid kit... and your buddy
doesn't know about it cause all he has is his field bandage
cause he didn't prepare a personal and nice med kit

This personal kit.. if honestly for personal I can see
only being an "ouch kit" for oneself.  Things to fix
your blisters, scrapes, scratches etc.. if you have a
major injury...  your field dressing is still your best
friend for a variety of traumas... 

So I think at this point I would ask for clarification on what
the purpose of this kit.  Are we speaking strictly FIRST AID...
or something more advanced...  like 500 ml saline iv, burn bandage, etc...

I mean you can put anything in a first aid kit...  but should you?

 

[the 48th regulator]

Dunno..

I carried a medic jump bag all my career.....

that was my personal kit.    

(which i have for sale incidently in Cadpat and OD green)

Yep,

and how much else did you drag along, that I had to bury on the side of the road??

Sellling the packs...How much??  PM me!

dileas

tess

 

[Trinity]

The only thing we dumped on the side of the road
was a few t flashes that we threw to get rid of them

I humped EVERY extra STUPID pound.  ugh  :

 

[Matt_Fisher]

OK.. here is the irony of a personal kit

you get shot..... you're lying on the ground

One of two options
1) self aid...   patch yourself until a medic arrives
2) you can't do self aid.


So you have this nice first aid kit... and your buddy
doesn't know about it cause all he has is his field bandage
cause he didn't prepare a personal and nice med kit

This personal kit.. if honestly for personal I can see
only being an "ouch kit" for oneself.   Things to fix
your blisters, scrapes, scratches etc.. if you have a
major injury...   your field dressing is still your best
friend for a variety of traumas...  

So I think at this point I would ask for clarification on what
the purpose of this kit.   Are we speaking strictly FIRST AID...
or something more advanced...   like 500 ml saline iv, burn bandage, etc...

I mean you can put anything in a first aid kit...   but should you?

The kit I was referring to would be a unit standard that held uniform items for every member of that unit.  The reason I suggested the 500ml IV starter, was that our platoon corpsman made the point that it was easier for him if everyone had their own starter kit on them, so that if they were wounded, he would use that starter kit, rather than only having 5 or 6 in his med bag and if he ran out...s*it happens.

It wouldn't be so much of a personal (meaning that the individual put items of their choosing in), but was an "individual" kit, meaning that it held the necessary items (field dressings, triangular bandages, tourniquet kit, burn dressing, asherman chest seal, pocket mask, etc.)  to save that person's life in the event they were seriously injured.  Each person would have their own kit, to be used on them, the same as every soldier has their own field dressing, that is meant for them, when they are injured.

 

[Infanteer]

Good concept and I agree with it.  Let's not forget that it is always better to be prepared, and if you have a good first-aid kit put together and your buddy is bleeding out, perhaps you'll have the tools to save him with - there is nothing that says you can't use your first aid kit for him (at least, not that I know of).

 

[the 48th regulator]

hehehe 

the t flashes, man padre everytime you type you bring back some awesome memories.

Hey, we went to the Windsor last night after the COC parade. 

dileas

tess

 

[sdimock]

I have a 7"x5"x3" first aid pouch that fits perfectly beside my field dressing in my tac vest.

It has many of the same items as the other kits that have been listed.

I'm a reservist and haven't been on tour, but as an engineer in BC we are often in the woods working with tools and equipment.

When on small party tasks, (and there may be 3 or 4 small parties out), it may take a few minutes for help to arrive on scene.

If it's a minor problem and you have the tools to fix it (tweezers and a bandaid for example) you prevent a soldier from becoming NS .

With more serious problems, the few extras and the knowledge to to use them, the medic arrives with the patient having a few steps covered.

Even though you follow the safety procedures, shit happens.

I would think you need it that much more when your actually in a hostile environment.

While the CF does not yet supply it, everyone should encourage their mates to have one. 


Chimo

 

[CH1]

What ever happened to the morphine kits we used to carry.  Still have several newer ones in my kit.

cheers