First Aid (With a bow to “Tools & Shops”)
The latest “Fine Woodworking: Tools and Shops” issue has an article on “first aid” that manages to break from the staid -and, IMO, seriously lacking- “Red Cross” coursebook. Kudos to them!
I had my attention grabbed as soon as the author said to forget about the pretty ‘first aid’ kits sold in stores. It’s been a VERY long time since I had any use for either the kits or even the pretty boxes they come in. Yet, I was cautious as I read the article, as the author mentoined a few products that were unknown to me. Let’s look at his 13 items:
#1 is “Coban” tape. I heartily agree; I’ve been using this for ages – both as a compression bandage and in place of an “Ace” bandage for sprains. Has anyone ever seen a ‘first aid’ kit with an Ace bandage? I guess nobody else ever gets sprains- or has body partys that actually change their size and shape as you move about.
#2 is a blunt srynge, to be used to flush out punctures. I never saw the need – but I’ve only had dozens of punctures, without the benefit of medical school.
#3 is a bottle of eyewash. Personally, I use the ‘saline solution’ that’s marketed to contact lens wearers. Never saw THAT in a first aid kit, either. I guess the folks at J&J never had anything blow into their eye.
#4 is something new to me – a bandage called ‘Tegaderm.” It’s waterproof, stretches as your skin moves, is thin and pretty transparent. Sounds a lot like a ‘new and improved’ duct tape to me- as well as a replacement for gauze. I’ll have to try some.
#5: The old stand-by, Band-aids. OK, he likes the sheer strips, while I like the flexible fabric. No matter, though …. more important is that (IMO) you have an assortment of knuckle and fingertip types.
#6 is a box of rubber gloves. Again, I’m not too concerned about getting my hands dirty … but, oddly enough, I have a box on the truck for other uses anyway.
#7 is a magnifyer, to help with pulling splinters. A good idea. Again, oddly enough, as I age I find I need reading glasses … and they’re part of my safety glasses, so I guess I’ve got that one covered.
#8 is something called “Steri-strip.” This appears to be another variation on duct tape, and is used like a butterfly bandage to pull the edges of a cut together. I’ll have to try it.
#9 is a severely pointed, straight-edged X-acto knife. It’s used to remove splinters- the article has a great drawing of the method. I could not agree more, except to note that an X-acto knife is as dull as a 2×4 when compared to a scalpel blade that has a similar shape. It’s called the “#11.” You do not need a handle to use it.
#10 is Krazy glue. I certainly does have its’ uses, especially in closing scalp wounds.
#11 is a tiny pair of scissors, for cutting up the bandaging contents. You probably already have something on the truck that can be used.
#12 is a roll of tape. It looks like a paper bandage tape … and I’ll agree the paper tape is better than the other types … but I’ve never found a use for it that wasn’t already addressed by the duct tape and Coban.
#13 is the tweezers to also be used in removing splinters. Unnecesary duplication IMO.
NOW … what do I use that the Doctor either doesn’t include, or disapproves of?
Well, I carry a “Sawyer extractor” for dealing with insect stings. Sort of like a backwards srynge – it sucks stuff out of the wound. Might be useful if I ever have trouble getting a puncture to bleed.
My kit also includes bug repellent and sunblock. I’ve had far more mosquito bites and suffered more sunburn than I have ever had cuts and scrapes.
I also carry a tube of triple-antibiotic. Contrary to the Doctor’s experience, I find it promotes healing and seems to keep the scarring down. It’s also useful when you ‘discover’ a splinter only the next day, after it’s already begun to fester.
What are your thoughts? What’s in your kit?
Replies
Yeah, I'd include the antibiotic and maybe some wound wash. And I don't believe any gauze pads were listed -- sometimes nice to have to wrap around an oddly-placed wound, securing with tape.
When it comes to splinter removal I've never been ever to improve on these:
http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=10434&cat=2,42551,62567,10434
My only problem is that I should buy a few more pairs... wife and kids always move them, then when I get a splinter (which I hate) I always need to dig around to find them.
A small bottle of meat tenderizer for wasp stings and some baking soda for fire ants.
I also carry a bottle of chlorhexadine with a "squirt" top for flushing out cuts.
You get it from a vet web site. If it is good enough for my dog it is OK with me.
In a pinch you can do wonders with a roll of blue paper towels and some duct tape.
I've taken the Red Cross First Aid and CPR course many times. One of those courses came with a first aid kit that I keep in the truck. The kit isn't designed for minor nicks and cuts, there are no bandaids, tweezers, antibiotics. etc. The kit is nothing more than a plastic bag filled with large, clean rags. It's designed for one purpose and that's the one purpose we all need to be prepared for, major arterial bleeding. You don't want to be opening packages when the blood is gushing out, you need to be able to stop it, now. Whatever convenience items you prefer in your kit, make sure there is something in it that can help when things get serious.
While I have several first aid kits strategically located around my work van, workshop, and house the most used item is always right in my back pocket....my handkerchief.
It's the ultimate first aid device. I use it to wrap cuts, tie on other bandaging, mop up blood, affix splints.... luckily I don't use it for those tasks THAT often. More commonly it is a clean/dry rag for drying my hands after washing or a cool/wet rag to wrap around my neck or brow in the sun. Other times it's my dust mask, either worn outlaw style or just wadded in the hand. It can also be a "spilled coffee mop", "chip duster", and "pot holder" at times. Sometimes I even use it as a napkin and other times I might actually use it to wipe my nose. What else can beat that?
As for items in my kits...I have about all the same stuff mentioned in the article. One thing of importance that I would like to point out is the idea that everything you need should be IN your kit. Yes, I have scissors in the ol junk drawer at home, another pair hanging in the shop, and yet another pair or two kicking around in my truck; on top of that, I am almost always carrying a pocket knife in my pants and a utility knife in my tool belt. But I don't want to think of any of those things in the event of an emergency. Worse yet would be if I was the emergency and couldn't direct someone to the location of scissors or gloves.... or the first aid kit for that matter.
So, your best bet is to make it intuitive. I have a kit hanging on the rear door of my van, another on the side door, and a third in the cab mounted on the bulkhead. In the shop there is one next to each of the two access doors just below the fire extinguishers. In the house there is one in the TOP drawer of each of the two bathrooms. The kits are all standard store bought, then taken home, dumped out, custom stocked, and strategically located to be found easily by anyone who wouldn't know where to look.
Because a first aid kit that cannot be found is pretty worthless.
DC
You've hit on my beef with first aid kits. They're filled with all manner of prety goodies that you'll need about as often as Jesus returns ... but completely lacking in the stuff you need every day.
Like the eyewash. What does the Red Cross say? "Rinse under running water." That's the problem; we're on the job because there is NO running water. That's what we're doing: bringing it in. Yet, I've never seen a first aid kit with eyewash in it.
Or the elastic bandage. A marvelously useful item ... but, instead, kits seem focused on triangular bandages. The last time I wore something triangular I was a Cub Scout.
I've seen many kits with 'burn ointment,' but none with 'burn preventer.' Hello sunblock.
Other threads have discussed 'super glue.' Try finding it in a kit, or even mentioned in a Red Cross class. Good luck. Sure, they have their doctrine and their marketing .... but their is a 'one size fits all' approach, and lacks the detail necessary in specific situations.
The article did introduce me to two products, and I'll have to try them out. They look to be relevant. Odds are, I'll have use of Tagamet long before I need a compression bandage or intubation device.
Actually, one of the best first-aid items to have around is a squeeze water bottle filled with fresh water. Eye wash, washing off wounds, cooling a burn, etc. Often there's a bottle sitting around, but no one thinks to use it.
Did not see Quikclot mentioned. Should be a must have to stop bleeding. Also keep an instant ice pack on hand for sprains.
http://www.quikclot.com/catalog.cfm?dest=index
KK
Wired magazine built a compact but high powered first aid kit of questionable legality:
http://www.wired.com/reviews/2010/06/pr_firstaidkit_roundup/
I recently bought a first aid kit as a requirement for AYSO coaches... those things are like a dumping ground for obsolete product.
As a Stay home dad (Homemaker... if that doesn't offend you people who actually MAKE homes!) I'm the first aid responder. I'm also the barely competent DIY who dings himself up alot.
Conventional band aids - those old style latex strips = worthless. Destroy all immediatly. At best they will stick only until you aren't paying attention anymore.
Conventional band aids with antibiotic = worthless. Destroy all immediatly. Same as above.
Duct tape band aids = all the joy of tape residue ingrained in a wount, combined with the joy of it rolling back and sticking on everything else besides your skin - worthless
Alcohol = good for sterilizing gear like tweezers - otherwise worthless. Your kids will hide a wound rather than expose themselves to the meciless pain of alcohol
Best wound care products:
Band Aid Advanced Healing - these are a different kind of plastic or rubber, more like a temporary skin graft. Only good on fresh wounds. You cover a wound and the adhesive really stays in place, even through water and sweat without leaving a residue. The area in contact with the wound will develop a blister in the area that holds healing fluids to the wound. It's like a soft, flexible scab. This product really speeds up healing. By the time it comes off on it's own, your wound is healed.
Nextcare Waterproof (and Band Aid equivalent) - These are the next generation of conventional band aids. The thick latex has been replaced with a gossemer thin plastic celophane that seals all around a wound - not just two sides. You peel the entire bandage from the paper exposing the entire sticky side and place it on your wound. the thin plastic is reinforced with a temporary rign of cardboard that peals off after the bandage is applied - really ingenious. These bandages are really great for areas that get brushed against alot - they won't get peeled back by socks or gloves or sleaves.
Large sizes are available too (3"x4") - padded ones for big injuries, unpadded - just the plastic alone - as a barrier for irrateded skin.
Tweezers with a built in light - put a magnefying lense in there too, I got the tweezers at Harbor Freight
Hydrogen peroxide - Doctors don't like HP as it does kill some flesh it come in contact with, while alcohol doesn't. However, it doesn't sting, and kids will let you use it on them and not hide from you.
Paul
I don't know if it was your mention of taking care of the kids, the term "questionable legality", or the couple times I saw the word "alcohol" in your comment, but you reminded me of my other favorite first aid item: Whiskey!
Oh brother let me tell ya, good ol' barrel aged whiskey never tastes so good as when you have a throbbing thumb, bruised ankle, or a crooked finger. Best part is that it's also cheap and vaguely sterile so you can poor some over an open laceration before chugging the rest of the bottle.
However, I should note that before administering yourself an entire bottle of the hard stuff it may be prudent to locate a designated driver to get your drunk arse to the hospital.
Cheers!
DC
Close, Reno .... so close ...
What is the role of he 'firs aid kit' in your life? That's the question hat needs answering.
Some folks make up massive kits, with surgical instruments, denal kits, even oxygen bottles. When was the last time you saw an emergency tracheomety?
The majority have a never-opened store-bought kit mounted as if it were an idol to pray to. For all they know, there could be a brick inside. Just as bad, even if they every open it, the adhesives will have dried out, and the plastic has dry rot. What good is that?
Your 'first aid' kit ought to be with your tools - and hold only the items you use with some regularity. Don't fall into the 'just in case' trap. (I'm only changing a light bulb, but I better take the table saw, just in case ...)
Transderm? Steri-strips? Maybe ... but those are not found at my local Wal-Mart. They're expensive too. Still, they don't do anything that you can't do with an ace bandage or even duct tape. I see them more as something you buy AFTER you've already dealt with the immediate issues.
BT Advertising
I just noticed that the add at the bottom of this discussion was for Curell hand cream.....touted as "the remedy for dry skin" or something.
Do you think that ad popped up under this particular thread due to the terms used in the discussion?
"band-aid", "steri-stip", "first-aid", etc.
Or is that a generic ad on BT that I just noticed coincidentally while viewing this thread?
DC
The forum has been Googleized, it may pick up on post wording or your ISP location, Big Brother is watching.
Funniest thing I saw in a first aid kit, on the door, a bullet with the tag, bite on this for pain.
First aid kits
As a long time EMT I have to say that the doc made some great suggestions, and I agree with all of you that the commercial kits (at least the department store ones) are almost worthless. Back in my army days all soldiers carried a pressure bandage for applying to gunshot wounds. A acceptable substitute was a ladies sanitary napkin, which I suppose have fallen from favor these days. I'd feel a bit awkward hauling a box of those around the workplace anyway. LOL Some great suggestions above, just remember to be ready to apply pressure to a bleeding wound and keep it in place until getting the patient to the emergency room. No peeking to see if the bleeding has stopped!
I always have some of the "mini-pad" variety in my bike panniers. They work great to stick in your bike helmet to catch the sweat.