Survivor’s Notebook #5
Thinking Outside the First Aid Box
I've noticed a couple of things about most of the first aid kits I have looked at; they are inadequate for survival situations.
There just isn’t enough there to get you through a long term emergency where proper medical care may not be available.
Even the higher priced kits, seem to me to be lacking sufficient depth, but they are a good place to start in building a more
comprehensive kit.
Chances are you will be going to the kit more than once during the time you are waiting for things to get normal again and
you don’t want to run out of something you really need. So get extra quantities of all the items in your first aid kit.
Not only do most kits have insufficient quantities, most of them do not have items that could save lives and relieve suffering.
These items include treatments applied directly to wounds that can stop severe bleeding, potassium iodide tablets to protect
you from radiation poisoning, and special bandages that control severe bleeding and cover large wounds.
You may want to go further than a basic kit and add some life saving items like small oxygen bottles that are easily
transportable, a nebulizer to create medicated mists to clear airways. If you’ve got sufficient funds for equipment and training
you may even want to purchase an AED automated external defibrillator. Some states require a doctor’s supervision for use
of the AED. Another life saving item is the Epipin which is an epinephrine auto injector used to treat anaphylactic shock and
sudden asthma attacks. Epipin requires a prescription in the USA.
Get extra prescription drugs that you normally take and those that you think you may need. It is often recommended by
survival experts to have a store of antibiotics and strong pain relievers on hand. Some doctor’s will prescribe these medicines
if you explain that you are building a survival first aid kit, other doctors may not see the need. This is a similar situation to
going on a long sea voyage on a private yacht and doctor’s often do accommodate this need; some countries even require a
sea going yacht to have these medicines. I do not recommend buying the drugs on-line although some people swear by it,
the risk of getting a counterfeit drug or the wrong dosage is too great for me.
Herbal medicine is something I know little about so I’ll say very little. If you know something works for you that’s great, but
keep in mind the herbs may interact with other medications and they may not work as well for someone else. I can say that
eucalyptus works well for me in clearing bronchial congestion, but that’s the extent of my herbal knowledge.
I am not a doctor, nurse or EMT, so what I have to say in this article is only for the purpose of giving you some suggestions
on how to provide better first aid for your loved ones when professional care is not available. Indeed consult with your doctor
or other medical expert for advice in building your survival first aid kit. If you have someone with special needs plan ahead for
that and do consult the experts.
Here is a list to get started with, and I don’t consider it complete by any means.
The more I research this subject, the more I learn. I am discovering new products and techniques that I never knew existed.
Think about your needs and make up your own list and please be sure you buy more than enough of everything.
quality comprehensive first aid manual
bandages, gauze, tape - get an abundance of these in various sizes
Betadine - wound cleansing, antiseptic
tincture of iodine - wound treatment, alternate use in water treatment
antibiotic ointment – i.e. Neosporin
OTC meds - full range of over the counter medications
aspirin - pain reliever, fever reducer, blood thinner, aids heart attack victims
antihistamine, i.e. Benadryl counteracts poison and allergic reactions
Dermabond - an FDA approved glue for closing wounds
Bloodstopper bandages, applies pressure to wounds
Celox or QR powder - controls bleeding, nosebleeds
Hemostatic gauze – control of bleeding
rubbing alcohol - sterilizer, cleaner, alternate use as fire starter
hydrogen peroxide - all around antiseptic
benzalkonium chloride solution – biocide cleanser
petroleum jelly - multiple first aid uses
medicated powder with zinc oxide - anti fungal
activated carbon for medical use - absorbs ingested poisons
syrup of ipecac - induces vomiting
baking soda - neutralizes acid and poisons
meat tenderizer - venom antidote from papain
cold packs & hot packs
burn kit - with Water Jel dressings and spray
dental kit – for emergency treatments, pain relief
medical instruments, trauma shears, tweezers, safety pins, needles, flashlights
blood pressure monitor, stethoscope, tongue depressors, magnifying glass
surgical gloves, thermometers
splints – to set broken bones
potassium iodide tablets – protects against radiation poisoning
CPR ventilator shield
Small portable oxygen i.e. Life OxygenPac
Spenco Second Skin – shortens healing time, reduces scariing Moleskin and Molefoam – blister prevention and protection
Last but not least – Red Cross training in CPR & First Aid
© 2008 Tim Thomas All Rights Reserved
Thinking Outside the First Aid Box
I've noticed a couple of things about most of the first aid kits I have looked at; they are inadequate for survival situations.
There just isn’t enough there to get you through a long term emergency where proper medical care may not be available.
Even the higher priced kits, seem to me to be lacking sufficient depth, but they are a good place to start in building a more
comprehensive kit.
Chances are you will be going to the kit more than once during the time you are waiting for things to get normal again and
you don’t want to run out of something you really need. So get extra quantities of all the items in your first aid kit.
Not only do most kits have insufficient quantities, most of them do not have items that could save lives and relieve suffering.
These items include treatments applied directly to wounds that can stop severe bleeding, potassium iodide tablets to protect
you from radiation poisoning, and special bandages that control severe bleeding and cover large wounds.
You may want to go further than a basic kit and add some life saving items like small oxygen bottles that are easily
transportable, a nebulizer to create medicated mists to clear airways. If you’ve got sufficient funds for equipment and training
you may even want to purchase an AED automated external defibrillator. Some states require a doctor’s supervision for use
of the AED. Another life saving item is the Epipin which is an epinephrine auto injector used to treat anaphylactic shock and
sudden asthma attacks. Epipin requires a prescription in the USA.
Get extra prescription drugs that you normally take and those that you think you may need. It is often recommended by
survival experts to have a store of antibiotics and strong pain relievers on hand. Some doctor’s will prescribe these medicines
if you explain that you are building a survival first aid kit, other doctors may not see the need. This is a similar situation to
going on a long sea voyage on a private yacht and doctor’s often do accommodate this need; some countries even require a
sea going yacht to have these medicines. I do not recommend buying the drugs on-line although some people swear by it,
the risk of getting a counterfeit drug or the wrong dosage is too great for me.
Herbal medicine is something I know little about so I’ll say very little. If you know something works for you that’s great, but
keep in mind the herbs may interact with other medications and they may not work as well for someone else. I can say that
eucalyptus works well for me in clearing bronchial congestion, but that’s the extent of my herbal knowledge.
I am not a doctor, nurse or EMT, so what I have to say in this article is only for the purpose of giving you some suggestions
on how to provide better first aid for your loved ones when professional care is not available. Indeed consult with your doctor
or other medical expert for advice in building your survival first aid kit. If you have someone with special needs plan ahead for
that and do consult the experts.
Here is a list to get started with, and I don’t consider it complete by any means.
The more I research this subject, the more I learn. I am discovering new products and techniques that I never knew existed.
Think about your needs and make up your own list and please be sure you buy more than enough of everything.
quality comprehensive first aid manual
bandages, gauze, tape - get an abundance of these in various sizes
Betadine - wound cleansing, antiseptic
tincture of iodine - wound treatment, alternate use in water treatment
antibiotic ointment – i.e. Neosporin
OTC meds - full range of over the counter medications
aspirin - pain reliever, fever reducer, blood thinner, aids heart attack victims
antihistamine, i.e. Benadryl counteracts poison and allergic reactions
Dermabond - an FDA approved glue for closing wounds
Bloodstopper bandages, applies pressure to wounds
Celox or QR powder - controls bleeding, nosebleeds
Hemostatic gauze – control of bleeding
rubbing alcohol - sterilizer, cleaner, alternate use as fire starter
hydrogen peroxide - all around antiseptic
benzalkonium chloride solution – biocide cleanser
petroleum jelly - multiple first aid uses
medicated powder with zinc oxide - anti fungal
activated carbon for medical use - absorbs ingested poisons
syrup of ipecac - induces vomiting
baking soda - neutralizes acid and poisons
meat tenderizer - venom antidote from papain
cold packs & hot packs
burn kit - with Water Jel dressings and spray
dental kit – for emergency treatments, pain relief
medical instruments, trauma shears, tweezers, safety pins, needles, flashlights
blood pressure monitor, stethoscope, tongue depressors, magnifying glass
surgical gloves, thermometers
splints – to set broken bones
potassium iodide tablets – protects against radiation poisoning
CPR ventilator shield
Small portable oxygen i.e. Life OxygenPac
Spenco Second Skin – shortens healing time, reduces scariing Moleskin and Molefoam – blister prevention and protection
Last but not least – Red Cross training in CPR & First Aid
© 2008 Tim Thomas All Rights Reserved
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