Medical Supplies

[1911fan]

All you really need for sutures is a needle and thread. Its not that hard to do.

I have a couple of pretty good kits in the cars, and one big one in the house, I suppose I could do more than I am trained to do with what I have, but I have stitched myself up several times, and a few others a few times as well. Playing hockey when masks were not required or just came out, a lot of people were getting cut, I have a pretty good scar on the bottom of my chin that I have stitched at least 5 times, the last few I could do it and not miss a shift.

My big things for first aid are compression bandages, Ace wraps, that clear wrap that the lumber yard uses to make bundles, that stuff is great for wrapping up a bad laceration until you get someone to help. Summer of '06 I had a kid working for us who was an ape, He would climb all over trusses like he was born to it, unfortunately he would get a bit carried away and wearing shorts one day. managed to snag a truss plate as he was swinging away to another truss. He opened up about a 4 inch cut on his calf and it was UGLY. Luckily, he did not appear to have any arterial bleeding, just veinous, so I used some sterile Eye wash to flood out the cut and then using a couple of compression pads and that plastic wrap we were able to cut the bleeding down to a very small amount while we drove him to the hospital.

The advantage to the plastic wrap is that it does not pull open the wound when you remove it, as it only sticks to itself.

A lot of the stuff can be bought in bulk for quite cheap from health supply places such as pads or bandages, and gauze. The big thing that travels with me when ever I go more than a little way from home is a drug kit. My doctor is a friend has given me a few scripts for some pain killer and antibiotics that just sit in my case. Nothing worse than going on a week camping trip or vacation and getting a burn or bad sprain and not being able to deal with getting home when a good pain killer or a dose of antibiotics would clear it up and make things so much more comfortable. I

[westberg]

I don't see why you would have you stitch in any condition if you can have medical within a day or two. Now if I paid several thousands of dollars for a remote two week hunting trip and say I cut myself in camp and the choices were to end the trip early or put in some thread to keep it closed I would do the thread. Otherwise tape it an go. I was trying it on my dog only because I had not done anything like that before and she was letting me do it.

Ron

[someone1980]

If your concern is just to survive the few hours it would take to get help is there anything that stitching would help more than just using Celox? It would seem to be easier to just rip open a bag and dump it on then messing with stitches.

Does Celox have a property that allows you to not worry about infection? If not make sure you clean the wound first.

[rucker]

If your concern is just to survive the few hours it would take to get help is there anything that stitching would help more than just using Celox? It would seem to be easier to just rip open a bag and dump it on then messing with stitches.

Does Celox have a property that allows you to not worry about infection? If not make sure you clean the wound first.

Not that I know of, it just makes your blood coagulate and forms a "gel like mass" in the wound. It's more for situations where you are going to bleed to death and other concerns are secondary if you're still alive.

[westberg]

Where is Celox available to buy

Ron

[rucker]

Where is Celox available to buy

Ron

Cavalry Arms has it under "Misc". I found it cheaper other places though like http://www.rescue-essentials.com/servlet/Detail?no=5 and http://www.schoolkidshealthcare.com/product/886.html

[westberg]

From their website, looks like you just pour it in;

http://www.celoxmedical.com/
Fast. Safe. Simple.
Pour it in and clotting begins.

CELOX™ is the newest generation of emergency hemostatic agents. Simpler to use and safer than older technologies, CELOX granules quickly control even the most severe arterial bleeding. Just pour it in, pack it, and apply pressure. No specific training is required.

CELOX is not exothermic and won't burn the victim or caregiver. And CELOX works in hypothermic conditions and clots Heparinized blood. CELOX is safe to use for the entire body including head, neck and chest wounds.

Most importantly, CELOX can be used instantly and without hesitation as a fast, safe and simple emergency treatment for serious bleeding. For yourself or for others, on the job or on the battlefield, CELOX is an easy, quick way to save lives.

[westberg]

Is there a shelf life.......... I wonder if we could do a group buy......... Or will we be labeled as home grown terr........... for being prepared.

Ron

[rucker]

Is there a shelf life.......... I wonder if we could do a group buy......... Or will we be labeled as home grown terr........... for being prepared.

Ron

Shelf life is 3 years. If you buy 10 packs it's about $2 cheaper per pack.

[westberg]

Where can you buy it

Ron

[rucker]

Where can you buy it

Ron

Top of the page ^ viewtopic.php?f=52&t=2497&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=20#p26132

Have I sold you on my paranoia?

[westberg]

Sorry didn't see the first post on where to buy.

[/quote]Have I sold you on my paranoia? [/quote]
Well.............yea, mainly for at the cabin because of no phone, no cell phone coverage and response time for first responders. With the farming equipment, ATV's, BB guns, guns, bows and paintball something is bound to happen.

Ron

[rucker]

Well.............yea, mainly for at the cabin because of no phone, no cell phone coverage and response time for first responders. With the farming equipment, ATV's, BB guns, guns, bows and paintball something is bound to happen.

Ron

I'm glad I'm not the only one

I'll search a little more but i think rescue-essentials.com is the cheapest. They are $23.49 for the big bag and $4.99 for shipping no matter how many you buy.

[Einthoven's Triangle]

All the equipment in the world will do you no good, if you don't know how to use it! Do not kid yourselves! You would be surprised with what can be used to improvise, adapt, and over come problems!. Your first step is not buying Celox! The hemostatic agents are not the be all end all that they are made out to be! It is not having an AED, either! Geez what next a portable cath lab? Wound care? Suturing is not as easy as it looks! Come on guys, you do not need to have all the neat gear that you do not know how to use, you need to have some training and common sense! Instead of investing gear you no clue on how to use is senseless. You need to invest in yourself! Remember that saying ----- That you will not rise to the occasion, but rather you will default to your level of training! Does not matter the skill you are talking about - shooting, First Aid, etc....it all requires training of the hands on variety not some book taught by people that know there stuff!

Go take a first responder course, or take an EMT-Basic course.
Great resources are
Anoka Hennepin Tech
HCMC-EMS Education
North Memorial EMS Education
Century College
Inver Hills

[westberg]

All the equipment in the world will do you no good, if you don't know how to use it! Do not kid yourselves! You would be surprised with what can be used to improvise, adapt, and over come problems!. Your first step is not buying Celox! The hemostatic agents are not the be all end all that they are made out to be! It is not having an AED, either! Geez what next a portable cath lab? Wound care? Suturing is not as easy as it looks! Come on guys, you do not need to have all the neat gear that you do not know how to use, you need to have some training and common sense! Instead of investing gear you no clue on how to use is senseless. You need to invest in yourself! Remember that saying ----- That you will not rise to the occasion, but rather you will default to your level of training! Does not matter the skill you are talking about - shooting, First Aid, etc....it all requires training of the hands on variety not some book taught by people that know there stuff!

Go take a first responder course, or take an EMT-Basic course.
Great resources are
Anoka Hennepin Tech
HCMC-EMS Education
North Memorial EMS Education
Century College
Inver Hills

Your preaching to the choir about getting hands on training, whether its gun training or first aid. I spend a lot of time at my cabin and if we had medical emergency I would rather have a bag of Celox on hand then not having it. Are you suggesting that without first responder training we shouldn't even have it?

Ron