Hey all,

There has been a lot of talk about what is the best kind of tape for first aid. I am thinking of getting just athletic tape, because it is easy, and I know its strong because I have tested it climbing crack. Any thing else? Bad-Good of different tapes...Ladies and Gentlemen, DISCUSS!

Whatever tape works I suppose. I use 3M (transpore?) surgical tape.

I have used an "electricians first aid kit" with good success from time to time. That would be black electrical tape...

I second the electricians tape. I use it for all kinds of stuff. sticks great to itself but can be removed; not effected really by water, flexible etc.

Hi all, Am a Veterinarian and we use zinc oxide tape which is a white, waterproof, cloth tape which also has bacteriostatic properties (i.e. retards bacterial growth) this tape is really sturdy and can withstand quite a lot of punishment...(dogs chew on it!!) so i'd look into this tape for your FAK's as it has quite a few uses....

P.S. this is human grade tape.... we just use it for animals

Thanks, and Welcome Newguy!!!

Gills, welcome to the fire new guy. The tape you described sounds interesting. What is it's commercial name and where can we get it?

-Blast, always looking for the newest thing in bandaging

Amazon sells it. Looks to be more of a UK item from google.
Amazon Link

I'll order a roll on my next order unless someone finds a cheaper place.

I believe that's basically the same thing as athletics-tape. Beware if you've got a latex-allergy!

Anyway, avoid the tapes made of paper. Those are only really good for IV's and clinical use, but not for first-aid.


I also use silk tape, which is suited for people with latex-allergies:

Can latex allergies be lethal?

I often think of first aid in terms of SAR and something we call life over limb. If it saves your life out in the bush 4 hours from any kind of help, it's often worth the risk.

I generally prefer 1" wide 3M Durapore silk surgical tape as it sticks very well, is latex free, hypoallergenic, tears easily, and has a very smooth finish allowing clothing to be taken on and off without rolling back the tape.



Jim

Absolutely!

Pete

Thanks Pete...I'm going to replace any latex in my SAR FAK right away!

from here

2 inch,white,Kendall Wet Pruf..great stuff,i use it as a
repair tape instead of duct tape,,

OK - first - kerlix is the gauze that goes UNDER the stuff that looks like an ACE bandage. The stretch bandage that most of you are thinking of is Coban (brand name) or other "conformal" tape

Interestingly, when you do some searches on them, there are actually at LEAST 2 kinds "short stretch" and "Long Stretch". From what I understand, the short stretch stuff is MOSTLY used/available in the UK - My leg MD is actually thinking of bringing in some stuff from England for my wound if I don't respond to what is going on right now (profore quad layer wrapping)

As for Tape, as I'm often doing "Non first aid" wound care, I love, and carry 2 rolls of 2" Micropore brown paper tape. I've found it the most comfortable, but as others have said, this is NOT really for first aid. The MD MIGHT use it when he's done patching you up, but...

For securing the ends of kerlix and the like, I have a roll of fairly generic 2" Cloth tape - the current roll is by Medline, but that's because it's what the wound care supply company sent in the box.

Just to give you an idea of what is out there in wound care:
http://www.bandagesplus.com/catmain.php?xCat=51

Leg ulcers are the LARGEST cause of "Lost time" disabilities in the USA. (More than Bad Backs/Neck pain). I go through wound care supplies at a rate that would probably shock some of you. To give you a hint - at least 2x/week - a set of idosorb pads, then a roll of Kerlix, then a profore set ( http://www.jrsmedical.com/COMPRESSION_BANDAGES/UNS66020016/product.aspx ) - plus some 4x4s - some weeks, I can't tolerate compression, so remove the profore, and add in 6 4x4 bandages - twice a week, at least - sometimes twice a day.

Besides my first aid kit etc - I carry a wound care kit with me - a bag 14x6x5 (and getting a new one) - the kit is full, with stuff "I MIGHT need before I go home" One box of 25 4x4s, one box of 3 layer 4x4 non sick pads (10). One or 2 boxes of Idoflex pads (wound treatment gel), 3 rolls of tape (2 paper, one cloth), a bottle of Advil, a bottle of Prescription pain pills, 2 bottles of antibiotics (augmentum and Bactrim), Benydril, Dakin's Solution, Lanacane (which you have to be real careful with, as it can cause capillary overgrowth) and 2 pairs of EMT shears

BTW I hope NONE of you ever have to learn all about this stuff. When you've been in enough pain to be taking Vicodan AND Advils for 11 straight months (except every once in a while - now up to about 1x/week - the pains stops for a few hours), you're NOT a happy camper. From what I can gather, at 11 months in, I'm a "newbie" - there are documented cases of this lasting MORE than 60 years - and something like 2.5 years is average.

You mind taking a few pics of the wound-care kit kc2ixe?

hi all, thanks for the warm welcome, i forgot to mention that am in the Philippines so the brands that are available in your countries might be slightly different.....
am not familiar with the other brand names, but the one we use which i have seen first hand what it is capable of...(completely drenched in saliva, fluids, urine,and a few other fluids that are more difficult to explain... hehehe) and still sticking to itself and the dog.... and it does retard bacterial growth to a certain degree... the brand that we use is called "universal" which is made in China (i think)have been doing some research and found several on line... I have had the unpleasant experience before of a similar "waterproof" tape unraveling when it was licked.. so I'd recommend trying a few out before committing to one. i get mine like this:

imed: zincoxide
in tubes which you can cut the tape to the size you may need... another bonus is that the center of the tape is a hard white plastic tube which you can use for several things ( we use them as neck braces/ feather picking deterrents for large parrots) but there are so many other uses.. especially in a survival situation....
another tape we use that might be interesting to every one is a product called 3m vetwrap
3m vetwrap

(i know.... i know... its labeled for horses.... hehehe)
its a breathable bandage that only sticks to itself and will not stick to skin or other substances.. it can be used with gauze to
cover up minor scrapes and scratches and will not retard the healing proces as regular bandages do.. since the wound can "breathe...
hehehe...
if you have any questions please send them along as I am more than happy to help ( if i can)
p.s. am not affiliated with either company and this is based on my personal experience.

3M Vetbond is a good skin glue--i have it in my kit..

Athletic tape is my all-purpose first-aid tape. Strong, strong adhesive, water resistant. Clean the skin with alcohol before application and you can use it as butterflies, hold IV tubing, ET tubes, assemble splints and bind sprains.

In mass casualty situations a six-pack of athletic tape goes pretty far. An alternative is a good contractor grade of duct tape or grip tape. You can do any taping with these general-purpose tapes.

I have used electrical tape but it was only because I had it close to hand. The black stick-um gets pretty messy.

If the person has an allergy I get old-school and don't use tape. Safety pins, triangle bandages and knowing how to tear gauze wraps so it has tails and tying it off makes a workable bandage with no risk of allergic reaction. A well tied bandage is often more resistant to movement and water than what you can do with any tape.

Superglue is good to have around. I like the liquid stuff that comes with a brush. Just don't spill it.

I too would like to see a photo of your kit if possible. Wow, just did some reading about leg ulcers. Looks incredibly painful. Best of luck to your recovery kc2ixe.

I second that! Good luck and I hope it gets better!

How strong is the leuko-silk compared to athletics tape?

It's compairable, but the silk stuff doesn't stick to well when it' very wet. On the positive side, it's hypoallergenic.

I ave a roll of leukosilk as normal-use tape and a roll of athletics-tape as 'trauma-tape'

thanks! Do you knmow of anywere were I can get the leuko-silk? I will be on the look out now, also are normal band-aids latex free and if not are there any comprable latex free badaids?

Yes there are latex free bandaids. They are normally a cloth bandaids and can usually be found at a drug store. Ask he Pharmacist for help if you can't find them.

Silk tape has different brand names, such as leuko-silk and durapore. If you go to a pharmacy, they've probably got some.