The instructors I've taken classes from are united on a few issues. One of them is the efficacy of QuikClot Combat Gauze. All of my kits have this. The sponges are not very useful in comparison.

I have used it for real, and it does work. I prefer the gauze as well. You just need to make sure you really need it before you stick it into a wound.

Not to take this off-topic... and there are a lot of threads here on this... but I have to comment: I've found no experts (real experts) who think it is ever a good idea to suture in the field. While I DO know how, I've also resolved to never suture. Really clean, then tape or steri-strips, bandage, and go to a sterile setting in an ER to let someone suture under proper conditions. Any medical professionals on the forum who want to contradict this... I'll stand corrected.

BACK on topic: Jeanette - you're about the most dedicated prepared person I read here, but PLEASE get the heck out of Florida and away from this storm. "flee danger" has worked for me for a lot of years.

Suturing in the field is always a bad idea.

It may be a little late for Irma, but you may want to add an old-fashioned (non-digital) thermometer to your kit.

If your brimstone scenarios include long term outages or EMP, anything dependent on electronics or batteries should have a non-electric alternative.

You may also want to add a sphygmomanometer.

Thanks for the reply. I know that my digital thermometers would be toast if I'm still around during an EMP attack; how would a long term outage be a problem for battery-powered devices as long as I have batteries? That and an old fashion thermometer is hard to find.

At my level of experience, I don't see how knowing the exact blood pressure would be beneficial.

Jeanette Isabelle

If you track BP over time you may see signs of your patient getting better or worse.

Training is a good thing.

BP levels may not be at all significant when rendering first aid in the field, but the record will be useful for those caring for the patient further down the line. Keep a written history of vital signs and measures taken and see that it stays with the patient...

It might even be helpful to include contact info so that the ER can contact you later. This has happened to me as a first responder.

Second the motion for training!

I assumed that given the contents list, the kit was not mobile, and at that point, knowing BP for victims helps when they get beyond the basic ABC treatment.

I'd think that non-electric thermometers are still available at places like Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, etc. If not, they're fairly cheap online from Walmart or Amazon.

For your brimstone planning, you may want to add a copy of Dr. Alton's "Survival Medicine Handbook". http://amzn.to/2bEExXR

Dr. Alton writes from the position that there may be an interruption of service for some time, and modern medical treatments may not be available. As such, he includes some older treatments that are better than not treating at all.

Training, Training, Training.