In first aid kit threads, a few members listed specific items [such as a roll of medical tape] a person can't have too much of. Meaning, even if you have a case of medical tape, you will still run out. At least that is the message I got out of it.

There is one specific first aid item I want to focus on: CoFlex. How much is too much? Perhaps I should put it this way: What is the right amount?

Jeanette Isabelle

IMO, it depends on what level you work. I’m preparing to deal with one patient at a time. I may be stocked at home with additional supplies, but they aren’t in my kit. OTOH, some EMT’s may prepare for mass casualty scenarios and in that case you may need many times the amount I plan to have in my truck kit.

CoFlex is really useful, I probably have a lot more that I need — unless we have a large’ish EQ and things really go south. Then I might not have enough.

It depends...

Buy the stuff marketed for horses (veterinary). Same stuff as for humans, usually sells for less.

I throw this out.... while I have self adhering stretch tape in my trauma pouches for range use, there are options to hold a compress in place (Israeli dressings have stretch material attached as well as a lever to apply additional pressure to the wound)... duct tape, black electrical tape, friction tape etc...

when the family first moved to Florida in 1955, Dad became a member of the NPR Volunteer Fire Dept, and they had regular first aid training, and families were invited... I was too young, but I remember Mom sacrificing one of her bed sheets she had just brought from Ohio, and tearing it into strips to be used as bandaging material...

I checked every veterinarian link when a person said I could get CoFlex cheaper. Every time I checked, the CoFlex was more expensive.

Jeanette Isabelle

CoFlex prices may depend on size. For horses I see a lot of 4” wraps and they are more expensive. I paid ~$12 for a 6 pack of 2” x 5 yd coflex (is that too much?). Buying one roll at a time will be pricey; buy in bulk and make sure you are buying the width you need. $.02

Edit: that was too high. https://www.amazon.com/Ever-Ready-Adhesive-Cohesive-Approved/dp/B00IQTQU6K/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1_a_it shows it at ~$1 per roll for 12 rolls.

I’ve previously found “Vetwrap” for cheap on the big river site. No affiliation.

I can get CoFlex, 2" x 5 yds., for 3 Credits. The minimum order is 30 Credits; shipping is free.

I would include a link; you would have to be a member to view it.

Edit: I include a screen grab.



Jeanette Isabelle

That’s $3 per roll (for min 10 rolls) versus $1 per roll for 12 rolls at the second link in my post above. $30 for 10 rolls vs $12 for 12 rolls. I’d go with 12 rolls.

It's 3 Credits, not $3.

Jeanette Isabelle

Last time I bought any at a horse place, it was quite cheap:

https://www.horse.com/item/syrvet-syrflex-bandage/SLT181151/

But this is the 4" size. If you want smaller, you may not find that at a horse place, but if you do it might be expensive. Not much call for a 2" bandage on a horse, so prices could go up - if they even stock it in the first place.

Nevermind. I realize I answered my own question.

Jeanette Isabelle

I take that back. My rule of three, have three of everything, does not apply here. I'm back to needing to know how many rolls of CoFlex I should get.

My statement that a roll of CoFlex is only 3 Credits has caused some confusion. It's not "free" since I'm paying for it in other ways; since I have this drugstore delivery service anyhow, and it does not cost me extra, may as well take full advantage of it.

This online drugstore, again you need to be a member to access it, has mostly generic items. They have good brands like Medline and Curad. Then there are premium items like CoFlex, After Bite, Ben's 30% DEET and Natrapel.

I currently have 201 Credits which will expire on December 31. I will get more Credits in January. For a bug-in scenario, how many rolls of CoFlex is too much?

Edit: I'm not sure why I was reluctant to mention this earlier. Knowing this can help a lot.

Jeanette Isabelle

Just get a dozen. For a bug-in scenario you might not need any; then again, depending on the injury, 12 might not be enough. Difficult to say without 20-20 hindsight.

Of course. Twelve it is. I'll order them in early December when I upgrade two first aid kits.

Jeanette Isabelle

Do you have enough dressings already stockpiled to go under all that bandage?

I have a hundred-count box of 3" x 3" gauze, a twenty-five-count box of 4" x 4" gauze and a twenty-five-count box of 5" x 9" pads. All of them are only slightly depleted.

I also have four 3" x 3" gauze, two 4" x 4" gauze and nine 5" x 9" pads, some of which were pulled from a kit as I was making modifications.

On a related subject, I'm slowly getting my first aid supplies organized as things expire.

Jeanette Isabelle

Sounds like you're ready for the battlefield then. In case you don't know, the only dressings that need to be sterile are the ones touching the wound. It is OK to place non-sterile (but obviously new and clean) dressings on top of the next-to-wound sterile one. The non-sterile outer dressings are just fine for absorbing blood or applying pressure. You can save some money that way. Sterile costs a lot more.

I don't know. Right now, I have too much of certain items. As things expire, I will have room for what I need.

A lot of it has to do with poor planning. Other times it's because trial and error is the best teacher.

Jeanette Isabelle