Hello all, I have been browsing this site for a while now but this is my first post. Just wanted to see if you guys could offer any pertinant advise on the following:

I currently keep in my car a decent sized first aid / medical kit which I use both for any incidents at home and when I am out and about at work or doing some other activity (I keep it in the car rather than a cupboard at home because then I know I always have it with me) . I put together the kit myself and I keep it in a medium sized bag and have things divided inside using zip-lock bags It also contains a smaller first aid kit which I can pull out and take with me when I go travelling and so on (specifically a Pyramid Global First Aid Kit see http://www.bluedome.co.uk/trailwalk/trailwalk2.cfm?subcat=20&mascat=22 if you want the details of the three modules or you can just look below). Currently the kit contains of the following:

Main Compartment:

1 British Army Webbing Belt with Knife Sheath and EMT pouch attached

1 Knife Sheath
Contains:
1 UZI Defender Work Knife

1 EMT Pouch
Contains
3 Bandage Pins
1 Pair Disposable Latex Gloves
1 Vent Aid CPR Face Shield
1 Pen Light
1 Pen
1 Hemostat
1 Pair Mosquito Tweezers
1 Pair Blunt Sharp Scissors
1 Pair Bandage Scissors
1 Pair EMT Shears
1 Stethoscope

1 Emergency Reflective Vest
1 Large D Cell Mag-Light
2 Chemical Snap Lights
1 Ambu Head Wedge - Cervical Immobilization Device
1 Adjustable Extrication Collar
1 SAM Splint
1 Life systems camping towel Jumbo size
2 Pair Sterile Surgical Gloves
9 Vent Aid CPR Face Shield in plastic bag

1 Basic First Aid Kit
Contains:
Global Module:
4 Interpose
2 Adhesive Wound Dressing
1 Sterile Finger Dressing
2 25ml Saline Irrigation Solution
2 Thermometer (Disposable)
1 Tweezers (Disposable)
1 Scissors
Assorted Safety Pins
1 Pair Surgical Gloves (Disposable)
1 Extra Large Field Dressing
1 Large Field Dressing
1 Medium Field Dressing
Sterile Pack of Gauze Swabs
20 Adhesive Plaster astd. sizes
1 Adhesive Tape
1 Crepe Bandage 1 X 7.5 cm
1 Crepe Bandage 1 X 5 cm
1 Gauze Strip
4 Antiseptic Moist Cleansing Wipes
Large Polybag
Sterile Module:
2 5ml sterile syringes
2 2ml sterile syringes
2 25g (orange) needles
2 21g (green) needles
2 19g (cream) needles
1 Sterile Needle for Dental Cartridge
1 Blood finger pricker
1 Winged Infusion Set
1 I.V. Cannula
1 Non absorbable suture kit
Steristrips
4 Antiseptic Moist Cleansing Wipes
Dental Module:
Cotton Buds
1 Temporary Filling (Cavit)
Gum Swabs
1 Spatula
1 Clove Oil
1 Examination Mirror

1 Medication Box
Contains:
2 Sets Ear Plugs
American Currency
European Currency
British Currency
3 Tourniquets (I find them useful to tie things up with)
Assorted Safety Pins
16 Paracetamol Tablets (500mg)
16 Asprin Tablets (300mg)
48 Ibuprofen Tablets (200mg)
24 Nurofen Plus Tablets (Ibuprofen 200mg and Codeine Phosphate 12.8mg)
6 Piriteze (Cettirizine Dihydrochloride 10mg) Tablets
12 Diareze (Loperamide Hydrochloride 2mg) Tablets
24 Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 60mg) Tablets
24 Benadryl Plus (Acrivastine 8mg and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 60mg)
24 Renee Antacid Tablets
24 Strepsils (Cherry Flavor)
1 Bottle TCP Liquid Antiseptic
1 Elastoplast Burn Relief Spray
1 Radian B Sport Stop Bleed Spray
1 Germolene Bites and Stings Spray
1 Germolene Antiseptic Cream
1 Bottle Mijex Mosquito and Midge Repellant (50% DEET)
1 Lypsal (Cherry Flavored)

1 Serious Bleeding Kit
Contains:
1 Military Field Dressing 10 X 19 cm
1 Military Field Dressing 20 X 19 cm
1 Military Field Dressing 30 X 30 cm
1 Hemorrhage Control Compression Bandage
1 Pack QuickClot Absorbent Hemostatic Agent

1 Artificial Airway Bag
Contains:
1 Set of 6 Artificial Airways (sizes 1-6)
1 Mucus Extractor

1 Muscle Injury Bag
Contains:
1 Instant Ice Pack
1 Heat Spay
1 Deep Freeze Spray

1 Irrigation Bag
Contains:
10 Sodium Chloride Topical Irrigation Solution

1 Dressing Bag
Contains:
1 No 1 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 2 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 3 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 4 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 7 Ambulance Dressing (Finger Dressing)
2 No 8 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 9 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 16 Ambulance Dressing (Eye Pad)
1 Sterile Dressing Strip

1 Bandage Bag
Contains:
3 7.5 cm X 4.5 m Crepe Bandage
1 5 cm X 4.5 m Crepe Bandage
1 7.5 cm X 4 m Stretch Bandage
1 7.5 cm X 5 m Open Wove Bandage

1 Assorted Bag No 1
Contains:
3 Packs of Absorbent Cotton Wool
1 Pack 5 Non Woven Swabs
1 Pack 5 Sterile Gauze Swabs
2 5 X 5 cm Sterile Dressing Pads
1 Pack Steri-Strips (Butterfly Stitches) 3 X 75 mm
1 Pack Steri-Strips (Butterfly Stitches) 6 X 75 mm
2 Triangular Bandages 90 X 127 cm

1 Assorted Bag No 2
Contains:
1 Spot Check Re-useable Thermometer
1 Roll Adhesive Bandage Tape
1 Roll Zinc Oxide Plaster Tape
1 SAM Finger Splint
1 Bottle Burnshield Hydrogel
1 Tubigrip Support Bandage Size E
1 Tubigrip Support Bandage Size B
1 Size 10 Sterile Scalpel
1 Size 11 Sterile Scalpel
1 Size 15 Sterile Scalpel


Plaster Box, Green (Doubles as Torch)
Contains:
1 Swiss Army Knife
1 Pair Scissors
1 Pair Tweezers
1 Savlon Antiseptic Cream
2 Antiseptic Wipes
1 7.5cm X 4m Conforming Bandage
1 Disposable Examination Gloves
1 Complete Wound Healing Dressing
Assorted Plasters (around 100)
1 Pack 5 Scholl Blister Clear Gel Plasters
1 First Aid Guidance Card

Front Right Pocket
1 Packet 100 disposable Non-Latex Gloves

Front Center Pocket
1 Drugs List and notebook
2 Packets Waterproof Matches
3 Candles
1 Set of Spare Batteries for Mag-light
2 Pen
1 Emergency Survival Bag (Space Brand)
8 Tie on labels

Front Left Pocket
1 Knife Sharpener (Diamond)
1 Copy BMA Concise Guide To Medicines and Drugs


Also in Glove Compartment I have a small LED head torch and pocket knife.

If people have any advice on items that are either not needed, or additional items that would be required it would be most appreciated. Liekwise any advice at all regarding this sort of kit would be appreciated. Its been used primarily for the occasional sporting injury and the usual cuts and scrapes arround the house, but I wanted it to be capable of being useful in the even of anything more serious (car crash or injuries such as falling off cliffs (which I've previously had to deal with)).

As an additional point I'm looking to create a smaller kit that I can use for camping and other such outdoor activities, so advice on that would be helpful as well.

If it helps I live in the UK, and have done courses in first aid, lifeguarding and sports physio.

WHy this?

2 5ml sterile syringes
2 2ml sterile syringes
2 25g (orange) needles
2 21g (green) needles
2 19g (cream) needles
1 Sterile Needle for Dental Cartridge (I dont even know what this is)
1 Blood finger pricker

I didn't see any meds adminsitered IV or IM or Glucose meter...

Its standard equpiment for if you travel abroad to anywhere where the sterile properties of local equipment is in question. Hence why its in my small kit (the one that goes with me whenever I go abroad but perminantly lives in my car's main kit). You just use them if your abroad and tehre is an emergency rather than trusting your health to potentially infectious material.

Mighty extensive kit you've got there! Sounds like a bug-out hospital, lol

I guess the most important thing is knowing how and when to use the items.

Modular kits have advantages and disadvantages... for instance, if you have family that is less well trained in first aid, it's great to open a kit and see "Bleeding Module" or something, and be able to pick it up with everything they need for bleeding in it already. On the other hand, that means you'll often have redundant items (although that's not a big deal unless it's an on person kit)

You might consider replacing the maglight with a surefure. They make a compact waterproof holder to carry a spare lamp and batteries too, and the combo would still weigh less and take up less room.

Also, depending on your climate, I'd check to make sure none of the stuff is heat/freeze sensitive since it's going to be in your car.

As for other medical supplies, I'm not experienced enough to say what else you need... but you might consider
-Asherman Chest Seals
-Abdominal Wound Dressing
-Israeli Dressings (you can apply them with one hand, which is good if you have to treat yourself)
-Some sort of neck immobilization brace. I forget what the more compact ones are called, but if you come across a car accident it might prove useful.

I know you're only asking advice on the medical aspect, but I imagine you have the general road emergency items covered as well? Like
-Emergency poncho (usually comes in a small, flat package like an emergency space blanket)
-1 Change of clothes (handy if you spill something on your shirt at work!)
-Mylar emergency water packets? (depending on climate)
-Fire Extinguisher, handheld
-More robust "survival" kit
-Road emergency kit (can of run-flat, flares, etc)

At last, I've finally found someone who carries more stuff than me! If I ever have an accident I hope the next passer by is you.

Seriously. But you were looking for advice so...

There are lots of things that could be excess weight and that could be cut back on but .... and its a big but. I carry my FAK as EDC in my daypack with a smaller kit in my jacket pocket - I do not drive (but have a motorbike) that means I have to watch for bulk and weight. Since your kit is in the car then obviously that isnt an issue so by all means take the lot.

Ibuprofen - you carry a lot of doses but I would suggest 400 mg tablets not 200 mg but thats just my preference there are arguements both ways.

Consider an epipen for anaphalactic shock - but only if you know how to use it or are carrying it for someone else who can but has left theirs at home - I see that some of the stuff you carry is in this category anyway such as sutures (note that I have chosen not to carry this as I am not confident enough in its use although one of my friends has severe nut alergy and always carries one - I made the conscious choice only to carry what I can use myself)

Consider transfering some meds to your always carried travelling kit, specifically analgesics, anti-inflamitories and antihistamine. I dose of each (or 2 ) is very useful.

Consider stronger analgesics for personal use in your travelling kit I would recomend 30/500 cocodamol or 50 mg tramadol (both prescription only), the cocodamol is probably more useful and generic. and has the advantage that it wont clash with an anti-inflamitory (tramadol is a NSAID)

Again personal preference but my FAK also gets used on my dogs. Dont know whether you have considered use on animals, the last road accident victim I helped as a passer-by was a dog. Irrigation of a wound in the field is very difficult through fur so I carry a spray can of povidone/iodine dry powder spray. That way I can cover a wound with antiseptic and deal with it better at home (or at the vets).

Also think about removing the tweezers and scissors from your small personal kit that way you can have it on your person while flying and not have to put it in checked in luggage

Yep it is pretty big, but as its living in my car its plenty managable at the moment, you can move it by hand no problem to wherever you need it but I probably wouldn't want to carry it any great distance. I'm thinking of creating a smaller "medium" sized kit as a sort of in between measure (one that is more easily portable)

The main reason I stick to the small doses of Ibuprofen is just adabtability as it just gives you a few more potions for dealing with small children. But your right the bigger dose are often a lot more conveniant (and its often annoying having to swallow a virtual pile of pills rather than just one).

I think I'm definetly going to add some basic meds to my travel kit (probably stuff like Ibuprofen and an anti-histomine as they are always useful). Previously, if I remember, I take them with me, but there is always the chance I am goiing to forget so I agree sticking some permanntly in the small kit so I can just grab it and go would be a good idea.

My only experience with an epipen has been training to know what to do with people who are carrying them when you are treating them, and generally the technique is make a note of it and find someone (generally someone who knows them or a Dr) who knows what they are doing with them. I would probably be reluctant to use one on someone who I didn't know their medical history, as they can do really bad things to you, so would probably not carry one for that reason.

My current favourate travel pain-killer is Nurofen-Plus. Which is tablets of contains Ibuprofen 200mg and Codeine Phosphate 12.8mg and is about the strongest non perscription pain relief I've found (2 is the standard dose but 3 or even 4 are often given as a perscription, and that amount is really quite strong). I generally don't like getting perscription medicines unless I have a specific use for them (although thats mainly due to the over use of antibiotics so analgesics aren't so much of an issue), but next time I travel I might see about getting hold of something stronger.

Never considered the possible treatment of animals. Good point. I don't have much experience with dealing with that sort of thing so good tip with the spray, I'll have to get me one of those.

Also good idea about removing the tweezers and scissors. Previously I've always put it in the hold and hadn't really thought about it that way, which is probably a bit short sighted. Actually the simplest method would be to put the tweezers and scissors in the sterile syringe module (which detaches from the main module), and place that module in the hold and then I can keep the rest with me. Thanks for the idea!

I agree modular kits have things for and against them, when your trying to get a small kit they do cause a lot of wasted space, but its great when you can just open it up and grab the nice colour coded easily labeled pouch for whatever has just come up.

Whats the score with the Surefires? I've seen them a few times and heard various positives and negatives about them. The big negative I've heard is that they drain batteries really quick and as such aren't great for if your stuck by the roadside or something where you need light for a long time. But then again I've never actually owned one.

I keep my car in a garage and the temperature doesn't fluctuate too much where I live, but I'll have a double check over everything and make sure nothing is going to be too at risk.

Good ideas for additions. I actually have a neck immobilization brace already (its down as "1 Adjustable Extrication Collar" but thats probably not too clear. Its a pretty good one with 16 different size settings and it stores flat which is most useful). What are Israeli Dressings? Not come accross them before, I'll have to go look them up.

Oh and I do have some other equipment in my car. Including a fire extinguisher, an umbrella, a good pair of binoculars, change of clothes, waterproof jacket, and a few tools. MIght be worth putting in a "proper" survival kit as well, good point.

If you know how to use an IV cannula, then you should also know that you often need more than one of them, and in various gauges. I've seen topnotch paramedics require multiple attempts to land a patent IV.

BTW Polak187/Matt: I got my NREMT-I cert and recently hired on part time w/ my county's EMS unit. Fun will be had by all!

GlockA-Roo,

Congrads on the passage of your NREMT-I <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />. Pete

Congrats brother!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!