Hey, me, too (Combat Lifesaver). Good training. Sounds like your kit is better maintained for stockage than mine, except I do keep some IVs and suturing materials for certain trips. Have to re-stock IVs from time to time and they come indoors during the cold season, so they are not with me all the time.<br><br>That orange colored elastic bandage stuff - oddly enough, that's the main color I stock also. I got it a bit less expensively by getting it as vet supplies, tho - name brand (3M), but a bit cheaper. Very useful stuff. Stuck in my paradigm, tho - biggest dressings I carry are field dressings 'cause I know how to use those.<br><br>While I cannot say that I've had more uses with kids than military, I've had plenty of kid incidents - not all our kids, but mostly - once the neighbors figure you know what to do, they tend to call on you first. Let's see, there was a fractured skull, complete with CSF leaking from an ear, driving to ER with one hand while holding pressure point on another with the other (that was a LOT of stitches and frankly, my suturing is better than the job they did - but most docs wig out if you suture - they'd rather let the wound get necrotic while your kid waits forever in ER once you get the bleeding stopped - grrr!) - anyway, the list goes on; I agree that moms and dads should take formal instruction. And keep the kids trained age-appropriate. One of ours saved his sister's eyesight once, thanks to that.<br><br>I agree with your post completely. Good tip on the sterile water, too. As for Willie's question - it depends on who you ask and what the circumstances are. Minor lacerations that are going to be allowed to form granular tissue and heal up unassisted can be cleansed with munincipal tap water with or without soap (soap better, followed by clear rinse). If the wound is going to require any intervention in the way of closure, trimming, extraction of large objcts, etc., best to simply control the bleeding and transport to proper medical facilities if you can. The "we're three days from the nearest road" situations are a heck of a lot more than I am willing to discuss here and I have found that doctors with no first-hand experience in those situations often disagree amongst themselves about that anyway. Reassuringly, I have found that docs with that first hand experience seem to be in very close agreement, though.<br><br>I have found the longer duration Red Cross courses to be very good over the years - well worth the time, expecially if you've never had formal training. My Dad had all of us take some of those when we were teens, and I have had occasion in later years to re-visit some of those courses. The absolutley best, most practical, most useful first aid training I've ever had, though, was that given to me by the Army. Dunno if it's as good nowadays, but I sure hope so. <br><br>Regards,<br><br>Scouter Tom, a.k.a. "Doc Dad"