Greetings all.

Question: Do any of you include IV supplies (needles, tubing and IV fluids) in your supplies, and if so, where'd you get it?

My daughter's recent bout of nausea / vomiting a couple of weeks ago and the isolation and overwhelmed emergency services that some experienced after Katrina got me thinking.

I'm a nurse and can start an IV in a heart-beat but getting the supplies (don't want to swipe them from work) is the issue at hand.

I keep a well stocked ALS kit with my gear, I am lucky enough to own a company that provides ALS medical service for events, allow me to legally purchase pharmacuticals in my scope of practice.

You will just have to find a vendor who will sell the supplies to you, although be forewarned doing so is illegal.

Maybe you could get a prescription from your family doctor?

Sue

That is how I have been supplied in the past, but the doc knew first-hand that I can start an IV. Worth discussing with your doc.

I have a fully stock kit in the car and home. I get supplies from work since pretty much everyone knows I prefer to use my own bags when working solo. Also being in supervisory position I back up some of my guys when they screw up. Asking your doc for prescription is one way to go. Other way is telling your supervisor that you need stuff for home and with amount of supplies that hospitals waste I don't think start pack and NS bag would be a problem. SInce you are a nurse I don;t think anyone would give you a hard time.

Hope your lil girl feels better.

For the great unwashed, starting an IV without proper training can be the trail to disaster. You can make a bad situation a whole lot worse incorrectly pokeing around in their hand or arm with a needle. Infection, nerve damage, air embolism,......etc.
If your doing it on someone else, there is the potential for legal issues should there be anything but a completly positive outcome should you not be currently certified.

"There is nothing so frightening than ignorance in action."

That being the case, can anyone advise the forum as to were such training might be obtained? US and/or UK. Other than in the emergency services or the armed forces that is.

Thanks for the info. That's given me some ideas.

I was thinking about a couple of NS bags (saline) for emergency hydration for family or myself though the thought of starting a line on myself would be tricky/intereresting/comical since I'm used to doing it to someone else and have use to both of my hands.

Oh well, Semper Gumby (ever flexible).

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That would be it.

I can kill you with an IV almost as fast as I can with a knife. I know how to use the latter, but not the former. This can be a ZERO forgiveness procedure if you screw up. I could do an IM if it was "he dies in ten minutes if you don't" situation, but IV's, no way. And even then, the IM would be something like an epipen that is prepacked.

To quote my sister-in-law, who is an EMT-I, if you have to do a stick, you better be able to hear the sirens or see the lights, or have the [chopper] on the radio and the LZ within 10 minutes walk with a litter.

Unless you can do more than JUST start an IV...

While having the ability to start an IV and administer fluids is nice, there are typically better ways to fill your pack. I do have a HUGE medical kit with IV supplies as well as other Advanced Life Support Supplies; however my BOB and backpacking medical kits don't have IV supplies in them. I add additional ALS & IV supplies to my pack as needed when my mission requires.

As for training, learning how to start an IV is easy; all the other knowledge that goes along with that skill is a different story. Taking a class to learn how to start an IV is not a trivial process, typically this means taking the classes to become a nurse or EMT Intermediate or Paramedic. Either route is at least a year long process, with RN and Paramedic being a 2-4+ year long process.