The only solutions I find locally are good for items like bandades and burn creams, iodine, etc... but the scissors and tweasers are of very poor quality and none of them have minor/major trauma equipment such as tourniquet, forceps SAM splint, CPR barrier, emt shears, hemostat, sutures or even scalpel. I have not been able to locate those items seperately here in canada. So i'm asking for recommendations about a fairly small commercial kit suitable for a bob or I can pack away in a backpack with psk to go camping.
If it helps I'm looking for something no more than 2-3 people that lasts up to 5 days, if at all possible being -/= 10" across.

Any other suggestions/additions from those who probably know a heck of a lot more than I do are welcome.
thanks
Geoff

Contact me off list, I may be able to special order these for you.

REI carries a nice line of kits -- I use one of theirs with my own supplements.

Teacher

Campmor.com has a Campmor Advanced Medical Kit that has some of what you need (forceps, SAM splint, CPR barrier, EMT shears,)for $50. You'd have to add the tourniquet, sutures, and scalpels on your own though.

What is the difference between a forceps and a hemostat??

Most "small" commercial kits will not have many of the items you mentioned. Some of the items you mentioned require advanced training. I see no reason for sutures unless you are a RN or MD; use steri-strips if you really need to close a wound.
You are actually looking for more of a med-large commercial kit if you want all that stuff.
MEC has a selection of kits; if the kit was made in the US there will me no medications.

Bill

Go to Campmor and get the AMK Comprehensive. It has most of the stuff you need and a smaller bag (the Ultralight .9 bag IIRC) to take with you for a BOB/backpack.

I agree with not using sutures. The small closure strips are easier to use and remove. Unless you can really clean a serious wound, you may be better leaving it open as long as it's not a heavy bleeder. Ditto the hemostat. These kits are for quick fixes to stabilize not for field surgery. $.02

Honestly I don't know the difference between forceps and hemostats from experience or medical knowledge. But my homework tells me hemostats are used manly in surgery to control bleeding and used to clamp blood vessels until repairs are done. Forceps can be used to clamp tissue or dressings or needles (eg. sutures) and used in childbirth.. Although this information is from google search so perhaps a doctor or someone with more knowledge can expand or correct my information

I don't mind at all getting a kit without meds. I can take a quick run to my local drugstore as long as they have packets of iodine, alcohol wipes, etc... in the kit.
I've looked at both sites, rei and mec. they seem to have a few other medical kits but vast majority are from Adventure medical ...
There website has a HUGE selection, has anybody ordered items from them directly?

Sutures vs. steri-pads.. I've found that steri-pads are only usefull for small closures less than an 2" anything else will get torn. I've found a few websites and posts reguarding using sutures, although not ideal would be available if needed (although practice or training would be nice). This item in list is not necessary item.... more of a would be nice to have and doesn't take a lot of space unless you count forceps.

If you insist in sutures; get a stapler kit.
Staples are faster to apply and take less skill which will cause less pain for the victim.
AMK does not sell direct at this time.

I saw a site or mention about a disposible stapler kit here. Is it a good option? If so, where can I find one for purchase?

If you want to include a stapler, you can forget a SMALL commercial FAK.

IMHO: Just stick to minor wounds and for larger trauma: a ABD-pad or triangular bandage, duct-tape and a bandanna. These will do just fine.

my everyday FAK

Maybe using super glue would do what you need - in place of sutures?

(Yes, I know there is a medical version that won't sting as much, but not sure if those are available to the public)

Dear Friends (not directed to freeballer in particular, his post was just next),

The issue of closing wounds in the field has been discussed numerous times on the forum and would suggest that the consensus of these previous posts recommends not closing wounds in the field with any method (sutures, staples, steri-strips, super glue, safety pins, etc.). Yes, there could be rare cases where prolonged time and/or distance from medical care may require innovated ways of skin closure for purposes of travel. However, skin closure in the field significantly increases the chances of infection and/or tissue necrosis (tissue death) making the procedure generally not only unnecessary but also dangerous.

Most of the time bleeding control can be accomplished with direct pressure, elevation, occasionally the need for a pressure point and rarely (if ever) a tourniquet. Wound care should primarily involve irrigation with sterile water or saline and if excessively contaminated, perhaps with a mild provodine-iodine solution. Coverage with a sterile or clean dressing and followed with a snug but not too tight bandage will most likely suffice in 95+% of the time.

In no way I am trying to intimidate or flame anyone and I believe this forum is the place to ask these questions and receive responsible answers from a wide variety individuals with helpful backgrounds and knowledge. However, I would suggest if you are asking questions regarding the use of these techniques, it is unlikely you have the training or background to do so safely. I feel that an ongoing discussion is of benefit to all, so still pose the questions.

Pete

Still a pretty "technical" procedure but a lot easier than sutures.
Cabelas sells one on their website. But Pete is right; don't bother closing most wounds until you let a pro do it in a clean environment.
Bill

Jim has suggested duct tape and the adv med .9 ultralight that ras has suggested has duct tape as well.
I've used it in past to keep a burns from rubbing and breaking blisters or at times small wound to stop bleeding.
Is that the entended use for duct tape or per red green, duct tape can fix anything??

BTW, jim is your kit @ My updated FAK commercial kit or something you added to from a basic kit?

Duct tape is very useful in general. It helps the "improvisation" aspect of a first aid kit.

Foreceps: look like "tweezers", some have small teeth at the tips to grip tissue - "tissue foreceps", others have smooth tips for general grasping.

Hemostats: look like small pliers and generally have a locking ratchet mechanism, most have various gooved tips ( jaws) to improve their grip, smooth jaws are for suturing or may be vascular clamps tolimit damage to vessels.

Pete I agree with you working in an ER we see all kinds of ways people try and close wounds (had one two weeks ago that was scotch taped) (rolling eyes) any way people keep asking questions and somewhere out here somebody will have or find the answer
Mike

I normally use the Duct-tape for securing bandages and gauze pads,
so that they don't come of from sweat, blood, etc. I never used it directly on a wound.

My updated FAK is made from scratch. (pretty cool huh? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)
BTW: The pic in that post works again. The upload-site I use whas down for a while.

Very.. very nice kit jim!

I'll admit straight out that I fall in that catagory.. But at least never used scotch tape! A long time ago I had made a mistake with a knife and cut myself very deeply. Being something like 13 at the time and not wanting to tell my mother I used the "basic" pressure, cleaning methods and closed the wound.. Of course my mother came home, found out what happened and I went to the ER afterwards. They opened the wound back up, irrigated it and gave me a shot (didn't know last time I had tetanus shot) and stitched it back up.

If anybody can learn from this experience a wound can be closed using techniques pete described. My concern with
wounds like that is if they will hold.. If I had moved my arm, hand would normal closure strips have held.
But I understand now suture or otherwise closing wound wouldn't be an ideal solution in a non sterile enviroment and would just make things worse..

by popular demand: Suture kits

Note that the idea behind the suture kit is that you have it when travelling in foreign (developing) countries and you give them to the local doctor to use. It's part of AMK's World Traveler kit.

I agree with paramedicpete regarding closing a wound in the field. I have an AMK Wound Closure Kit for the rare instance that I need to close a wound before getting to a medical facility that can do it right. Hopefully, I'll never need to use it.