Again I am not a medical professional so take any advice I give with two grains of salt and call me tomorrow if it gives you indigestion.
LW, You didn't stray far and I might have helped hijack Dwestes thread too.
I don't think he will mind much. I think he posted it to get people discussing it.
What you should not have in your kit should be as valid of a consideration as what you want in it, especially if space is limited.
I have read other forums and it is very common to see people listing huge kits full of material which the person carrying it has no training for so they wouldn't know how to use it anyhow.
Even if they were trained to use it usually the gear is not stuff that you would use unless you were in a hospital setting.
Here is Doug's basic medical kit from this site herehttp://www.equipped.org/survlkit.htmBasic Medical Kit Qty. Medical Equipment or Supplies
(NOTE: THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT PRIORITIZED)
Bandages and Dressings
15
Adhesive Bandages, elastic knit, 1" x 3"
10
Adhesive Bandages, elastic knit, 3/4" x 3"
3
Adhesive Bandages, foam tape, 2" x 3 1/2"
3
Adhesive Bandages, Fingertip, elastic knit
3
Adhesive Bandages, Knuckle, elastic knit
10
Gauze Pads, 2" x 2"
6
Gauze Pads, 4" x 4"
6
Non-adherent Pads, 3" x 4"
1
Adhesive Tape, 1" x 10 yds.
2
Gauze Roll Bandages, 2"
1
Compress Bandage, 4"
1
Triangular Bandage, 40"
1
Moleskin, 3" x 4"
Wound Treatment and Infection Management
1
Betadine (povidone iodine solution - antiseptic), 1 oz. plastic bottle
8
Tincture of Bezoin towelettes (adhesive)
6
Cotton Tip Applicators
4
Alcohol towelettes
30
Wound Closure Strips, 1/4" x 4"
Medical Instruments and Equipment
1
Bandage Scissors, stainless steel, small
1
Splinter Forceps
1
Fresnel Lens Magnifier, 1" x 4"
1
Extended Range Hypothermia Thermometer
Medications
1
Triple Antibiotic Ointment, 1/2 oz. tube
1
"Martin's BurnAway Plus," 2 oz. bottle (burns, stings, bites, minor wounds)
24
"Tylenol" (acetaminophen 500 mg.) (analgesic)
24
Bufferred Aspirin Tablets, 350 mg. (analgesic)
24
Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride 25 mg.) (antihistamine)
24
Vicodin ES Tabs (7.5 mg hydrocodone bitartrate and 750 mg. acetaminophen) (analgesic) #
24
Ibuprofen 800 mg. (analgesic) #
12
Zithromax, 250mg. Caps (antibiotic) #
1
Triamcenolone Cream .5%, 15 gm tube (topical treatment for contact dermatitis (poison ivy, etc), skin irritations, etc.) #
Miscellaneous Items
2
Needles (sewing), assorted sizes
1
Single Edge Razor Blade
6
Safety Pins
1
Emergency Medical Guide - "Back Country First Aid and Extended Care"
1
Outdoor Research "Compact First Aid Kit" pouch (7 x 5 x 2 inch fitted nylon soft case)
# = Prescription required.
All medications and many medical supplies also have a limited useful life. Keep track of expiration dates and replace as required.
It is worth noting how simple his kit really is.
He lists 4 prescription items but in an urban setting antibiotics are not needed. The doctors can prescribe medications soon enough to handle secondary infections if they are needed. You should not be giving people narcotics either. Pain managment is more critical if you are in a remote location but painkillers can hurt a person's chances in some cases so it is better to let them hurt a bit until the ambulance gets there.
Even the wound washing material and the bezoin for gluing adhesive tape to skin can be left out in a small kit.
I think people should distinguish between home treatment for minor injuries and emergency first aid too.
From my experiences Medical personnel hated seeing drugs, creams, and lotions used by first aiders.
Here they even tell first aiders not to worry about wound cleaning very much because dousing a wound with antiseptics usually kills more tissue than it saves. Then they have to wash the iodine, betadine or peroxide out of the wound when they treat it anyhow.
They would rather see a simple water rinse and only see that if there is some kind of chemical like an acid, a caustic or a fuel that had to be flushed away.