A handful of sterile 4x4's, 3x3's and 2x2's, a whole mess of non-sterile 4x4's, several giganto size female pads, and lots of Kerlix. Kerlix is so much easier to work with than gauze, and works much better. However, it is quite a bit more expensive than regular gauze - but well worth it.

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I'd only use Kerlix if direct pressure and gauze didn't work immediately. No need to make it harder for the folks at the ER to dig in there.
Dressings are cut off in the ER, not unwrapped. Kerlix won't make it any harder. It probably cuts easier than a wad of regular gauze, if anything.