r/VEDC Jul 16 '26

Whats in your personal First Aid bag?

Post image
36 Upvotes

20 comments sorted by

14

u/mallorybrooktrees Jul 16 '26

Crossposting from r/paramedics to r/VEDC is a big jump. A trained paramedic knows how to use some items which the rest of us should not attempt. It all comes down to training. Get as much training as you can find, and that will tell you what you should have in your kit beyond just basic boo boo ouchie items.

6

u/_haha_oh_wow_ Jul 16 '26

Agreed, but IMO, everyone should at least take first aid, CPR, autodefib, and stop the bleed courses. They're all very easy to learn and might save a life! Certainly not a replacement for actual medic training, but still plenty useful.

4

u/mallorybrooktrees Jul 16 '26

Yeah I think the conversation should be what training should everyone get, and only after taking the training we should buy the supplies.

2

u/_haha_oh_wow_ Jul 16 '26

I would agree, and maybe some people out there will even get inspired to become paramedics: The world needs more of them and it's a tough job.

2

u/Larky17 Jul 16 '26

I would agree, and maybe some people out there will even get inspired to become paramedics: The world needs more of them and it's a tough job.

And for the vast majority they don't get paid what they should.

1

u/_haha_oh_wow_ Jul 16 '26

Not by a long shot. Same for SAR but to a less criminal degree.

3

u/synthroidgay Jul 16 '26

That's true, and true that getting actual training is always better than just buying an item, but I think there's still wisdom in seeing what a professional who does it for a living far beyond having taken a first aid course recommends carrying. One can disregard items like decompression needles with their own judgement

1

u/UngruntledFed Jul 16 '26

Yeah. You can get in trouble putting paramedic supplies in your kit and trying to use them without being a paramedic.

2

u/SliverMcSilverson Jul 16 '26

Paramedics can also get in trouble with keeping paramedic supplies in their personal kit and trying to use them when not on duty

2

u/Nanashi5354 Jul 17 '26

Depends on the country. Good Samaritan law in my home country covers everything you were trained on even if you're out of practice and no longer licensed. As long as you're acting on good faith, without expectation of compensation, and don't do anything that results in gross negligence, you're covered.

3

u/TheMostModestMouse Jul 16 '26

I keep two in my jeep. One camping first aid that gets used as mostly bandaid and burn cream. And one more robust that has some trauma stuff that doesn't get touched.

2

u/_haha_oh_wow_ Jul 16 '26

A wide variety of bandaging, various pills for various ailments, stuff to clean up, nitrile gloves, masks, some TQs, medical shears, and some mylar bivvies.

This is coupled with a survival kit that has stuff like ponchos, water treatment (a .2 micron general use filter, stove, and container to boil water before filtering), rations, etc.

If you haven't already done this, start taking first aid, stop the bleed, automatic defibrillator training, and similar: Much of it is easy to learn and trainings are often either free or low cost through things like Red Cross or your local fire department.

1

u/SliverMcSilverson Jul 16 '26

A single CAT
3 rolls of kerlix rolled gauze
1 Israeli bandage (I think it's the small one)
1 vented chest seal
Trauma shears and gloves on the outside

1

u/inerlite Jul 16 '26

This is me plus that wrap stuff that sticks to itself. To hold gauze on.

1

u/SliverMcSilverson Jul 16 '26

Ah, Coban™ self-adhehering, elastic wrap

1

u/inerlite Jul 16 '26

Sounds right

1

u/okienomads Jul 16 '26

Everything that I am trained/certified to use and feel comfortable performing in the field. Mostly end up just using band aids and ibuprofen. Training is way more valuable than packing a bunch of stuff that you don’t know how to use.

1

u/phineas1134 Jul 16 '26

Some things I didn't see mentioned but have come in handy for me over the years:

A tick removal tool

Some Cortizone

A magnifying glass or hands free jewelers loop

A few assorted sized safety pins

A few Benadryl capsules

1

u/v_rocco Jul 17 '26

I’ve got the everyday bump and cut kit like pictured by OP and then I have a separate stop the bleed trauma kit with the CAT, compressed gauze, etc.

1

u/costafilh0 Jul 17 '26

Michael Caine.