...DIY Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)...

[The Heretic]

How about a surgical stapler for SHTF usage - not FAK, but for home medical care where you can't get to a doctor for weeks and need to close a deep nasty wound that has been cleaned?

Or where you are out in the middle of nowhere and you can't make contact to get help without fixing an open wound, waiting a few days until you can move, and then extricate yourself?

I've seen that kind of thing happen to people who were riding dirt bikes in the middle of nowhere - although I personally would have a SPOT type device with me to call for help in that case.

 

[AMProducts]

How about a surgical stapler for SHTF usage - not FAK, but for home medical care where you can't get to a doctor for weeks and need to close a deep nasty wound that has been cleaned?

Or where you are out in the middle of nowhere and you can't make contact to get help without fixing an open wound, waiting a few days until you can move, and then extricate yourself?

I've seen that kind of thing happen to people who were riding dirt bikes in the middle of nowhere - although I personally would have a SPOT type device with me to call for help in that case.

Unless you can wash and sterilize a wound, you should not be sealing it, there is too much room for complication. You should pack it with kerlix rollers (sterile) and then wrap the whole thing. Even if you can wash and sterilize, a course of prophylactic antibiotics is usually necessary even in cases of surgery. I tend to hold the same opinion of surgical staples as I do for sutures. Staples however have a much greater chance of success than someone suturing for the first time.

Even in cases of deep wounds (penetrations) the best course of action is to stabilize the wound, and then GTFO to the hospital.

My biggest fear in the case of deep wounds is arterial bleeds. Which is why my kit contains 5 hemostats. I am not looking forward to the day they may be necessary to treat this condition, but they are useful otherwise.

Personally, I did have a rather severe (yet otherwise superficial wound on the back of my thumb, where it was cut down to the bone. Since we were 3 days walk from anywhere, it was cleaned and dressed. By the time we got back to civilization, there was no need to go to the hospital as the wound was already knitting and was on it's way to heal. It did leave a nasty scar, which probably wouldn't have happened had it been stitched and it likely would have healed faster, but other than the scar I have had no adverse affects.

 

[Modeler]

I assume you included the needles for chest decompression? If so, those blunt tip needles off Amazon won't pierce the skin. The one pictures in your photo (the one in the white tube with the red cap) is the right one to have.

 

[bzltyr]

Good Morning, this is just my take on the Individual First Aid Kit. There are of course commercially available versions that vary in price and capability. There are excellent individual trauma kits by numerous vendors. Here is what has worked for me based on my military and dad experience. This includes sources for the contents. (No flaming is necessary, I freely admit that I an not a doctor).

ULTIMATE I. F.A.K. [Individual First Aid Kit]

CONTAINER:
Condor Brand, EMT Pouch, 7x5x2.5 inches (available in a variety of designer colors)

CONTENTS:

MANDATORY:

10 ea, Band-Aid brand, "Tough Strips"
These babies will take quite a beating and still stick

1ea, QuikClot brand, Advanced Clotting Sponge, 1.75 oz
Granulated QuikClot: you must remove EACH granule before suturing, sponges or gauze are better.

1ea, Nasopharyngeal Airway (28 Fr., 9.3mm) with Surgilube

10 ea, Dispensing Needle, Blunt Tip 14 ga x 1-1/2"
After treating the sucking chest wound, insert to allow minimal air into the lung thru the front seal.

1ea, 6in, Israeli Battle Dressing
For those pesky non-TV bullet wounds

1ea, (pair) First Voice TS-FSOD1 Mesh FoxSeal Chest Seal/Occlusive Dressing
Through and through chest wound, see "dispensing needle" above

1ea, Prestige Medical Fluoride Scissor, Black, 7 1/2 Inch
Cutting Stuff

1ea, Tac Medical Solutions, SOFT-T Gen II tourniquet
Saving arms and legs

2ea, 3-0 Black nylon STERILE suture with attached needle
For sewing stuff back on

2ea Pair, Black Nitrile Sterile Gloves, with 2% Lydocaine Burn Gel, Individual

2ea Pair, Black Nitrile Sterile Gloves, with Betadine Swab, Individual

1ea, Epinephrine, auto-injector
Just in case

1ea, 2oz, Alcohol gel
Put on rubber gloves, smear with alcohol gel, and get to work

OPTIONAL:

Soda Bottle Pre-Form to hold pill items below when seal is broken

PRILOSEC OTC (20mg each)
DOSAGE = 1~3 day
Long term heartburn releif

RANITIDINE (150mg each)
DOSAGE = 1~2 AS NEEDED
Short term heartburn relief

IMODIUM (2mg each)
DOSAGE = Adult, 2 followed by 2
After first firm bowel movement
Children, ½ to 1 capsule
Short term diarrhea relief

ADVIL (200mg each)
DOSAGE = 2~6 as needed
Pain Releif

BENADRYL (25mg, 20ea)
DOSAGE = 1~2 as needed
Allergy symptoms, itching

CLARATIN (10mg each)
Loratadine Generic
DOSAGE = 1~2 as needed
Allergy Symptom Relief

LANSOPRAZOLE (30mg each)
DOSAGE = 1 per day
Long term heartburn
Proton Pump Inhibitor

CAFFEINE (200 mg each)
DOSAGE = 1~2 per
Drowsiness

# # # # # #
Sources:

Band Aids
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B6A6Y9E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dispensing Needle
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001QRZ31C/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Israeli Bandage
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003DPVERM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Chest Sealer
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LPICV1W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Clear Airway
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003950R2E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

POUCH
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005E0YGBA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Scissors
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WJHE7E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tourniquet
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007AIJZO2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Gloves
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002XXO60M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Betadine Swabs
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002C30RLA...UTF8&colid=27BYBFB0FUUE&coliid=I3RZJZFPUAECX4

Burn Gel
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006GE5N6...=UTF8&colid=27BYBFB0FUUE&coliid=IJCUDRH58J648

Soda Bottle Pre-Form
http://www.amazon.com/Soda-Bottle-Preforms-Caps-30/dp/B008MB1QNY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412779790&sr=8-1&keywords=soda preforms


All items have been vacuum packed for longevity and to reduce size.

 

[bzltyr]

Oops. Good info. Thanks.