A Basic Guide to First Aid Prepping Gear
Introduction
This article is about prepping for first aid during a stuff hitting the fan event. In most disaster scenarios imaginable getting injured is a serious problem. Access to medical treatment may be extremely limited if it’s even available. It just depends on the situation. I’ve stated in previous articles that when I first started prepping, it was for the zombie apocalypse. That was well over a decade ago and though the zombies haven’t manifested in the way I thought they would, I’m still prepping for a couple of scenarios that are just as serious.
In the scenario involving the undead walking the Earth, there are no hospitals. There are no clinics, urgent care facilities or any places to seek medical care. There’s also no electricity (no electrical grid), no utilities, and no internet. It’s a bleak scenario for any survivors and those people also have to worry about the hordes of mindless zombies who might choose them for an afternoon snack. Compare that scenario to the one where the electrical grid fails. There isn’t an internet. Banking stops. Communications infrastructure not supported by backup power stops working. Commerce stops and if the outage is nationwide, then transportation largely grinds to a halt. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what happens next. Access to medical treatment professionals in this scenario suddenly becomes difficult, if not impossible.
Then, there’s the possibility of a currency collapse in the United States. The amount of debt accrued by the country combined with the amount of unfunded liabilities threatens to destroy the modern economy. The amount of government spending has no end in sight. The government’s out-of-control spending will eventually result in a crash of the currency and when it does, most Americans will not know what to do next. Most aren’t prepared for it. When this event takes place, there will be bank bail-ins. Access to capital will be cut off. Credit will seize up. Ordinary people will not be able to pay for goods and services, including medical care. Gas prices will spike, resulting in a spike in prices for everything else including food. People will not be able to afford to drive or eat, resulting in a drastic increase in the likelihood of widespread panic. If that occurs, what do you think happens next?
While I certainly hope none of this happens, both possibilities exist. These are the two BIG things for which I am preparing. In my opinion, they’re the two most likely and two biggest threats to my future, but there’s something else to consider that will complicate both of them. Over the past three years, millions of illegal immigrants have crossed the Southern Border. Some of these people are terrorists wishing harm on the U.S. and its citizens. If any of these people decide to launch attacks across the country during either of these scenarios, then the results will be catastrophic. Can you imagine having to seek medical attention during any of this?
I believe these factors are already “baked” into the future that lies ahead for the United States. I believe it is just a matter of time until one of those events takes place. That’s why I have taken steps to mitigate these possible future timelines the best I can and so I can be better positioned for what happens next. Part of that is planning and thinking ahead about potential medical emergencies that I may encounter.
My Knowledge of The Subject
Unfortunately, I haven’t attended medical school or worked in the medical field in any capacity. I haven’t been a combat medic, paramedic, or firefighter. Like a majority of people, I lacked the background about this topic and I have had to seek out and gather information about it. So I chose a starting point. Several years ago I decided to take a CPR class so that I could learn how to perform CPR. I was also taught some basic life support skills. I repeated the certification process several more times. Then I signed up for CERT training and completed the class with a local fire department. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. Next, I took a couple of classes offered by FEMA about the National Incident Management System. I continue to learn as much as I can by picking the brains of individuals who have served in the military or civilian capacities, saving the lives of others.
The knowledge I have subsequently gathered has given me a good foundation and place to begin. I now know how to properly use the medical supplies I have set aside for the shtf events I anticipate. Some preppers think that prepping is about having stuff. They buy tons of gear and store it away but they have no idea how to use it and they never practice with it. The supplies they have are worthless if they never bother to know how to use them. Medical supplies are no exception.
So that’s why I wish to share some of what I know in this article and I hope it helps someone else out there. I might blur the line a little between civilian and combat medicine in this article simply because the scenarios I laid out previously may cross between them. The terminology I will use may also not be the most current, up to date or proper.
I should also remind anyone who may read this that anything contained therein is not to be construed as professional medical advice. Nothing in this article is to be taken as such and if you require medical care, then please consult a medical professional. I encourage you to seek training, like CPR and Basic life support classes, and even CERT training. Then practice the skills learned from taking those classes as often as you can.
One more thing I want to mention before continuing is that I am barely going to scratch the surface of this topic by writing this article. It is impossible to cover every aspect of this topic. There’s simply no way to prepare for everything and the future cannot be predicted. The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to focus on a few common problems and the type of gear for addressing them.
Types of First Aid Kits
I’ve heard all kinds of terms thrown around to describe first aid kits. I’ve heard them called simply first aid kits to boo-boo kits to blow-out kits to trauma kits. I don’t know what lingo you use to describe what you have but it doesn’t matter what you call it. What’s inside is what matters most. You can buy them already put together or make them yourself, but either way, just make sure you have one or more. Remember, when the shtf there will not be a resupply truck coming your way. For this article, I’m going to refer to the common all purpose kits as boo-boo kits and trauma kits as an IFAK or Individual First Aid Kit.
The Boo-Boo Kit
The boo-boo kit is an all-purpose first aid kit. It has a little bit of everything. They are sold by a variety of retailers both online and at brick-and-mortar stores. They are generally inexpensive. These kits are for treating minor injuries like cuts, scrapes, and burns. I have several in my home but I also carry one in each of my vehicles. The point I want to stress is to get one or more or to make your own. Having multiple kits during a disaster or emergency may be handy. They come with several items depending on the size of the kit, but they are ideal for treating injuries that aren’t life threatening. Most of these kits come with the standard variety of adhesive fabric bandages, alcohol pads, gauze, tape, butterfly bandages, burn gel, scissors, gloves, antibiotic ointment, ibuprofen, finger splints, trauma pad, dressing pad, sting relief, and a variety of other miscellaneous medical items I may have forgotten to mention here. Some of the item lists for these kits are long. Just make sure it has what’s needed to clean and dress the wound. I prefer to buy ones already put together and then supplement them with additional supplies. I have extra tubes of triple antibiotic ointment, boxes of nitrile gloves, boxes of bandaids, packages of gauze (a lot of sterile gauze), boxes of island dressings, bottles of Hibiclens, rolls of medical tape, and burn gel. Hibiclens is great for disinfecting cuts, scrapes, and abrasions. It’s used as a wash by surgeons. My mom always had it around when I was growing up for when I or my brothers skinned our knees. Buy a couple of large bottles of it and keep it handy.
The IFAK
IFAK stands for Individual First Aid Kit. I’ve heard others call them Trauma Kits or Blow Out Kits, but again, terminology isn’t what matters most. The IFAK differs from the boo-boo kit, which is for minor injuries. Instead, its function is to house items used to treat severe or massive bleeding. Massive blood loss requires immediate attention and could be the result of a gunshot or knife wound. I believe that having one readily available cuts down on the time to treat an injury of this nature. I stock each of my vehicles and gun belts with one of these. Wherever I carry a firearm, I carry an IFAK. If I am at the gun range, I have an IFAK. I make sure I have access to one of these just in case someone ends up losing a lot of blood.
My kit contains nitrile gloves, scissors, sterile gauze, medical tape, field dressing, clotting sponge, nasal airway, alcohol swabs, povidone idodine prep pads, abdominal pads (sterile, 5x9), tourniquet and chest seals. It has everything that’s needed to “stop the bleed.” More on that later.
Side Note: If you are prepping for a community disaster and you have a group of people organized to provide community defense or security, then it’s recommended that each person carry their own IFAK. At least have one for each person carrying a firearm. Otherwise, what will you do if someone gets stabbed or shot? It should be identifiable by other members of the group. If someone gets injured, then other group members can identify and access the injured person’s kit to use it on them. Each one of mine has a patch with the universal first aid symbol (looks like a plus sign) on the outside of the pouch and the pouch itself is worn on the back side of my battle belt in the 5 o’clock position. (Find a place on your belt that’s comfortable for you.)
Minor Cuts, Scrapes and Blisters
I have seen other preppers overlook treating small injuries and focus mostly on treating traumatic wounds, like gunshot wounds. They don’t realize that a small cut or blister on the foot can become infected without proper treatment Infections of small cuts, scrapes, and blisters can lead to sepsis, septic shock, and death. According to the Mayo Clinic,
“Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection. The infections fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work poorly.
Sepsis may progress to septic shock. This is a dramatic drop in blood pressure that can damage the lungs, kidneys, liver and other organs. When the damage is severe, it can lead to death.
Early treatment of sepsis improves chances for survival.”
During a sthf scenario, individuals may be under a lot of stress. It may be easy to overlook small injuries, but it is important to treat minor wounds to prevent them from becoming bigger problems. Treatment is easy but requires disinfection of the wound, covering it, and keeping it clean. This requires obtaining the proper medical supplies ahead of time, instead of waiting until the last minute. I know this seems obvious to most people but there’s probably a few procrastinators out there who will wait. It will be too late when they finally realize it is time to stock up. Going to the store will be dangerous and nothing will be left. So get some extra boo-boo kits as soon as you can. If you haven’t already, designate a central location inside your home to store these kits so everyone knows where they are.
Stop The Bleed
I have also seen the opposite side of the spectrum. Some have small boo-boo kits for minor scratches and bumps but don’t have anything to stop serious bleeding. Those who can’t treat massive blood loss will be in a bind when or if it happens. It’s the opposite of a situation involving a small cut on the arm or finger that gets infected, killing the person at a later date via sepsis. A person who suffers a life-threatening puncture wound can bleed out in a matter of minutes. Time is of the essence, so grab that kit, open it up and get to work. Stay calm and methodical though. You don’t want to make any mistakes. Get on the gloves, wipe the surface of the wound and apply pressure to the wound with the gauze pads in your kit. If more gauze needs to be added, then place more right on top of the others. Don’t try to remove the first layer(s) of gauze. Keep piling gauze and keep the pressure on. Pressure must be maintained in order to slow the bleeding. Dressing the wound at the scene may be necessary and if there’s a functional hospital, then find a way to get the person there. If 911 still works, then great. Call it. If not, then you may have to drive them yourself.
A trauma kit that’s equipped with the right supplies can make the difference between life and death. You can make your own or buy one. Just be sure it has a few basics like sterile gauze, gloves, scissors, field dressing, chest seals, tourniquet, sharpie marker, disinfection wipes, and medical tape. I have a nasal airway in mine which is useful to have, but having one is up to you. Place the kit somewhere that is easily accessible. If you carry a concealed firearm, then the last thing you want to do is have a bulky first aid kit hanging off your belt. Stick it in a backpack, in your vehicle, or in a drawer in your office desk. Have one or more in your home and if you have a range bag, then place one in there. If you have a battle belt (aka gun belt) for home defense, then put an IFAK on that belt if you haven’t already. This is about having the proper tools ready at the right time. If you’ve taken the time to prepare by going to the shooting range, purchasing extra food, having backup generators, and getting right with God, then invest the time and money to do this. It could save your life one day.
Tourniquets
In the list of items I have for my IFAK, I included tourniquets. A tourniquet has a specific use when it comes to massive bleeding. However, they are not the first thing that should be used to try to control bleeding. Many people today seem to believe that it should be used for just about everything. Improper use of a tourniquet can lead to the loss of circulation of blood to the region and that can lead to the amputation of limbs. It should be used as a last resort if bleeding cannot be brought under control with pressure and gauze. Keep a sharpie with your tourniquets for marking the time it was applied and get the person to a hospital, if possible. If not, then try to stabilize them with fluids and start praying.
I don’t anticipate having to see serious injuries like this, but if we’re invaded then all bets are off the table. The soldiers we sent to the middle east needed these, as they were being blown up while driving down the road. Losing limbs in explosions and suffering massive blood loss required the use of multiple tourniquets on limbs in some cases. Fortunately many were able to be evacuated by helicopter to an airbase with a hospital where military doctors were able to save the lives of many soldiers. Those who lost their lives are not forgotten. I appreciate the service and sacrifice these soldiers made. They were sent off to fight a war their country thought was right at the time. A shtf scenario of this nature at home could be just as serious. Drug cartels are just as strong as some foreign armies. They have some serious capabilities and they pose a threat. Make sure to include tourniquets in your medical kits and make sure to buy real ones. Avoid cheap knock offs that will fail. Do your research and buy from a reputable retailer. Then seek the proper training for their use.
Dehydration
Dehydration happens from not drinking enough water. Sounds simple, right? About half a million Americans are hospitalized each year due to dehydration. About ten thousand die from it in the same period. Babies get dehydrated quicker than adults. Certain medications and health conditions can affect hydration. During a shtf event, people will be acting under increased stress levels and therefore they need to be proactive to prevent dehydration. I don’t want to end up dead from not drinking enough water. It’s totally preventable. During any type of survival situation, I prefer to drink my water until it is gone. I’d rather run out and get dehydrated later than get dehydrated and still have water to drink. This may seem like common sense, but is common sense really that common anymore? Don’t allow yourself to become dehydrated. I can’t emphasize this enough. If you think you’re going to be able to defend yourself, sustain yourself, repair equipment around your home, or do any physical work after falling ill to dehydration, you’re wrong. The smart thing to do is plan ahead. Have enough water stockpiled away or have a water source close by. Disaster events are stressful enough.
According to a newsletter published in May 2023 by the National Institute for Health,
“If dehydration becomes severe, it can cause confusion, fainting, an inability to urinate, and rapid heartbeat and breathing. At this point, it can be life-threatening, and you should seek medical help fast. Drinking liquids may not be enough to replenish your body’s fluids. You may need to be given fluids intravenously—through a needle or tube inserted into a vein.”
Identify early symptoms of dehydration and react accordingly. There’s no reason to ignore them. Symptoms of dehydration may include:
Headache, delirium, and confusion.
Tiredness (fatigue).
Dizziness, weakness, and lightheadedness.
Dry mouth and/or a dry cough.
High heart rate but low blood pressure.
Loss of appetite but maybe craving sugar.
Flushed (red) skin.
Burn Treatment
Burn injuries can result from a variety of things, like overexposure to the sun, touching hot surfaces, or skin contact with corrosive chemicals. They are quite painful too. Most of us have been burned by something hot in the kitchen before. Usually, these burns are first-degree burns that aren’t as serious as other burns. First-degree burns affect the outer layer of the skin. They can get red and can cause pain.
Second-degree burns affect the outer and second layers of skin. They can be deep. They may cause blistering, swelling, and red, white, and splotchy skin. Pain can be severe and there may be scarring.
Third-degree burns reach the fat below the skin. These severe burns may cause the skin to appear black, brown, or white. Numbness can result from the destruction of the nerves. The skin may look leathery.
Treatment for each type of burn differs, but for all instances get the person away from the cause. One must first stop the burning.
For first-degree burns, cool the burn down with cool water (not cold) until the pain stops. Use a compress if running water is unavailable. Then closely cover the burn with sterile gauze, applying burn gel or a petroleum-based ointment two to three times a day.
For second-degree burns, cool the burn down by immersing it in cool water for 10-15 minutes. A compress may be used if running water is not available and remember to avoid ice. Cover these loosely with sterile gauze and use tape to secure the gauze in place.
Monitor the person for shock. If it’s possible and won’t cause discomfort or airway blockage, lay the person flat and elevate their feet. Raise the burn above the heart and cover them with a blanket.
Third-degree burns need to be covered with loose sterile gauze or a sheet if the burn area is large. Lint is bad for wounds and soaking in water may cause infection. If the person can be laid down without causing discomfort or blocking their airway, then lay them down flat, with their feet raised 12 inches. Elevate the burned area above the heart and cover them with a blanket. Monitor the person for shock, while checking their pulse and breathing.
Skin is our largest organ. It protects us from all kinds of threats. It’s the first line of defense. It’s serious business if it gets burned because it’s susceptible to infection. Infection is the biggest threat after a burn. Changing out bandages and keeping burns clean is the key to recovery after a burn.
Foot Care and Hygiene
Take care of your feet and hygiene during a disaster to the extent that you can. Taking care of your feet means you will be able to remain mobile. If you’re caught somewhere away from your home when disaster strikes, then the best way to take care of your feet is to have a spare pair of socks or shoes. Stock a “get home back” with extra socks and footpowder in the trunk of your car. Include a toothbrush and some coin towelettes in the bag too. These items will go a long way to helping your mental state and will prevent minor health issues from arising during the trek home to safety. Once home, continue to take care of your feet and hygiene for the same reasons already specified. There is no way to know ahead of time the duration of an event. It will be important to stay proactive to maintain mobility and a healthy mental state.
Conclusion
Plan and have the right tools for the right medical emergencies. Plan for the most common types of problems. Having small aid kits and supplementing them with a trauma kit and other first-aid supplies will get you ahead. Get training and learn how to use everything you accumulate. I didn’t go into great detail about treatment because hands-on practice is the best thing you should do. There’s no substitute. Learn CPR and basic life support. Get ready with these skills. They may come in handy during the normal course of life and they'll be priceless during a disaster.
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