Thinking of putting together some first-aid kits for my cars, suggestions?

[CurseTheSky]

Over the course of the last several months, I've stopped at several accident scenes that I arrived on before anyone else. Luckily none of them have been major (often plenty of vehicle damage, but the people have been ok), and I'm thankful that I haven't seen anything life-threatening. However, it got me to thinking - I'd like to have some kind of roadside emergency first-aid kid for myself or the passengers of my vehicle in case of, well, emergency. This WOULDN'T be for other people - I'll leave that up to the EMTs (rather than potentially causing more harm than good by giving / doing the wrong thing).

The goal is to carry "the basics" in a fairly small kit that I can stuff in the trunk or under the rear seats. I'm trying to cover most of the bases without going overboard.

Here's what I've come up with so far. I'm open to suggestions.

- Advil
- Tylenol
- Children's chewable Aspirin (cardiac emergency)
- Benadryl (allergic reaction)
- Roll of Tums or some other kind of antacid
- Various sizes of band-aids
- Gauze
- Medical tape
- Alcohol wipes
- Tweezers
- Several pairs of nitrile gloves
- Emergency thermal blanket (aluminized mylar, folds up extremely small)

All of this is in addition to my normal roadside gear - flashlights, ponchos, glow sticks (handy for illuminating a dead vehicle), jumper cables, etc.

I was also hoping to have some kind of squeeze bottle to use as an eye wash, but but the below-freezing temperatures during the winter here in CT, I'm not sure if there's any kind of safe, sterile liquid that I could carry and use and not have to worry about.

What do you guys think?

 

[Capt Caveman]

I have a standard hiker first aid kit, headlamp, multitool, air compressor with emergency light, flash light, folding army spade, space blanket and one of those emergency tools(breaks glass, cuts seatbelts).

 

[HeXen]

handcuffs
ductape
plastic sheet
shovel
cordless sawzaw
bleach........oh wait. i bet your talkin about a different kind of emergency arnt ya

 

[Mo0o]

What kind of medical training do you have? That would determine some of the things you might or might not carry

 

[vshah]

standard first aid kit, led flashlight, air compressor, blanket, socket wrench and common sockets is what i keep in a box in my trunk.

 

[IronWing]

Wool blanket - can be used as a pillow, a splint, a litter, and a blanket

You might rethink the drugs. The temperature in a parked car might do in the drugs fairly quickly. I carry aspirin and antihistamines in my backpack instead of the car kit for this reason.

 

[FoBoT]

add these shovels if you live in snow or rural area
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product...atchallpartial

 

[cardiac]

You should include Neosporin or some other topical anti-biotic, a pocket mask if you are trained in Heartsaver or BLS CPR, EMT shears (They will cut through anything). Other things can go in there depending on your training..

 

[CRXican]

http://www.lapolicegear.com/adventure-first-aid-1.html

or

http://www.lapolicegear.com/adventure-first-aid-2.html

 

[PowerEngineer]

Costco has been selling ready-made auto emergency kits in small atheletic bags (although not shown on their website). I picked up a couple (typical Costco impulse buy) for our cars. I'd tell you what's in them, but I'm too lazy to go out to my car! One neat thing is that the bags have velcro strips on the bottom so that they don't roll around in the trunk.

 

[DrPizza]

You do NOT MEDICATE people when providing first aid. You do NOT give them children's aspirin. Sure, you mean well, but that's not the thing to do. What about allergies to medications? Do you have patient records? Medicating requires diagnosing. You're not in a position to be making diagnoses.

Best things to carry: simple dressings, gauze, 4x4 pads, things that can be used to apply pressure, nitrile (not latex; again, allergies), instant ice packs, maybe a sling or something to help immobilize a limb. But, you do not move an accident victim; you could paralyze someone with a spinal injury. Blankets, pillows, are good.

Someone above said neosporin. *I'm* allergic to neosporin. If you found me at an accident site and decided to start medicating a wound, you could make things a whole lot worse. If anything, you can use saline to help flush away dirt on the surface of a wound, but again, keep away from medications.

Oh, and my wife also adds, "you wipe one of my wounds with an alcohol wipe & I'm going to f'in punch you." What? Are you getting them prepared for a shot or something?

</advice from my wife, an R.N. B.S.N., W.C.C. (wound care certified.)>

 

[Imp]

Just make sure you a shovel in there. Helpful to get your car out of problems, and to take care of all types of "business".

 

[Texashiker]

Flashlight
Bandages
Duct tape
Jumper cables
Crowbar
Sharp knife

Duct tape is good for everything from wound closer, to patching a radiator hose.

- Various sizes of band-aids
- Gauze
- Medical tape

Forget the medical tape, go with duct tape.

 

[duragezic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dboVSTCkuw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3Cu3OCqfTs

Some combination of that, but with additions for a vehicle kit (like a blanket, shovel, flashlight, etc).

 

[CrazyAznDriver]

Flashlight
Bandages
Duct tape
Jumper cables
Crowbar
Sharp knife

Duct tape is good for everything from wound closer, to patching a radiator hose.



Forget the medical tape, go with duct tape.

He wants to fix them, not abduct them... psycho.

 

[CurseTheSky]

You do NOT MEDICATE people when providing first aid. You do NOT give them children's aspirin. Sure, you mean well, but that's not the thing to do. What about allergies to medications? Do you have patient records? Medicating requires diagnosing. You're not in a position to be making diagnoses.

Nope - certainly not. That's why it would be for me and my passengers only (which would include my fiancee, her son, possibly my parents or my brother, etc.). I would absolutely never give medication to anyone that I wasn't familiar with, which I mentioned in my original post. I appreciate the advice, but believe me, I'm not dumb enough to show up on a scene and just start handing out whatever I think could help. Even with my own family, if I were to give something like Benadryl, it would be for a non-life-threatening situation, and something like aspirin would be only at the advice of medical personnel (or if I was me that was having the cardiac emergency).

Best things to carry: simple dressings, gauze, 4x4 pads, things that can be used to apply pressure, nitrile (not latex; again, allergies), instant ice packs, maybe a sling or something to help immobilize a limb. But, you do not move an accident victim; you could paralyze someone with a spinal injury. Blankets, pillows, are good.

I wouldn't lay a hand on an accident victim unless it was to remove them from imminent danger (car is on fire, etc.). And, I hope I never run into a situation like that.

Someone above said neosporin. *I'm* allergic to neosporin. If you found me at an accident site and decided to start medicating a wound, you could make things a whole lot worse. If anything, you can use saline to help flush away dirt on the surface of a wound, but again, keep away from medications.

Interesting - that's the first I've heard of that. Again, this stuff would only be for me and my family, so just people that I know really well anyway. Good to know, though.

Oh, and my wife also adds, "you wipe one of my wounds with an alcohol wipe & I'm going to f'in punch you." What? Are you getting them prepared for a shot or something?

</advice from my wife, an R.N. B.S.N., W.C.C. (wound care certified.)>

Haha, now where's the fun in that?! C'mon, they're not THAT bad. Then again, I've dumped rubbing alcohol on a deep cut / abrasion before just to show off. That'll wake you up in the morning. My fiancee is on the same side as your wife.

 

[Texashiker]

He wants to fix them, not abduct them... psycho.

I forgot starting fluid (ether) from my list, thanks for reminding me.

 

[DrPizza]

Nope - certainly not. That's why it would be for me and my passengers only (which would include my fiancee, her son, possibly my parents or my brother, etc.). I would absolutely never give medication to anyone that I wasn't familiar with, which I mentioned in my original post.

I'm sorry, I goofed - I misread your post and was thinking that you were referring to the people you've been the first person on the scene for.

 

[PowerEngineer]

Thinking about the topic a little more, I'd add something like a leatherman multi-tool, a means of starting a fire, and some rope and/or dental floss.

 

[Fayd]

Haha, now where's the fun in that?! C'mon, they're not THAT bad. Then again, I've dumped rubbing alcohol on a deep cut / abrasion before just to show off. That'll wake you up in the morning.

...

i dump alcohol on open wounds and push it around a bit to clean em out.

it's not a matter of showing off. it doesn't hurt a great deal regardless.

there was a time i used rubbing alcohol as an aftershave. that started drying out my face, so i switched to an antiseptic lotion.

 

[Texashiker]

Then again, I've dumped rubbing alcohol on a deep cut / abrasion before just to show off. That'll wake you up in the morning. My fiancee is on the same side as your wife.

I heard vodka is better for deep wounds then rubbing alcohol.

When you clean a wound, the cleaning agent is absorbed into the blood stream. Vodka is easier for the liver to filter then rubbing alcohol. But then again, we should be talking about very small amounts being absorbed and filtered by the liver.