Your kit needs to be packed according to your skills.  Filling it with equipment and supplies you are not qualified to use needlessly takes up space and could open you up to some liability issues.  The Good Samaritan Act only protects you if you only provide care according to your level of training.

That being said, start with a bag.  How big a space do you want it take up?  I tried some of these Statpacks at the last EMS conference.  They are very well built and well compartmentalized.  They are a little expensive though.  If you decide to go that route, I'll get you some local contact info.  

What training level do you have?  Combat medic?  First Aid?  EMT?  That will help me give you a better opinion on what to stock in your kit.

Here's an overview of my trunk kit, but keep in mind I also use this while on duty:

Large Trauma Dressings
Abdominal Dressings
Sterile Burn Dressings
Asherman Chest Seal
Charcoal
Glucose
Sterile Water
Saline (for irrigation)
Kerlix
Ace Bandages
Sam Splints
Assorted guaze and bandaging materials
Vaseline Gauze
An oxygen setup, with nasal cannulas, NRB masks and an adult/ped BVM
An intubation kit
BP Cuff
Stethescope

I'm sure I'm missing something but those are the materials I access the most.

Quoted: So medicmandan, which of these would be good for using as a gunshot wound compress? The trauma dressing? This is a good topic for a shooters forum. Even though the only time I've been around a human with a gun shot wound it hardly bled at all (he shot himself through the right calf muscle with a .22 pistol), most probably do.

If it was just a regular wound, any dressing that will control the bleeding will do.  If the wound is in the chest cavity, you may need to seal it with an asherman chest seal or vaseline guaze to help prevent a tension pneumothorax.

Quoted: Medicmandan, what do you think about taping a sandwich bag on 3 sides over a sucking chest wound?  What you lose in style points and sterility you gain in economy.

It would accomplish the same thing.  The service I work for won't spring for asherman's on the trucks, so we have to improvise all the time.  A lot of EMS is just making it up as you go, finding unique ways to apply the principles you've learned.

Quoted: medicman - thanks again for the info - it reminded me to go and review my kits again and look for items to add. Unfortunately, I found I was behind on my maintenace and have to replace items I robbed over the past year.

I do that fairly regular myself, but since I use it for work, I'm fairly good at keeping it stocked.

Quoted: I've been told asherman chest seal's are free to any VFD/VEMS service in Wyoming if they ask. Seems the guy who designed them lives somewhere in WY.

I heard that too once, but could never find anything supporting it.

Quoted: Quoted: Your kit needs to be packed according to your skills.  Filling it with equipment and supplies you are not qualified to use needlessly takes up space and could open you up to some liability issues.  The Good Samaritan Act only protects you if you only provide care according to your level of training. That being said, start with a bag.  How big a space do you want it take up?  I tried some of these Statpacks at the last EMS conference.  They are very well built and well compartmentalized.  They are a little expensive though.  If you decide to go that route, I'll get you some local contact info.   What training level do you have?  Combat medic?  First Aid?  EMT?  That will help me give you a better opinion on what to stock in your kit. Here's an overview of my trunk kit, but keep in mind I also use this while on duty: Large Trauma Dressings Abdominal Dressings Sterile Burn Dressings Asherman Chest Seal Charcoal Glucose Sterile Water Saline (for irrigation) Kerlix Ace Bandages Sam Splints Assorted guaze and bandaging materials Vaseline Gauze An oxygen setup, with nasal cannulas, NRB masks and an adult/ped BVM An intubation kit BP Cuff Stethescope I'm sure I'm missing something but those are the materials I access the most. Where's the duct tape??

Isn't that already in everyone's trunk?