Posted: 9/9/2009 10:23:18 AM EDT
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So yersterday, I stopped at a wreck and administered bandaids, so I figure today would be a good day to go through my GP medical kit and give it the once over. I usually keep this one in the car, or in trailer when we are camping. I have a bigger trauma kit for the house and smaller kits in the cars and in the bathrooms, but this is my medium duty kit, its also got most of my flashy medical goodies.
A bit of background, I do have more medical training than the average bear. I know how to use everything in this kit, come to think of it, I have used everything in this kit. (combat medic, worked EMS, ect) As a civvie, the legality of using some of the things may be in question (advanced airways), however, to save the life of the ones I love, I would be willing to use them. So, please keep off of the legalities discussions. I know that you can kill someone intubating them, I've seen teeth broken from the laryngescope. Please check your local laws, YMMV, MHO, tip your waitresses on the way out and all that good stuff. So, off we go: 
The bag is an old range bag that has no tag on it, no idea who made it. 
First outside pocket: Fenix L2D Petzl headlight with flip down red lense extra batteries Latex gloves (one glovefull of them to be exact) Tape various disinfectants (Gel, alcohol wipes, antibiotic ointments, even some betadine wipes) 1 package celox 1.25 oz(ok I lied earlier, I've never used Celox. I used old school quickclot though, does that count?) 
Second outside pocket: waterproof paper (pen is in the belt kit) Belt kit (see below) ENT Kit (see below) Airway kit (see below) Stethascope Thermometer 
Belt kit: (clips onto my belt) Shears Knife Sharpie rubber Tourniquet (the IV kind, not the stop bleeding kind) window punch clamp 
Airway kit: plastic laryngescope/penlight (definately not as good as the real thing, but WAY cheaper, it will work in a pinch) blades for the laryngescope (1 miller, 1 mac) batteries extra bulb 2x ET tubes (actually stored in the main pocket) 1x 7.5, 1 x 8.5 NPA (in the main pocket, not pictured) 
ENT kit: (ok, I just want to point out, I use this thing much more than you would think. My kids always get crap in their eyes (blue light is a lifesaver for this, seems like I use it constantly when we are camping), and the dogs love getting crap in their ears) Fancy Penlight (red and blue filters) Opthalmoscope nylon loop curette for the above mentioned fancy penlight. (used for crap in the eye) magnetic curette for the penlight (used for metal crap in the eye) metal loop curette for the penlight (great for foxtails) adapter to make the fancy penlight into an odoscope disposable covers for odoscope fiberoptic head for the fancy penlight batteries and bulbs for both lights. 
main pocket: 2x SAM splint 1x israeli bandage (Should be 2, no idea what happened to the second one) 1 log of 2x2 gauze bandages 4x kerlix rolled gauze (used one yesterday, so there are only three in the picture) 1x huge trauma pad 5x rolls Coban 2x ET tubes (see airway kit above) 1x Nasopharyngeal airway 1x 10ga IV cath (pneumothorax) various syringes 4x crevaets 1x field dressing 1 x cpr mask 3 x cyalume 12 hr sticks 1 pack of bandaids 1 x field surgical kit (see below) 
Surgical kit: (this started life as an army field surgical kit, its been added onto and modified over the years) Shears pocket knife 2x normal clamps 1 x large clamp 1x scissors 1x surgical probe 1x scalpel handle 20 or so various scalpel blades 1 x suture holder various sutures and needles alcohol wipes and antibiotic ointment Thats about it folks. Like I said, this is what I try to keep in the closest vehicle, so it plays double duty roadside/vehicle wreck and camping coverage. I know it's probably a bit gadget heavy, but what the hell, gotta keep em somewhere right? |
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Looks good.
I was at a playground/park this past weekend with my family and some boys were swinging and jumping off the swings. Well, one of the boys jumped wrong and landed and fell backwards as the swing came foreward and cut him really bad under his eye. I helped the kid, he was about eight, and I ran to the truck gor my GHB that has my first aid kit. By the time I got back others had come up with ice and we put a sterile bandage on there. The poor kid was certainly going to need stiches. I decided I need to enhance my first aid kit in my GHB as while this was a stranger it could have been one of my own kids and we could have been in the middle of nowhere. I am thinking I need to add a special pouch to contain my first aid kit. My GHB is a Maxpedition Colossus and I am planning to buy a Maxpedition FR-1 to hold my expanded first aid kit. Bandaids are ok, but a real first aid kit in the car is a much better idea! I do not have the medical training so my first aid kit will be much less involved then yours 
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Looks good. I was at a playground/park this past weekend with my family and some boys were swinging and jumping off the swings. Well, one of the boys jumped wrong and landed and fell backwards as the swing came foreward and cut him really bad under his eye. I helped the kid, he was about eight, and I ran to the truck gor my GHB that has my first aid kit. By the time I got back others had come up with ice and we put a sterile bandage on there. The poor kid was certainly going to need stiches. I decided I need to enhance my first aid kit in my GHB as while this was a stranger it could have been one of my own kids and we could have been in the middle of nowhere. I am thinking I need to add a special pouch to contain my first aid kit. My GHB is a Maxpedition Colossus and I am planning to buy a Maxpedition FR-1 to hold my expanded first aid kit. Bandaids are ok, but a real first aid kit in the car is a much better idea! I do not have the medical training so my first aid kit will be much less involved then yours CTD has a small bag for $20 that would make a great first aid kit bag for the average person if you wanted to build one separate from your GHB. It has one decent sized main pocket, three additonal pockets, carrying straps and a shoulder strap. Plus, it can clip to your belt if you need it to. they are about the size of a loaf of bread. I use one to hold mags for one of my rifles, but I've always thought it would be good for a FAK. Here it is-CTD |
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Quoted:CTD has a small bag for $20 that would make a great first aid kit bag for the average person if you wanted to build one separate from your GHB. It has one decent sized main pocket, three additonal pockets, carrying straps and a shoulder strap. Plus, it can clip to your belt if you need it to. they are about the size of a loaf of bread. I use one to hold mags for one of my rifles, but I've always thought it would be good for a FAK.
Here it is-CTD a couple of the FD's around here use a bag like that for there BP cuffs, stethoscopes, and pulse ox's along with some small bandages. they are nice little bags but no clue who makes them. i may pick up 2 of these, one for my truck and one for the wifes. |
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Do you also have a FAK for your BOB? Or, is this meant to do double duty? I've been reluctant to bother stocking airway equipment or very large Abdominal wound dressings into a BOB simply because they seem to be a bridge to nowhere. It would also seem useful to have selected antibiotics for the BOB FAK. For a car kit, this is outstanding. Do you have any opinion on the Water Jel Burn Gel from your time as a medic?
Thanks for posting this. |
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Do you also have a FAK for your BOB? Or, is this meant to do double duty? I've been reluctant to bother stocking airway equipment or very large Abdominal wound dressings into a BOB simply because they seem to be a bridge to nowhere. It would also seem useful to have selected antibiotics for the BOB FAK. For a car kit, this is outstanding. Do you have any opinion on the Water Jel Burn Gel from your time as a medic? Thanks for posting this. I keep a small FAK/BOK in the GHB, and each car has an additional small kit. The GHB is the closest that I have to an actual BOB, as my BO plans at this point are vehicle based once I am back home, both this kit and the larger trauma kit would go with us in a BO situation. I have antibiotics at the house, though I am hesitant to store them in anything that is going to be in the car for extended periods of time. The limited impression I have of Water Jel products is positive. I've used the dressings on minor/moderate burns, once on myself. Biggest thing I noticed was the pain relief. works like a charm on a sunburn too  . Seems like a good legitimate option for burn treatment. I've never used any Burn Jel stuff on third degree burns, which seems to be where it would do the most good, so I can't tell you how it does firsthand on serious stuff.
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| Nice bag, but I hope you do not run across any kids in need. Mac/Miller 4's I think? Might want to throw a 1 or 2 in there for the kids if need be, along with some pedi tubes. Also from the pictures I don't see any needles small enough to hit a tiny vein. Also, hope you are working on picking up some Saline or Ringers for when you do stick your patients? Need extention sets too I think.. Again, this is just what I can see from the pics/your descriptions. Your bag is much better than my non-existant one at this time. I plan to model mine off what I carry at work, while shaving some of the BS that we never use. |
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Nice bag, but I hope you do not run across any kids in need. Mac/Miller 4's I think? Might want to throw a 1 or 2 in there for the kids if need be, along with some pedi tubes. Also from the pictures I don't see any needles small enough to hit a tiny vein. Also, hope you are working on picking up some Saline or Ringers for when you do stick your patients? Need extention sets too I think.. Again, this is just what I can see from the pics/your descriptions. Your bag is much better than my non-existant one at this time. I plan to model mine off what I carry at work, while shaving some of the BS that we never use. The blades are huge, with kids my only plan at this point would be digital intubation. Somewhere down on my list of things to get is 37fr Combitube for peds (well, bigger peds at least). (Actually, I'd like to pick up both sizes). Nothing in this bag is used for Iv's, the 10ga cath is for needle chest decompressions. I've got IV sets and fluids in the trauma kit at home, come to think of it, I think the fluid needs to be replaced. I had IV fluids in a previous incarnation of this kit, but I trimmed it down to something smaller and the fluids got left out. Only time I ever used the fluids in the car kit was when I was hung over anyway. 
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| I may have missed it, but how do you intend to ventilate your patient after intubation without an ambu-bag or BVM? An NPA or OPA with 21% ambient FiO2 should hold until EMS shows up. Or do you just like having all that cool stuff? It is a nice and nearly complete kit though. |
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I may have missed it, but how do you intend to ventilate your patient after intubation without an ambu-bag or BVM? An NPA or OPA with 21% ambient FiO2 should hold until EMS shows up. Or do you just like having all that cool stuff? It is a nice and nearly complete kit though. If there was more room, I would have an Ambubag in this kit, I tried to keep it small. Once an airway is established, I can ventilate with my own lungs. I have a three tiered theory with airways, 1)NPA, if that is not feasible, 2) intubate, 3) make my own hole for the ET tube cia tracheotomy. Like I said, I am more concerned with making sure some sort of airway is there, if I had more room in the bag, I qould throw in an ambu bag, put IV stuff back, add a C-collar, hell, I've even got a traction splint I would put in if I had room. The problem is I would end up with 40lb aid bag again.
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Nice bag. Just curious, what do you plan on using the intubation stuff for? I gues you will get plently tired from trying to the pocket mask for a while. I am glad to see that you have used everything in the bag. More some, definitely more than most. nct See the post above, I've had airways close up on me before, so the intubation equipment is there make sure I can establish an airway if I need to. If I had a combitube, I'd probably dump majority of the advanced airway stuff, but I don't have one right now. I also need to get a new bunch of epipens. I don't have any right now! |
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Good job. Consider a LMA instead of a combitube. Small and on only one air chamber. nct LMA's look interesting, I don't have personal experience with them, but they look like they would be even easier to use than a combitube. Looks like the disposable LMA's are more affordable than combitubes as well. ($10-25 instead of $60-70). Thanks for the heads up! |
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I have a large intubation kit with a wide assortment of blades, tubes, magills, etc. I am considering dumping it all in favor of a few King LT Airways. They have pediatric models due out soon (if not already). LMAs are ok but I think the King gives better airway control The ability to run a gastric tube down the airway and also to intubate around it using a tube exchanger are a huge plus. Our service has been using them for about a year now and I am really impressed. I've heard rumors that this (or a similar) device may replace field intubation in the next few years. I also dumped epi pens and now just keep a couple of 1:1000 1mg vials and some syringes. They are easier to come by than the pens. I also recently added 50mg prefilled syringes of benadryl to my kit. I like that traction splint. I've demoed the KTD but never got around to buying one. |
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2x ET tubes (actually stored in the main pocket) 1x 7.5, 1 x 8.5 8.5 tubes are big. Way, way bigger than you need to ventilate somebody. 8.0 is more or less the standard for ICU patients, and the only reason they get ones that big is to facilitate bronchoscopy. Larger tubes are technically harder to place, especially for those without a lot of experience - the size of the tube itself obstructs your view, and 8.5 mm is just a lot to slip between many people's vocal cords. I also don't understand why you carry two - in a kit like this, one 7.0 tube would be fine. You might also consider adding a stylet to the kit. I do think if you're going to carry ETTs you're also obligated to carry an ambubag and a disposable CO2 detector to help confirm appropriate placement of the tube (these are not bulky or heavy at all). It's easy to screw up and intubate the esophagus under field conditions. And don't discount the difference between 21% oxygen from a bag and 15% oxygen from your lungs in a person who's injured/sick enough to need a tube in the first place. LMAs are nice but they take some practice to get them seated right. They were designed for the spontaneously breathing patient, and while you can use them in people who aren't breathing, there are pitfalls to doing so. It's just inherently harder to ventilate someone with them, because fit and placement matter more and inflation of the stomach is easy. Combitubes have real advantages in inexperienced hands. Most survivable airway problems outside of cardiac arrest can be managed just by opening the airway. You have one NP airway. A few different sizes, plus a couple of oral airways would be good additions. I have students and techs rotate through the OR with me all the time. 100% of them are fixated on intubating, and 100% of them need work on the basics: jaw thrust, head tilt / chin lift, ventilating someone with a mask (much harder than it looks to do effectively), placing oral/nasal airways. And even in ideal conditions, with a healthy patient on an OR table, a couple minutes of preoxygenation, a totally asleep and pharmacologically paralyzed patient, with high quality laryngoscopes, and the low-stress environment that comes with having an anesthesiologist walk them through it, almost every beginner is unable to intubate the first few patients they attempt. They hold the scope wrong until corrected, they pry rather than lift, they don't know how to sweep the tongue, they don't recognize the anatomy well enough to know if the scope is too deep or not deep enough. In short, the point I'm making is that placing an ETT doesn't become predictably successful until you've put in 10+ and it doesn't become routine until you've put in 50 or 100. I'm not telling you not to carry that stuff, just to be suspicious of any ETT you place until it's proven to be in the correct spot. |
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2x ET tubes (actually stored in the main pocket) 1x 7.5, 1 x 8.5 8.5 tubes are big. Way, way bigger than you need to ventilate somebody. 8.0 is more or less the standard for ICU patients, and the only reason they get ones that big is to facilitate bronchoscopy. Larger tubes are technically harder to place, especially for those without a lot of experience - the size of the tube itself obstructs your view, and 8.5 mm is just a lot to slip between many people's vocal cords. I also don't understand why you carry two - in a kit like this, one 7.0 tube would be fine. You might also consider adding a stylet to the kit. I do think if you're going to carry ETTs you're also obligated to carry an ambubag and a disposable CO2 detector to help confirm appropriate placement of the tube (these are not bulky or heavy at all). It's easy to screw up and intubate the esophagus under field conditions. And don't discount the difference between 21% oxygen from a bag and 15% oxygen from your lungs in a person who's injured/sick enough to need a tube in the first place. LMAs are nice but they take some practice to get them seated right. They were designed for the spontaneously breathing patient, and while you can use them in people who aren't breathing, there are pitfalls to doing so. It's just inherently harder to ventilate someone with them, because fit and placement matter more and inflation of the stomach is easy. Combitubes have real advantages in inexperienced hands. Most survivable airway problems outside of cardiac arrest can be managed just by opening the airway. You have one NP airway. A few different sizes, plus a couple of oral airways would be good additions. I have students and techs rotate through the OR with me all the time. 100% of them are fixated on intubating, and 100% of them need work on the basics: jaw thrust, head tilt / chin lift, ventilating someone with a mask (much harder than it looks to do effectively), placing oral/nasal airways. And even in ideal conditions, with a healthy patient on an OR table, a couple minutes of preoxygenation, a totally asleep and pharmacologically paralyzed patient, with high quality laryngoscopes, and the low-stress environment that comes with having an anesthesiologist walk them through it, almost every beginner is unable to intubate the first few patients they attempt. They hold the scope wrong until corrected, they pry rather than lift, they don't know how to sweep the tongue, they don't recognize the anatomy well enough to know if the scope is too deep or not deep enough. In short, the point I'm making is that placing an ETT doesn't become predictably successful until you've put in 10+ and it doesn't become routine until you've put in 50 or 100. I'm not telling you not to carry that stuff, just to be suspicious of any ETT you place until it's proven to be in the correct spot. I instructed new 91B/91W's on intubation, I feel your pain. At least you have med students... try teaching 18 year olds who's total medical experience is 8 weeks of NREMT and eight weeks of Army medical instruction  . Sad thing is most of them are better at digital intubations than proper intubations (I do have to admit, digital intubations were easier when I learned). Hey, do you shiny hospital types even teach digital intubation anymore?
The 8.5 is there largely because it is what I have, if I was to use one for a normal intubation, it would be the 7.5. If I was to use one with a trach, it would be the 8.5. Now that I am out of the industry, it is a hell of a lot more difficult (pronounced expensive) to restock my bag, so I am somewhat disadvantaged on that sort of thing. Ok, so a question for all the current pro's here, I am going to be calling in a med order for myself (through a doc friend), and need advice on what to get: first I need a case of IV fluid, preferably have a case of NS and half ringers second I am going to get epi pens (it was suggested above to just use vials, but I think that pens would be a better fit, not like I use them much) third, and this is where I need help, I want to pick up two broad spectrum, low price (super low price) antibiotics with long, stable shelf lives. I've got a generic sulfa drug and Amoxicillian in the stores right now, but both are close to a year out of date. So, whats my best options for SHTF antibiotics right now? |
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second I am going to get epi pens (it was suggested above to just use vials, but I think that pens would be a better fit, not like I use them much) I've never like epi pens. In a rural area, you really need two, and in the SE, they don't last long in a car (they do better in a truck tool box). Thats quite a bit of money. I used to use the almost unknown anakit, but they have been discontinued. You can get prefilled syringes of epi, which are easier then a vial, 10% the cost of an epipen, and half the size.. I usually order 2 sets at a time, one set will discolor before half the expiration date is up. You might consider the epi pen is easier to use on yourself. I can't imagine any situation where I could use an Epi pen but not a syringe, but I have been told in WMD training that under stress you would likely not be able to use prefilled syringes, which is why they put vallium, 2PAM and Atropene in auto injectors. |
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I instructed new 91B/91W's on intubation, I feel your pain. At least you have med students... try teaching 18 year olds who's total medical experience is 8 weeks of NREMT and eight weeks of Army medical instruction . Sad thing is most of them are better at digital intubations than proper intubations (I do have to admit, digital intubations were easier when I learned). Hey, do you shiny hospital types even teach digital intubation anymore?No, I don't teach that. Time is so limited that I try to prioritize mask ventilating and basic laryngoscopy. Quoted:
first I need a case of IV fluid, preferably have a case of NS and half ringers My opinion is that NS is a poor choice for resuscitation, mainly because of the chloride load. Unless you're transfusing blood LR is almost always a better choice. Quoted:
second I am going to get epi pens (it was suggested above to just use vials, but I think that pens would be a better fit, not like I use them much) EpiPens are for treating yourself so they're good to have on hand. Hard to draw up a drug and give yourself an injection while you're anaphylaxing.  For treating others though, a syringe plus the 1:1000 glass ampules are just as good and far cheaper.
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third, and this is where I need help, I want to pick up two broad spectrum, low price (super low price) antibiotics with long, stable shelf lives. I've got a generic sulfa drug and Amoxicillian in the stores right now, but both are close to a year out of date. So, whats my best options for SHTF antibiotics right now? Of course remember that antibiotics are prescription-only in the United States because they can be harmful in non-obvious ways. While you can get away with giving antibiotic X for infection Y most of the time, many have drug interactions and side effects beyond what's apparent from even a careful read of the package insert or the rxlist.com entry. Factors such as geographic variability in resistance patterns make it difficult to say one drug or another is best for treating an infected cut, UTI, or swine-flu-induced pneumonia in a post-apocalyptic Mad Max world. But you might be interested in knowing that back in the day, the military's Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines included the recommendation that antibiotics be started in the field as soon as possible. They specified Tequin (a 3rd gen fluoroquinolone) for patients that could take oral antibiotics and cefoxitin (a 2nd gen cephalosporin) as an IV alternative. Tequin's been pulled from the market but Levoquin (also a 3rd gen fluoroquinolone) is also a once-daily, broad spectrum oral antibiotic ... and it's one of a few drugs I take with me when I'm backpacking or outside the US. It's not going to jive with your super low price requirement though. Amoxicillin is probably the best dirt-cheap all around oral antibiotic but again there are too many factors in play to pick just one or two ... and once again this isn't medical advice. |
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first I need a case of IV fluid, preferably have a case of NS and half ringers My opinion is that NS is a poor choice for resuscitation, mainly because of the chloride load. Unless you're transfusing blood LR is almost always a better choice. I was always taught that for large scale trauma's to use NS, everything else gets LR. Since the IV stuff is in the bigger trauma kit, I figured I'd split the difference. Quoted:
third, and this is where I need help, I want to pick up two broad spectrum, low price (super low price) antibiotics with long, stable shelf lives. I've got a generic sulfa drug and Amoxicillian in the stores right now, but both are close to a year out of date. So, whats my best options for SHTF antibiotics right now? But you might be interested in knowing that back in the day, the military's Tactical Combat Casualty Care guidelines included the recommendation that antibiotics be started in the field as soon as possible. They specified Tequin (a 3rd gen fluoroquinolone) for patients that could take oral antibiotics and cefoxitin (a 2nd gen cephalosporin) as an IV alternative. Tequin's been pulled from the market but Levoquin (also a 3rd gen fluoroquinolone) is also a once-daily, broad spectrum oral antibiotic ... and it's one of a few drugs I take with me when I'm backpacking or outside the US. It's not going to jive with your super low price requirement though. Amoxicillin is probably the best dirt-cheap all around oral antibiotic but again there are too many factors in play to pick just one or two ... and once again this isn't medical advice. Ok, wholly theoretical of course, from the list in this link, what would you say are the best two broad spectrum anitbiotics to keep for general purposes, also, is there any difference in the shelf life of any of them? |
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+ 1 on the tube sizes, the easy cap and an ambu bag. I use 7.0 on women and 7.5 on men. I know that's a half size smaller than most of us use but I never bronch anyone either. Get a 2 miller blade and you can do most kids. Toddlers and younger will need a smaller blade. I get to mask ventilate more than most so I'm confident there. I say go with the LMA over the King. Although they All have a learning curve. You can intubate thru an LMA. For those of you who intubate, try using a 4MAC like a miller blade, it works well for me (I picked that up at a conference last year before leaving for overseas). It looks like you have stylets in the tubes. That's an excellent call! I know people who don't use them, but when you need one, its the wrong time to look for one. I'm not too proud to say I almost always do––except with kids (then I rarely do).
My thoughts on fluid are that LR is best for resuscitation like the Doc says, but, right or wrong I've used my IV fluid to wash gas out of someone's eyes (waterborne ops and an outboard motor). NSS works for that, don't go irrigating with LR. So for mutli-purpose use I go with NSS. To irrigate have someone hold the bag up high as possible and squeeze. Put the catheter part of an 18 ga IV needle on the end of the IV tubing and irrigate as needed. That's why I go with 2-500ml bags not 1 liter bags. Ok you say, 500 isn't fluid resuscitation. No it's not a lot, but current theory (look at the Huston trials) is Not to use massive fluid volumes in the field. Titrate to mentation. Keeping the blood pressure at base line dilutes your clotting factors, and oxygen carrying capacity. Anyways there's many theories on that and I don't want to get too far off base. Epi vials are what I carry, but I would suggest some fluid to dilute it down. I go with the 10ml bottles of sterile water or NSS take your pick. IV benadryl is a good choice too. Don't interpret this as beating up on anyone. This is some of the best discussion I've seen online. Only my .02. The kit is great. I've been wondering if I should downsize mine, but after seeing, this I'm keeping mine as is (or will expand it). I still have to get some 5-0 proline to suture with and a needle driver or Kelly. I may add more ENT (ear nose and throat for those you who didn't want to ask) stuff, but thankfully, so far I've not needed it much. Great thread, keep it up. |
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I have a large intubation kit with a wide assortment of blades, tubes, magills, etc. I am considering dumping it all in favor of a few King LT Airways. They have pediatric models due out soon (if not already). LMAs are ok but I think the King gives better airway control The ability to run a gastric tube down the airway and also to intubate around it using a tube exchanger are a huge plus. Our service has been using them for about a year now and I am really impressed. I've heard rumors that this (or a similar) device may replace field intubation in the next few years. I also dumped epi pens and now just keep a couple of 1:1000 1mg vials and some syringes. They are easier to come by than the pens. I also recently added 50mg prefilled syringes of benadryl to my kit. I like that traction splint. I've demoed the KTD but never got around to buying one. FWIW we have switched off the ET tubes and gone to the king 100%. I have nothing but good things to say about them, much simpler to use, especially for us FR's who don't go on service calls everyday. |
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Ok, wholly theoretical of course, from the list in this link, what would you say are the best two broad spectrum anitbiotics to keep for general purposes, also, is there any difference in the shelf life of any of them? I don't know what to tell you. The better broad spectrum oral antibiotics are expensive, and there's a lot to know about which ones to use when, side effects, contraindications, interactions, etc. The closest thing to what I think you want is probably Levaquin - once a day, still OK in the resistance department, broad spectrum. You won't get it for $4 at Walmart though. Of the choices on that list, probably amoxicillin, but it has issues with resistance and holes in its coverage. Generally OK for most uncomplicated skin infections, and some respiratory, sinus, and urinary tract infections. And I know I've beaten this into the ground already, but picking an antibiotic is something that is not always a trivial undertaking even for doctors. There's a whole subspecialty of medicine devoted to this. |
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Ok, wholly theoretical of course, from the list in this link, what would you say are the best two broad spectrum anitbiotics to keep for general purposes, also, is there any difference in the shelf life of any of them? I don't know what to tell you. The better broad spectrum oral antibiotics are expensive, and there's a lot to know about which ones to use when, side effects, contraindications, interactions, etc. The closest thing to what I think you want is probably Levaquin - once a day, still OK in the resistance department, broad spectrum. You won't get it for $4 at Walmart though. Of the choices on that list, probably amoxicillin, but it has issues with resistance and holes in its coverage. Generally OK for most uncomplicated skin infections, and some respiratory, sinus, and urinary tract infections. And I know I've beaten this into the ground already, but picking an antibiotic is something that is not always a trivial undertaking even for doctors. There's a whole subspecialty of medicine devoted to this. I hear ya, I just want something for if I (theoretically) put a hatchet in my thigh a week into a four week SHTF, or if I get an infection related fever when the general medical safety net isn't working. Kind of the same reason I have a water filter . I might just see how much Levaquin is and back it up with Amoxicillin. How do you feel about Z-packs btw? I think I am going to max out my out of pocket on my insurance for the year in the next month or two (PT adds up quick!), if so, I just might go full retard on the meds, theoretically of course .
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Fancy Penlight (red and blue filters)
nylon loop curette for the above mentioned fancy penlight. (used for crap in the eye) magnetic curette for the penlight (used for metal crap in the eye) metal loop curette for the penlight (great for foxtails) adapter to make the fancy penlight into an odoscope Where does one get a "fancy penlight with curettes" This intrigues me as I used to always clean metal splinters from my Dad's eyes with wet q-tips and a sweeping motion...any special instructions for using a curette in someone's eye? What's a foxtail? Great info! thanks for posting. |
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Ok, wholly theoretical of course, from the list in this link, what would you say are the best two broad spectrum anitbiotics to keep for general purposes, also, is there any difference in the shelf life of any of them? I don't know what to tell you. The better broad spectrum oral antibiotics are expensive, and there's a lot to know about which ones to use when, side effects, contraindications, interactions, etc. The closest thing to what I think you want is probably Levaquin - once a day, still OK in the resistance department, broad spectrum. You won't get it for $4 at Walmart though. Of the choices on that list, probably amoxicillin, but it has issues with resistance and holes in its coverage. Generally OK for most uncomplicated skin infections, and some respiratory, sinus, and urinary tract infections. And I know I've beaten this into the ground already, but picking an antibiotic is something that is not always a trivial undertaking even for doctors. There's a whole subspecialty of medicine devoted to this. Pharmacist here. Doxycycline could be a good pick, really underutilized. Also check Costco, great cheap cash prices. I agree w/ gasdoc, ABX are not things to be messed around with a whole lot even a lot of MDs cannot pick the right ABX or end up giving them when they are not warranted. ETA: generally infectious disease doctors would not like Levaquin being used for skin infections, better choices out there |
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Quoted:How do you feel about Z-packs btw?
Better than erythromycin, which was the only other macrolide on that list. It's been a favorite respiratory cureall though, and overuse is leading to problems with resistance, since lots of people gave/give it for every cough, cold, "sinusitis", bronchitis, or episode of sniffles ... most of which are viral anyway. Used to be a first-line choice for community acquired pneumonias but I don't know if it still is. Resistance patterns for all antibiotics are very regional so what's good in one area might not be as good elsewhere. It's sorta OK for some skin infections but there are better choices. Agree with doxycycline being a reasonable pick too. Ryerle51, I think most ID docs would pop a stroke from reading this thread. :) Quoted:
Where does one get a "fancy penlight with curettes" http://www.remotemedical.com/Basic-ENT-Field-Kit http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/MOLLEBag/ENTKit.htm Expect to pay $100+ for the thing. |
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Quoted:
Fancy Penlight (red and blue filters)
nylon loop curette for the above mentioned fancy penlight. (used for crap in the eye) magnetic curette for the penlight (used for metal crap in the eye) metal loop curette for the penlight (great for foxtails) adapter to make the fancy penlight into an odoscope Where does one get a "fancy penlight with curettes" This intrigues me as I used to always clean metal splinters from my Dad's eyes with wet q-tips and a sweeping motion...any special instructions for using a curette in someone's eye? What's a foxtail? Great info! thanks for posting. Foxtail, the sworn enemy of every dog I've ever owned. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:How do you feel about Z-packs btw?
Better than erythromycin, which was the only other macrolide on that list. It's been a favorite respiratory cureall though, and overuse is leading to problems with resistance, since lots of people gave/give it for every cough, cold, "sinusitis", bronchitis, or episode of sniffles ... most of which are viral anyway. Used to be a first-line choice for community acquired pneumonias but I don't know if it still is. Resistance patterns for all antibiotics are very regional so what's good in one area might not be as good elsewhere. It's sorta OK for some skin infections but there are better choices. Agree with doxycycline being a reasonable pick too. Ryerle51, I think most ID docs would pop a stroke from reading this thread. :) Quoted:
Where does one get a "fancy penlight with curettes" http://www.remotemedical.com/Basic-ENT-Field-Kit http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/MOLLEBag/ENTKit.htm Expect to pay $100+ for the thing. $70 here if they aren't scammers. |
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Quoted:
Where does one get a "fancy penlight with curettes" http://www.remotemedical.com/Basic-ENT-Field-Kit http://www.brooksidepress.org/Products/OperationalMedicine/DATA/operationalmed/MOLLEBag/ENTKit.htm Expect to pay $100+ for the thing. Just put some q-tips in my FAK ...
Thanks for the links |