Armory Sponsor
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Blow out Kit (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 7/20/2006 7:41:46 PM EDT
|
I have seen this mentioned several times in this forum yet I still haven't found any solid info on what the contents of a blow out kit contains. So could someone enlighten me? I would have posted within a thread but I can't find the latest one in which it was mentioned. Thanks, YF |
|
A "O my God I m shot or blown up" kit. Something to use if there is not a medic or combat life saver around or they have been hit too. Make up of it varies alot. The kit I carried in Iraq had a couple compression bandages, several crinkle fluff bandages, a one handed tourniquet, and some quick clot (the last 2 for very extreme last ditch usage). Had a buddy hit pretty hard (urgent surgical) by an IED in the lower back under his armor. The combat life saver on the vehicle freaked out and could not find his bag, the driver with a personal blow out kit gave him the intial first aid and had most of the bleeding stopped by the time a medic showed up. Tweeter post some good pics of his when he post his gear porn. |
Make it simple on yourself and just buy one of THESE and a pouch for it. |
Good stuff!! Thanks! |
There are cheaper ways to go. Milsurp bandages, isreali bandages, and just buying all the parts seperately, but I finally just got tired of it and bought 5 of these. One for each of my vests, one for my truck, one for my range bag, and one for my hunting pack. Plus a few of the smaller kits they have Here for my home Med bag. Like I said, I know it can be done cheaper, but this was just too simple, it's top quality components, and I like that everything is vacume packed for sterile long term storage. |
|
I'm in a rural area and often by myself with anybody to help at least 10 minutes away if something happens fast. My personal blowout kit is: 1 abdominal pad (big bleeders/stuffing) 2 field compresses (entry/exit, good GP bandage) 1 one-hand tourniquet 1 3" by something elastic roller bandage (holds the compress/packing on) 2 4"x4" petrolatum gauze pads (use the stickyed up foil package with tape for securing sucking chest wound) 1" WP tape That's whats in the dedicated BOP, I've also got some vehicle/gear mounted FAKs with various supplemental items. Haven't gotten any QuikClot yet, but I might. |
|
IMHO there are two different things required. A blow out kit needs to be immediately accessible by either hand and needs to have the important stuff right there without fumbling around. IMO, a simple small utility pouch with one or two field dressings is perfect and for 99% of civilian use it it all that is required. A couple of bandages to control bleeding until an ambulance arrives or until you can get to the first aid kit in your truck or in the range office or where ever it might be.. IMO, every chest rig, duty belt, range bag, etc. should have one or two dressings available. Secondary to that is a larger and more complete first aid kit with an assortment of bandaids, some quick clot, an assortment of meds like motrin for pain and imodium if you've got the shits, etc. There should be one of these in each vehicle, in the house, etc. If you're in the military or if TS has HTF then this more complete first aid kit is required but doesn't need to be right up front where you can get to it instantly. The back of the war belt in a buttpack is fine and you can even get away with keeping most of it except a few essentials on your third line. Places that sell backpacking/camping gear for people going far enough into the hills that cell phone service is unlikely often carry good quality 'wilderness medical' packs that have a lot of good stuff. Get one of these and add a good supply of field dressings and you'll be in good shape.  In this pic of the rear of my vest, you can see a small util pouch with a pair of GI bandages in it. I keep the flap of the front bandage exposed so I can open the lid grab theg flap and yank it out. While that is the 'rear' of my vest, when being worn that pouch is under my right arm and almost straight above my holster so I can get to it with the left hand with a little reaching. I'm also setting up a lighter weight belt-only rig and it will have a bandage or two in a pouch on the front just to the right of the belt buckle. |
| While it is $60, I think this kit gives you a good idea what a BOK/GSW kit should contain: Gall's GSW kit/ It may seem expensive at $60, but remember that a packet of Quikclot is usually around $25 to $30 (almost 1/2 the price of this kit.) An ACS is usually $10. So $40 of the $60 is a packet of Quikclot and an ACS. The remaining $20 is for a pouch, bandages, shears, etc. All things considered, not a bad deal. Get some buddies together and buy the 12 pack and it drops down to $42 per kit. |
|
For all of the obvious reasons I am a huge fan of blowout kits. What I use are: a good-sized pouch (marked well), one-hand tourniquet, nitrile gloves, Kerlix, pressure dressing (army-standard, CinchTight, Israeli Band-Aid or Bloodstopper...), Fibrin or Chitosan dressing (or other "volume" hemostatic gauze), abdominal dressing, utility scissors and a big sharpie marker. I will go further to say that if you can, get the following as well: 14-gauge needle/catheter set, 18-gauge needle/catheter set, saline lock and a nasopharyngeal tube (up your nose with a rubber hose!). Like Hop said, put it somewhere you can get to it with both hands... for the same reasons you need a [simple] one-hand tourniquet. I forgot to add... tape. I usually used 1-inch 100mph stuff or micropore (get the kind you can tear with your hands). |
|
Tweeter... What is the Sharpie for? Please forgive my ignorance. Here's another link that Protus provided on a similar thread... www.narescue.com/Product1.aspx?SID=1&Product_ID=28 |
It is used to mark the time/quantity when either morphine or a torneqet was administered/applied on the patient (usually the forehead). |
I wasnt sure I read what I read, but when I saw the thread I didnt think they sold them anymore.  *I knew it had to be something else, but damn this was the only blowout kit my old ass  And no its not a joke, video with retro commercial. |
|
My kit lil link,,home built kit. sits on my line 2 gear (my LBE) |
Cool kit, Where did you get the pouch?
|
Picture from this thread (pic heavy gear porn) This is primarily used to treat gunshot wounds while you package a casualty for movement to a care facility. It's not a first aid kit. I already listed what I carry, but here goes again: x2 one-hand tourniquets, x1 Bloodstopper bandage, x1 Israeli Band-Aid, x1 Abdominal Dressing, x2 2"x4" Hemostatic Gauze Dressings, barrier gloves (pic has latex, I have since moved to purple nitrile), utility scissors, Kerlix roll and a big-ass sharpie marker. I fit all of this quite nicely into a Tactical Tailor medium zippered pouch. Kerlix is good for filling a gaping wound that is bleeding or for padding around a wound that has a foreign object protruding from it. Abdominal dressings are good for those "holy shit" wounds... If you can fit a beer can in it, it probably needs an ab dressing. Tourniquets, for turning off faucets that suddenly appear on arms and legs. Hemostatic gauze, for stopping heavy arterial bleeding. If you need a tourniquet, you probably want this stuff too. Bloodstopper bandage, used just like an older-style pressure dressing, only it's a hell of a lot more efficient. Utility scissors, for cutting armor and clothing away while/ after you're done assessing. Sharpie, for scribbling morphine times, tourniquet times, information from casualties or people that are in-the-know about the casualty... Heck, play tac-tac-toe or connect-the-dots if it's a bad-guy. Have fun with it, draw a pair of glasses or moustache on his face. I have since obtained some stickers for needle thoracentesis (treating tension pneumothorax), a popular condition caused by penetrating trauma to the chest... like gunshot wounds. I use 14-gauge angiocath sets that autolock for safety. It's basically a needle-catheter set that, after you insert the needle, you ride the needle backwards until it snaps into a protective shell (so you can't stick nothin' else), then you yank the used needle off the catheter and tape what's left in the dude you're treating so it don't fold over and block air travel through the catheter. Way better than an ACS, which... I found out, can clot and become ineffective. Besides, wiping blood off so the ACS can stick is sometimes a real event... I learned that the hard way. The other needle I am starting to carry is a saline lock and an 18-gauge shielded I.V. catheter. The purpose for this is that, while a persons' pressure is still up you want to get a tube in them as soon as possible in case you need to administer blood expanders later on. When pressure drops, veins collapse and it's difficult and time-consuming to push a catheter into 'em. As soon as you have a catheter in them, thread the saline lock onto the back of the catheter and you have a ready-to-use line into your casualty. Blood pressure dropping? No prob, all you have to do is plug the patient into a bag of Hetastarch or Hextend, the stick has already been done, no more fishing around for a viable vein. The saline lock is basically a self-sealing "cork" that you can push a needle-catheter set into when you need to administer fluids. When you need to (for whatever reason) you can yank out the catheter and the saline lock seals right up. There is a membrane (Tegaderm) that we use at work to put over the saline lock so it stays in place and stays relatively clean. It's clear so you can check the saline lock for symptoms of a "blown" or nicked vein, fluid infiltration, also for checking for a blood "flash" when you connect the I.V. I almost forgot, I also use PosiFlush syringes to keep the saline lock from clotting, I keep two or three in case I can't get to a care facility right away (saline locks should be flushed every four hours). A PosiFlush is a prefilled/packaged flush syringe that has just enough saline in it to flush out a saline lock, it kicks all the blood out so it has less chance of clotting and making your saline lock useless. I have a friend who uses the Heparin (anticoagulant) version of these, but saline is cheaper, most units/organizations will go for that instead. When I have these (and I don't right now) I carry an 18-gauge angiocath t Incidentally, there's really no need for a blowout kit unless you're preparing yourself to get shot. Oh yeah, don't try this at home. It's all pretty basic combat lifesaver stuff, but leave it for people that know what they're doing and have practiced it. |
|
tweeter what style one handed do you use.. the spagetti cord style, or like what i carry(CAT) i tried useing the spagetti style in some training and found it hard to use due to the length of the straps? I agree on the training remark,, its a reason i dont have anyting i dont know or feel comfy messing with. Ive only done some basic 1st aid class's and a CLS class. I heard the same deal with the acs( asherman(sp) i figure ) and have passed on them cuz of $$ right now. Plus ive had several combat medic and emts say at times its easier just to make them on spot. as for my pouch,i got it thru a supply dealer thats involved with my buisness, i think its eagle or blackhawk. its build very well and is plenty big... |
|
I use a CAT, carry two of them... There are rumors going around of a clot-resistant ACS version, but the angiocaths are a little more reliable if you ask me. I'll see if I can find an issue blowout kit, I have a few around here somewhere... supposed to be pretty good. I basically rape them for parts though. An ACS costs around $10 on most medical supply sites that I've seen (yeah, sometimes the .gov and .mil go to civilians for shiz) and a 14 gauge angiocath is about the same price. Your health costs a lot more. |
|
yeah ive found cheapest was 10ish$ also.. Our CLS instructor,, mentioned the newer ACS deals and didnt care for them he said along with a new dressing that has a clotting agent in it, slap it on,,leave it.. dont remove just apply a compression dressing over it if need be ect..cant rember the name of it tho off hand. id rather not get up into the cath's and Iv parts as im not trained 100% on themnor will risk it... ill slap and acs on you or make one,,but thats bout far as i can go sides basic bleeder control and making sure of the ABCs/avpu stuff. reason i keep studing , and saving up for training. |
|
I was looking earlier today for a good trauma supplier for those that don't have access to the good stuff. This is what I found, great selection of what you need for a good blowout kit. They even carry Hemcon bandaids and QuickClot. |
Heres mine   Small and light with just a few things . best way to stop blood flow is still good ole' fashion pressure dressing. EMT Shears some tape Misc Boo Boo stuff (Bandaid's/Butterfly strips/Aspirin/Tweezers/Chapstick,etc) Tape Plenty of Good Ol GI dressings Rubber gloves Good utility knife Light Source What's most Important is having some Basic First aid training and not get wrapped in all the "Cool Guy EMT" gear. Anytime your out with firearms you should have a kit of some kind, might not be you who needs it but someone else.. Someday I'll tell ya the story about a guy in the tgt Pits at a CMP High power match who took a Rifle jacket fragment in the forehead........ (no , not me..) You never know when it's gonna happen or where.. so be that Boy scout that is in each and every one of us......
|
They have very real limits, there is a reason that the military has rapidly changed it's outlook on field trauma care. Put a tourniquet in there dude, it'll save yer ass. No real training needed for a t-kit, slap it on and get the hurt dude to the hospital. Things I have in the range bag for splash and others 'boo-boos" are: 1) the telephone number for the closest hospital 2) directions to the closest hospital (from the range), I usually just print it out from Yahoo maps or Mapquest, the like. 3) a clean handkerchief 4) a roll of Kerlix and 5) a one-hand tourniquet. NOTE: no tweezers or chapstick. I guess if I'm hit I'm a goner (sorry Harv, couldn't resist  )
|
This is true. They have found that the amount of time someone can wear a tourniguet is MUCH longer than they used to think. I've seen pictures of Contractors wearing the CAT, combat application tourniquet  as part of their daily gear. The somehow attach them at the upper part of their legs (looks like part of a rapelling arness) and above their biceps. That way if they get a severe wound in the extremities they just cinch down and fight on. |
CAT some vids of how to use it in there and pics. i have one in my kit... on a side note.. the CLS instructor and 2 other combat meds i spook with are saying .. that use of a turney is Ok,, stop the flow,,stay in the fight,, till evac arrives . Its what they are getting them to do. |
I ordered several 4" and a few 6" from Botac last week and they arrived quickly a few days later. Botac has done more than enough to earn their repuation, but they do seem to have these items in stock so I'd say order away. |
Chinook Medical |
NARP They have great shiz for ventilator kits, even a handy li'l saline lock set. |
BestGlide They have the .mil ones and the same in white, called civilian, for cheaper ($3.85/ea for 10). No problems ordering, felt good to have enough to stash one everywhere. |
|
How do the "Israeli" bandages compare to the cinch tight H bandage? I noticed on quick clot's web vids that the USMC vid uses the H bandage where the others use the Israeli. I also noticed while looking on eBay, a guy selling Israeli bandages says that they have an expiration date (2010). What exactly expires in them? Thanks R |
I have one and it is indeed marked with an expiration date. My guess is that it is linked to guaranteed sterility. |
the izzy's cando more than one job,,its compress ,a ab,, and turniey all in one. noit a true turniey but better than a normal dresssing..i have pics somewhere of a CLS course that we used them on each other ill see if i can dig them up. |
I'd go with this, the plastic gets really brittle after a lot of exposure to extreme heat and cold. I would say it's good until you start seeing holes, usually where it's been creased for some time. Just inspect it every once in a while. |
That's not really a Blow Out Kit. That's a booboo kit. You've got supplies for comfort and taking care of a scraped knee. You lack anything to deal with airway issues at all. People forget that part of the equation entirely if they haven't had some training to keep it in their mind. Less specialization in your kits. More multi-purpose items that take up less space. A simple triangle bandage with the supplied safety pins serves as so many tools in one. It can be a sling and swathe for broken arms/shoulders. It can be converted to a tourniquet. It can be a pressure dressing. The pins can serve to keep the tongue pinned to the lower lip, holding the airway a little more open. That kind of utility. Take the booboo stuff out entirely. It DOES NOT belong in a BOK. Why would you want that stuff taking up space where you could either save space for more ESSENTIALS, or make the pouch less cluttered and easier to use? Put booboo stuff in a booboo kit, either somewhere else on your gear, or in a bag. Take out the light and the knife. While effective tools during aid operations, they should be normal parts of your gear. Do not clutter the one pouch in your gear that needs to be clutter-free. |
I was under the impression that the "mission" dictated the gear in the kit. It may not fulfill your definition of a blow out kit, but it may be enough fo rhim. Anyway, the highlighted seems odd to me. It's not a matter that they haven't thought of it, but it could be the very real possibility that they haven't had the training in it, therefore making having it useless, if not dangerous. I mean there's no sense including things you can't use, is there? |
BAh,,if it was a perfect world,, and that was a perfect statement we'd see alot of guys here posting pics of their 22lr trainer bolt actions and not all the HSLD gear IMHO,, you build your blowout /FAK on your abilities. There is always training available out there. I only carry what i know how to use in my kit. does that make my Blowout not a BOK..maybe but if youve got a hole in you im sure i could help! Haveing stuff you cant or not trained to use has its plus's and minus's. For example the one poster said why clutter up your kit with comfort FAK items. well why clutter them with airways,tractionsplints, or IV kits... if you dont even know wtf they are or how to use them. but making sure you have your BOK easy to open,get to ,use and work with while in pain or under stress is more important than whats in it IMHO. see it goes both ways. Its like when guys ask what "pack" is best or what "boot" is best for their Line gear. Each person is different, and each pack fits their set of needs. Mine for me is my SHTF/red dawn only kit,,not what i carry on backpacking trips or the like. that said i have an airway in my kit,,its just not listed,,but a trained eye will see it in plain view in one of my pics |
|
We carried an israeli, a chest seal, a 14 gauge needle, pair of gloves, an oral airway, and a CAT. The israeli is the best thing since sliced bread. There are very few parts of the body which it can't be used on. The chest seal isn't so useful in actual field use. 14 gauges needles are only useful if you know how to use, but training is very easy. CLS people are getting trained now. If you arre going to carry one, carry two. Got to have gloves. An airway can be good, I prefer a NPA (Nasal), need training, but it is very easy. The CAT is by far the best tourniquet. Check them every once in a while though, because the plastic clips can break. Also most people had EMT shears. I would say if you have gloves, an israeli, a CAT, 3 inch tape, and EMT shears you have a good basic setup, which doesn't take up much room. If you want more advanced stuff get some 14's, and an airway, maybe some kerlix etc. Skip stuff like quik clot. It is not the "silver bullet" it has been made out to be and does alot of damage. The Hemcon bandages are pretty good and aren't as dangerous as quik clot. However, you would be better off carrying an extra israeli or CAT, in my opinion. I also don't think I would run around with a loose CAT on my arm or leg. If would never stay put unless it was tight and would get caught on eveything. As said before train with these items. Buy an extra israeli, open it up, and practice with it. There is also a really good video made by the inventor which shows you all the different ways to use it. As a side note the US military trains to put a tourniquet on first to stop the blood loss, bandage the wound, and then release the tourniquet slowly and see if the bandage controls the bleeding. Tourniquets are a four-letter word in the civilian sector so depending upon your situation that may not be the best idea. There are many different setups one could have, so this is by no means the end all be all, but less can be more. |
|
Does anyone have a link to that video (or any infromational page) on how to use an Israeli bandage. Your typical G.I. first aid stuff is covered in the First Aid TM, but not the Israeli bandage (at lest not in the version I have, which is a bit older). It may soudn stupid to ask, but if the Israeli bandage can be used in several different ways I would like to be able to use it to its full potential. Also, if someone has a scan of a good gunshot wound first aid card that I could print out and put in my first aid kit that would be great. I would rather have the info handy in case I forgot stuff under pressure or if someone else has to use the kit because I got a hole through me and can't take care of it on my own. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Blow out Kit (Page 1 of 2)
Armory Sponsor