tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post6334070740536332254..comments2024-03-28T06:37:07.024-07:00Comments on Raconteur Report: Weekend Shopping Field Trip: The Dollar Store - Budget EDC FAKAesophttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07834464741531503378noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-66895189201456995752016-02-12T20:02:47.365-08:002016-02-12T20:02:47.365-08:00You're still missing the point, Alex. This isn...You're still missing the point, Alex. This isn't a Cadillac kit, it's what you could get for a piddling $20 in 15 minutes at the dollar store.<br />I'm trying to point out with it that you can put together a damn good kit for practically nothing invested in terms of time or money, and be way ahead of 95% of the population. I was not extolling it as the last word in preparedness.<br /><br />If, however, you have the means to get better items than what you can cobble together from bargain basement retailers during an after-dinner expedition, you should of course by all means do so, and I encourage that most heartily.Aesophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07834464741531503378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-55921804960974280642016-02-07T11:32:55.924-08:002016-02-07T11:32:55.924-08:00Remember, you get what you pay for. In terms of t...Remember, you get what you pay for. In terms of the antibiotic ointment you are probably okay to go cheap but duct tape is another matter. The cheap stuff does not stick well, especially when wet, and will not hold up. I say buy the best you can afford because there is a difference which will be appreciated when needed. Alexagraveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14836212961926770078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-56987948053894720862016-02-01T15:05:33.681-08:002016-02-01T15:05:33.681-08:00I agree that field suturing should only be done as...I agree that field suturing should only be done as a last resort type thing,and then only done by someone who knows how to suture a wound.<br />Suturing wounds isn't like sewing,and it ain't all that easy to do. I have had to suture a wound,and had someone suture a wound I had-both were done when we were at least 3 days away from any real world medical care.<br /> <br />I just had to have a wound sutured at a real ER on Fri.due to a slip of a razor knife when cutting drywall. Damn near cut the pad off my index finger,and cut was deep enough that it was very close to the bone. <br />The ER Dr had a new resident in tow,who asked for my permission to be the one who sutured the wound.<br />I gave her my permission,because they have to learn by actually suturing wounds,not by practicing on pigs feet-which is what she told me they used. She had the needle part down fine,just had some trouble tying the knots.<br />I was told that most people won't give permission for new Dr's to suture wounds,and that I was one of the few.<br />I guess most people don't think it through-if no one gave permission for new Dr's to do procedures,then there's no way for the new Dr's to learn.<br /><br /><br />GamegetterIIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11963151027331481180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-71077505673091027032016-01-30T18:24:25.368-08:002016-01-30T18:24:25.368-08:00Nota bene one and all, this was an exercise in min...<i>Nota bene</i> one and all, this was an exercise in minimalist kit, aimed at self- and immediate-family/friend care, and limited to what was on hand at the dollar store, as a place to <i><b>start</b></i>.<br /><br /><i>Not</i> the last word in individual health care. Or any kind of resource for mass casualties (except for about 20 seconds).<br /><br />With that in mind:<br />1) If they'd had bottles of sterile non-preserved saline eyewash I'd have grabbed it, precisely because it's eyesafe wound wash far from running water. Utility 100, perishability 1.<br />2) I wouldn't get into Rx meds out of the gate, for a host of reasons, including legal, ethical, moral, medical, and logistical.<br />3) Absent first-world follow-up care - sterile surgical intervention, antibiotics, follow-on wound care, etc. - (exactly what isn't likely to abound in disasters and austere conditions) field suturing is both criminal and criminally stupid in most cases, unless one already has that level of training enough to know the difference. And possesses a buttload of supplies and the ability to stick around long enough to use them. Nothing in a kit this basic meets that criteria.<br /><br />The point of this kit is primarily to make sure the person who has it can perform self-care for most common minor complaints, and thus remain part of the solution, rather than adding to the problem.<br /><br />Patience, gentle readers. Journey of a thousand miles, and all that.<br />I'll be going over bigger and badder kits and special populations as the point(s) become worthwhile. I promise.Aesophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07834464741531503378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-20027668501222185672016-01-30T09:01:47.346-08:002016-01-30T09:01:47.346-08:00I've worked in several disasters and mostly wh...I've worked in several disasters and mostly what I did, was to provide oxygen to people with co poisoning, nebulizers to asthmatics (btw with proper exposure people who never had asthma might start wheezing), and irrigated and cleaned wounds. Sutured a couple of people too but the 1st 3 tasks were the bulk of my work. Most disaster areas are too dirty to do anything else. I know you focused on wound care here, but airway management will likely be a very important part of any field-care operation. Providing air with concentrated oxygen would be difficult out in the field, but albuterol puffer might prove a useful item in your kit.Ex-Dissidenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837109472357860889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-62647821711434355872016-01-30T07:38:44.116-08:002016-01-30T07:38:44.116-08:00Ok, ‘boo boo kit’ in an altoids tin, goes in pocke...Ok, ‘boo boo kit’ in an altoids tin, goes in pocket whenever I go anywhere with the kids.<br /><br />Loose, or in top half<br /><br />6x assorted shapes and sizes fabric bandaids, incl one big enough for a scraped knee<br />3x sheets of rite-n-rain notepad paper.<br />3x imodium anti-diarrhea med<br /><br />tucked firmly and completely into the bottom half<br />6x alcohol wipes<br />1x single use triple antibiotic cream<br />1x small tube crazy glue<br />4x fabric knuckle bandaids<br />1x One third of a paper book of matches<br />1x wooden golf pencil<br />1x prethreaded sewing needle, 18 inch black thread, wrapped around pencil<br />1x lens cleaner wipe<br />2x stick of caffinated chewing gum (BlackBlack, from asia)<br />1x safety pin<br /><br />It is a little puffy, and won’t quite stay closed by itself, so I have a rubber bracelet around the outside (like the ‘live strong’ bracelets)<br /><br />I also wrote “med only” on it to remind myself not to put anything with a blade in it so I can take it on the plane.<br /><br />If I had a small tweezer, I’d include that too. and since I carry a credit card sized magnifier in my wallet, I don’t need one in my kit.<br /><br />nick<br /><br />BTW, in addition to gym bags full of bulk supplies, I've got much more complete kits stashed everywhere. From a first responder trauma bag and OTC drug bags at the house to multiple 'first on scene stop the bleeding' kits one per vehicle, commercial first aid kits in both trucks, 'blow out kit' in range bag, IFAK that gets added for travel or when at an event with crowds, on and on. <br /><br /><br />@aesop, I've noticed what looks like a serious gap in first response medical, and am interested in any thoughts you have. It seems that all the serious stuff is designed for use on soldiers, ie. fit young men, and is sized appropriately. Where is the trauma response for this brave new world of school shootings? Where is the CAT or SOF-T or israeli bandage for the 4-14 year old? Even the guys who are making response bags to be pre-positioned at schools and other venues are stocking them with full sized gear. I've looked at using the israeli bandage on my 4yo, and I can't see it working, even on a leg.<br /><br />Any thoughts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-71226660704812466642016-01-30T05:20:52.795-08:002016-01-30T05:20:52.795-08:00some sterile saline to irrigate out a dirty wound ...some sterile saline to irrigate out a dirty wound would be nice. I guess you can just go with filtered water and soap, if you're on a tight budget.Ex-Dissidenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03837109472357860889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-88947407903971965332016-01-30T04:16:44.777-08:002016-01-30T04:16:44.777-08:00@Dr. Steve:
Thanks Doc.
If they'd had bigger s...@Dr. Steve:<br />Thanks Doc.<br />If they'd had bigger stuff at the 99 Cent Store, I'd have added it too!<br />I carry bigger and better stuff than this now, but I'm in the biz.<br /><br />Down the road I'll go over a more deluxe kit, but even something this basic is better than nothing, and a perfect (and cheap) place to start.<br />On a whim, I just wanted to see what I could come up with there on a sawbuck.<br />Esp. knowing that even if it gets fried in one SoCal summer, I can replace items for the cost of a Happy Meal.<br /><br />My reminder was when someone left-turned right in front of the car in front of me Christmas Eve. Three seconds later and it could've been me totaled in the intersection.<br /><br />Instead, had my kit, got out to render aid (there were injuries), and gave the local parameds a kick-ass hand-off report when they arrived, before heading to Christmas dinner with my family.<br /><br />We never know where the day is heading when we get into the car.Aesophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07834464741531503378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-714028479313834812.post-73107678168279605402016-01-29T23:23:15.832-08:002016-01-29T23:23:15.832-08:00For six months I've been meaning to put togeth...For six months I've been meaning to put together a kit for my car, in case I'm the first one to stumble upon a car wreck or other accident. Never got around to it. I will now, thanks to you.<br /><br />I'll add some sterile 4xx" gauze to pack larger oozing wounds. <br /><br />-SteveSteve Parker, M.D.http://advancedmediterranean.comnoreply@blogger.com