What’s an ideal first aid kit for use with the GFC/during offroading adventures?
I’ve been looking at the “MYFAK mini PRO” . While it seems pretty expensive, so is a hospital visit or dying in the great outdoors.
I’ve had a few rough experiences and now always carry a couple small fire extinguishers, a nice toolkit, etc, but first aid is something I don’t have handled yet.
Depends on your activities/ needs.
Training is almost more important to invest in than the actual gear.
A lot of these high speed IFAK kits companies are coming from the LEO/MIL world and have stuff that the average camper/hiker/overlander may never benefit from.
I recommend thinking about your common activities and researching some of the common injuries associated with that
In general a SAM splint is something you can cheaply add to many injuries that can provide stabilization and relief and has a pretty low learning curve/barrier to entry.
If you have the time I would recommend looking at the pricier kits and seeing what devices you don’t know/ have never seen and learn how they are used.
You don’t want the first time you use a tourniquet or a NPA to be when someone is hemorrhaging or has a compromised airway.
Some stuff can be learned from YouTube University but in general I recommend First Aid to be learned in person.
Outside of a Red Cross training or EMT school at the local CC I’d recommend getting a kit from an EMS or hospital supply shop and not a tacticool supplier.
Someplace like Galls or the EMS Store makes fully assembled kits without the molle upcharge
For simple hiking kits I recommend the Adventure Medical Kits brand, much more likely to get a blister than a sucking chest wound in most scenarios.
Are you looking for a “boo-boo kit” for general cuts and scrapes? Or a trauma kit to treat “dying in the great outdoors”? If the former, what you’ve got is probably okay. If the latter, don’t go cheap. I’d recommend anything from North American Rescue. They have package options that will suit any budget and/or use case. Link below. They also offer training on how to use these tools which is arguably more important than the tools themselves.
Great answers, thanks. For a “boo-boo kit” I’m pretty covered. Bandaids, gauze, burn creme, ibuprofen, alcohol wipes etc.
I agree totally that training may be the most important thing and am happy to invest required time and energy into that (and have done a fair bit of training in the past, but a long time ago).
I think my aim here is “sensibly prepared for most things up to a car accident/hiking accident in a remote area”. I have two trucks and want a kit in each truck. I acknowledge that training and communication devices are the better part of that, but I’m specifically thinking about what items should be readily available.
Speaking specifically to that, focusing on gear or interventions that aren’t in the general boo-boo kit , from generally from lower to higher complexity/liability:
Water
“Blood sugar” snacks or fruits
Israeli Bandage
SAM Splint
C-collar
Climate appropriate weather protection (space blanket/ ice sheets)
Tourniquet
NarCan
QuikClot
OPA
NPA
Chest seal
Needle decompression
how to start an IV
If you know what to look for a BP cuff, and stethoscope can be useful for taking vitals before handoff to higher level of care
Same thing with general knowledge assessment of things like brain trauma, temperature injuries, stabilizing joints or bones when injured and how to buddy carry, or fashion carrying aids (or having a portable drag litter)
When it comes to serious injury in remote areas I believe pain management is critical. Prescription drugs and even anti-nausea medicine can play a huge role in helping an injured person that has to wait for search and rescue or a long trip to the hospital. Like other said proper training is key or go camping with doctors and nurses they always know what to do and often carry the good stuff.
Totally right. I suggest getting a WFR.
After that, you’ll know what you want in your kit. Most stock kits have lots of things you’ll never use. I build mine and tweak them for the activities I do and the most likely unfortunate possible injuries. That said, there are some newer things out there that are really helpful (like clotting gauze).
Investing in tools you don’t know how to use tho is probably not worth it. And this isn’t a scenario where you are hoping someone who knows how to use the tools comes by soon to help 
“No one is coming, it’s up to us”
G
This is one of my mottos and approach to life. Respectfully to everybody here, the note on training is heard, understood, and taken to heart. I know a tourniquet won’t tie itself, much less properly.
I guess “WFR” means taking a Wilderness First Responder class. With tuition starting around $700 and heading north of $3,000, I don’t need to worry about “wasting” an extra $50 on supplies, course or no course.
Tools & training are a killer combo. Or a lifesaving combo. Here I’m thinking/asking about the tools. Looks like I’ll just buy that “expensive” red kit with everything, and budget some time and money to get some training beyond the self-teaching I usually do.
Thanks.
Yeah, around here they are about $700 and and are ~3-7d of training.
Sorry, should have linked to them in the response: WFR Courses
You’ve gotten some pretty darn good advice here so far @Vice_Chief Especially the need for training… all of us could use that!
Since you’re specifically asking about tools; I also have two vehicles to outfit, so I picked up a couple of these Ever-Ready Industries kits from Amazon. While it doesn’t have everything, this economical first aid kit is an excellent starting point and it’s compact enough to fit in any adventure rig (so it won’t get left at home).
I’ve been slowly supplementing mine over the past year with things like: better wound closures (steri-strip & sutures), more med’s (antihistamine, anti-nausea, anti-diarrheal, Narcan, NSAIDs & other pain mgm’t), etc.
Thanks for starting this thread… I’d be interested to see a list of ALL of the first aid supplies that overlanders keep in their vehicles.
-Mark
I have some experience in the MIL/LEO tac-med world. I think I can throw out a couple of tips that haven’t been mentioned yet.
In advance of finding that perfect/affordable in-person training opportunity that also fits in your budget there are some low-cost ways to start the process of getting spooled up. Check out a company called “TacMed Solutions” on Youtube. They have some decent free training videos if you want to dip into the more trauma-oriented (M.A.R.C.H. mnemonic) type stuff. Get a good TQ (CAT, SOF-T, etc.) from a reliable vendor or directly from the manufacturer and make it your personal trainer. Literally… take a sharpie and write “trainer” on it then keep it at home and don’t carry it in your rigs. Practice self-application and then try throwing it on a buddy if they’ll let you. Start timing your applications with your phone or a stop watch just to add a little stress. Try to get it down to 45 seconds for a TQ application, then closer to 30 seconds. You get the picture. Then get some dedicated TQs to keep in your vehicle that aren’t used for training or practice. You can also find easy/creative ways to practice wound packing with cheap regular z-folded gauze. That skill carries over to a Quikclot or similar product. Chest seal practice is good too.
Slowly piece together or build a kit that has the stuff that you’ve practiced with and that you feel comfortable using. If any of the stuff you end up carrying is vacuum-sealed then do yourself a favor and get some red duct tape. Tear of little strips of that tape and attach it to the package on opposing sides of the “tear here” incision that the factory usually puts in that type of packaging. Fold the tape back over on itself. Basically you’re making oversized pull tabs that you can use to help get the packaging open quickly, especially under stress and when your fingers might be covered in blood, etc.
Hope that helps @Vice_Chief !
Beyond the usual.
https://lifevac.net/ So I don’t have to try and self-heimlich when solo camping.
And what can ruin a trip real quick is when a crown comes off or a lost dental filling. So bring some dental cement (like Dentemp), and a dental pick to clean out the crown before gluing it back on. Go to the dentist when you get home obviously. Rinse with salt water before gluing anything. Some cotton balls or a wad of clean paper towel to dry the tooth first is good too.
Finally, I don’t really like bandaids, but I love Leukotape. I just put some vaseline/neosporin on the cut/abrasion, cut some sterile nonstick gauze pads to cover the bloody bit and then tape over it with Leukotape. Just make sure you trim/shave any body hair out of the way first.
Good advice all around here. WFR courses are good for outdoor activities. Also keep renewing your CPR cert and take a Stop the Bleed course.
I am an EMT with NOLS wilderness upgrade and National Ski Patrol certified, so lug around more medical than most. Lately I have been getting a lot of kits from rescue essentials and give their premade FAKs as gifts (Rescue Essentials WFA Kit).
My personal preference is to bring a paramedic or trauma nurse along on backcountry trips whenever possible. 
Haha, that’s my family’s plan…they just take their own wilderness med/ER doc.
I think there is good advice here. I would take look into training first and then sort out what you need. As an example, I bought this fancy pants automotive tool kit but really have no idea how to use it (the auto repair classes don’t seem to fit my schedule).
Sometimes I have my med kit with me, but usually not. Honestly, there are a gazillion things that I could need, but it’s just not practical. My “pocket pharmacy” is the size of a 16oz nalgene. I carry commercial tourniquets in all my vehicles. This is something that could save a life (although you might lose a limb)…airway/breathing stuff, the patient will die…everything else is an inconvenience and can be sorted out when you get back to the city.
Fun thread, thanks.
I have taken several 1st Aid Classes, from basic at the Red Cross to advanced trauma classes. But by all means I am not an expert. I just know enough to stop the bleeding and get on my Garmin inReach® Messenger to get help.
I carry two trauma first aid kits all the time.
I would recommend checking out Outer Limits First Aid Kits: https://www.outerlimitsupply.com/
I carry the 6000 Series on the vehicle.
When hiking I carry the All Terrain First Aid backpack.
On my vehicle I use their Quick Release Mounting System.
6000 kit on vehicle using the Quick Release Mount!
6000 First Aid Kit
Hiking kit in an after market camera case .
Hiking kit in the recovery case on my Jeeps spare tire.
Not to confuse things, I also put the Quick Release on the Camera case with the hiking kit in it.
