First Aid while 4wding

[John U]

Hi,

I've reckon I've read a few recommendations on first aid in the forum but searching doesn't seem to find any of the posts/threads.

Anyway, thought a dedicated thread might be a good idea (if it doesn't already exist).

What are your must haves for a first aid kit when going bush?

Do you pack more first aid gear if going more remote?

What level of first aid training would be the recommended minimum for 1 or 2 members of your trip if going remote?

Where do you store your first aid kit in your vehicle?

Do you have one of those stickers on the outside of your vehicle telling random helpers where they'll the first aid kit?

Is your first aid kit easily accessible?

Do you regularly replace any items in your first aid kit?

Are there any special extras you've added to your kit?

I have a decent first aid kit

Large First Aid Kit | St John Ambulance Australia First Aid Kits & Supplies

Large First Aid Kit | The Large First Aid Kit is a complete first aid solution for personal and leisure use. It includes all first aid equipment needed in case of common and more serious injuries resulting in major trauma and heavy bleeding. Features: Comprehensive First Aid supplies in...

shop.stjohn.org.au

but I had it stashed behind my rear seat which would make it time consuming to access if my ute was packed in the usual way for long trips. So I've moved it to an easily accessible space in the rear corner of my canopy but now I'm thinking it'll get hammered by the heat from the sun hitting the rear of the canopy every day.

 

[John U]

What are your must haves for a first aid kit when going bush? A decent kit, even if there's stuff in there I don't know how to use someone else may be present who can. Top of the list would be a snake bite kit which I reckon I could use (in the moment I'd hope I didn't fold).

Do you pack more first aid gear if going more remote? Be prepared. The same kit comes on long and short trips.

What level of first aid training would be the recommended minimum for 1 or 2 members of your trip if going remote? I usually travel alone. Probably not the wisest from first aid point of view. I have basic first aid training.

Where do you store your first aid kit in your vehicle? Rear corner of my canopy. Should be easily accessible there whether the vehicle is loaded or empty. An occy strap holds it in place.

Do you have one of those stickers on the outside of your vehicle telling random helpers where they'll the first aid kit? Yep. I need to move it now as I've recently moved my first aid kit. The sticker will go on the side window next to where the first aid kit is stored. Could go on the back window but that might block rear vision.

Is your first aid kit easily accessible? If the car is unlocked, yes. If not and an emergency situation I guess a rock would provide quick access.

Do you regularly replace any items in your first aid kit? No

Are there any special extras you've added to your kit? I got some arterial forceps after chatting to my mum (ex nurse) about what was in the kit I purchased. She recalled an episode of Australian Story about Gayle Shann where these things could've helped stop bleeding. Straight onto ebay for that purchase. (The episode of Australian story)

 

[Hoyks]

Packet of aspro's, some rags and a roll of masking tape.

What more do you need?

 

[shanegtr]

This is the kit that's always in my car:

Details

stjohnwa.com.au

I do have some extras in there as well. Mainly extra banadages, panadol etra bandaids etc.. Latest addition is wart removal spray as its the current preferred tick removal method (and I had to remove a tick on our last trip so I had brought it for that anyway)

Tick bite first aid - Tick Safe and the Mozzie Team

ticksafe.com.au

.
I am thinking of getting a hold of one of the dedicated snake bite kits in addition. I do have everything required for a snake bit in my current kit but as its a fairly large soft pack I think for that sort of emergency it would be more convenient and quicker to manage with just that one small dedicated pack.
I replace stuff if it gets used

 

[Triton14]

While I think its important to carry the basics which are really only about 10 items the best bit of kit you can have is knowledge, as in do a 1st aid course.

The gear is no good to you if you dont know how to use it!!

Even having the St.Johns 1st aid app on your phone would be a start but I am suprised how few people know how to give basic 1st aid/CPR etc.

I have been lucky with my work paying for me to be certified, done the course about 6 times now & learn something new each time.


Still even watching Bondi rescue can give you some training apparently....

8-year-old’s dramatic rescue sparks pride in Bondi Rescue lifeguards

An eight-year-old Queensland boy has helped save the lives of his twin brothers after they were found floating face down in their backyard pool. Riley expertly and calmly performed CPR, which he l…

www.2gb.com

.

 

[barcher]

Packet of aspro's, some rags and a roll of masking tape.

What more do you need?

Tick remover, like a little tiny claw hammer. Or that freeze spray/wart remover spray to get rid of the little buggers.

Edit: Just read @shanegtr about ticks. Horrid little creatures.

 

[Hoyks]

Tick remover, like a little tiny claw hammer. Or that freeze spray/wart remover spray to get rid of the little buggers.

Just reach into the tool box for

 

[cam04]

I’ve got a little one in the day pack along with the leather man, PLB, bog roll and some energy gels. it has 2 snake bite bandages in it. There is a big one in the car and a caravanners kit in the camper trailer. I had a big one made up years ago when we did desert stuff with small kids, it had air splints and all sorts of stuff in it. I was lucky enough to be trained in remote first aid yearly for work so I’m OK with that, not that you’d prefer me to someone who does it for a living. We also got a kit for overseas travel to 3rd world countries - mainly medicines, antibiotics and clean needles etc. It travelled around with us but thankfully we never had to use it.

 

[shanegtr]

Tick remover, like a little tiny claw hammer. Or that freeze spray/wart remover spray to get rid of the little buggers.

Edit: Just read @shanegtr about ticks. Horrid little creatures.

And the little bastard gave me a staph skin infection for good measure

 

[Petunia]

Packet of aspro's, some rags and a roll of masking tape.

What more do you need?

Just reach into the tool box for

I like this can do attitude.

Snake bite, surgical stainless steel chainsaw blade?

I personally think as with lots of things, the ''might'' needs to be rethought into it ''will'' or it ''won't''? I carry cayenne pepper, it ''will'' stem blood flow. [ so will normal flour] Cooking string to tie off arteries, where necessary, 200 Michel clips. Ground ginger for upset stomach, Bicarb and Citric acid. If you need eat gowanda, to survive, least you got some spices.

Ticks? all me mother used was kerosene, I've used diesel and stainless vice grips, all my sister uses is Aeroguard, I have witnessed it's effectiveness at killing the lovely little creatures!

Snake bite kits? Over priced, but hey if you get peace of mind? Me, 8 dedicated heavy crepe bandages, 1 elastic tube sock, assorted fasteners and a lump of charcoal, the done thing is to mark the site of the bite, charcoal will leave a mark after 20 years of no use, a sharpie will be dry!

Extras? I carry a sphygmometer and stethoscope, just because I can.

Lastly, you need pray I'm not the first on the seen after you have an emergency, you gunna die!

 

[madmonk]

I carry a few first aid kits in my vehicle. One large, comprehensive kit and then a couple of smaller kits for when I am bushwalking or are set up for specific tasks (such as a bites and stings kit and a CPR kit).

The main kit is a pretty standard but I have added some additional items -

• Rubber exercise strap (used for binding splints etc.)
• SAM splint
• Sanitary napkins
• Basic sterile dressing pack
• Snakebite compression bandage
• Thermometer
• Tick removal tool
• Instant cold pack
• Wound closure strips
• Blister dressings
• Locking forceps
• White vinegar (for box jelly fish stings)

First Aid kits are not generally set up to carry medicine. So I have another kit which contains over the counter medications I may find helpful in the middle of nowhere -

• Antacid tablets
• Cough syrup
• Anti-diarrhea tablets
• Ear drops
• Antihistamine tablets
• Eye drops
• Antiseptic cream
• Hydration salts
• Antiseptic liquid
• Ibuprofen
• Aspirin
• Mentholated cream
• Asthma puffer
• Paracetamol
• Bruise/swelling cream
• Throat lozenges
• Burn spray
• Toothache drops
• Travel sickness tablets
• Cold and flu tablets
• Water purification tablets

It is no good having a bunch of gear but no knowing how to use it; so most importantly, enroll in a first aid course so you know what to do when an emergency occurs.

 

[John U]

Here's a good short refresher for a few first aid scenarios

Be prepared with first aid basics

Do you know what to do when someone is suffering from heat stress? Or how to treat a jellyfish sting? We’ve put together a handy guide to these and other first aid basics.

www.redcross.org.au

 

[Rusty Panels]

Definitely advisable to have some first aid knowledge along with a basic first aid kit. If your going to be way off the beaten track then you probably should be carrying a more comprehensive kit.
It's also advisable that you're not the only one with first aid knowledge too, after all if your unconscious and bleeding who's gonna bandage you up?

 

[Petunia]

Definitely advisable to have some first aid knowledge along with a basic first aid kit. If your going to be way off the beaten track then you probably should be carrying a more comprehensive kit.
It's also advisable that you're not the only one with first aid knowledge too, after all if your unconscious and bleeding who's gonna bandage you up?

Clearly, you need a shirt with two pockets, the left pocket is for smokes, the right pocket has a red + embroidered on it, inside is clear hand written instructions to run away as fast as possible if a snake is present, then as you are unconscious it gives directions to where the stapler is located, hey you won't feel it. If you laying face down, it's best to have embroidered on the back of your shirt, ''see other side for instructions''.

 

[RIGPIG]

"I aint got time to bleed"

 

[JAFO]

I think I might go overboard a little

lol.

 

[Triton14]

I think I might go overboard a little View attachment 70613 lol.

Not if its your job & I dont think for 1 minute you would do a remote trip packed the same way.

There is a difference between taking into account space a 1st aid kit would be & 1/2 the truck!

Not knocking it, Ive seen your other posts, imo its an=bout being realistic on whats essential 1st aid wise & your other needs.

 

[JAFO]

Not if its your job & I dont think for 1 minute you would do a remote trip packed the same way.

There is a difference between taking into account space a 1st aid kit would be & 1/2 the truck!

Not knocking it, Ive seen your other posts, imo its an=bout being realistic on whats essential 1st aid wise & your other needs.

Triton,

I did the Simpson Desert in 2012 with My Step-father in His a Prado, took what I thought would be a suitable "First Responder Kit" (My Qualification at the time).

The Photo below, was My kit back in 2012.
- The far Right Trauma Bag (included First Aid Consumables, 2x Sam Splint, Adult Cervical Collars, OxyGen Kit, Medication Kit)
- Yellow Defib and
- Spine Board
is what I took on the Simpson Trip with Me. The spinboard acted as smooth a base for my OzTent to sit on and prevent damage in the Roof Cage.

If We had taken My D22 Navara on the Simpson trip . . . Yes defiantly, I would had to sacrifice majority of my Medical Gear to accommodate extra water and food in the back under the canopy, like in the Prado all our personal stuff - clothing bags etc would had sit on the back seat.

My Patrol, I've had for 12 months now, and with it's Storage Shelves Under the Canopy and 200Lt Built-in Water Tank . . . it has much better with more available storage then the D22 Navara ever did . . . I'd say My Medical gear takes up 1/3 of the Storage.

Majority of my Event Consumable are now in 4x 10Lt Plastic Box's: - kids First Aid Supplies Box, Adult First Aid Supplies Box, Burns Box, Trauma Bandage Box, Carboard Splints Kit, Cervical Collar Kit, Sport Medicine Kit (The Red First Aid Kit as shown in the photo) . . . . .,

As I also operate a Medic Motorcycle, My Trauma Kit these days is configured to fit into Two (2) Motorcycle Pannia Bags, and a Small OxyGen Kit on the Bike. I swap the Two Pannia Bags between the bike and Patrol as needed, and carry a Large OxyGen Kit in the Patrol which carries Extra Trauma Related Supplies as well. I only pull My Trauma Bags out when I have to go to the Casualties or if I have a serious walk-up Casualty, overwise I work out of the boxs.

So realistically, and Remember My Patrol has signage in Big Red Letter - EVENT MEDIC posted on it, so there is an expectation from others I carry gear all the time. But if I was doing the Simpson again in My Patrol, I wouldn't drop too much Medical gear at all from the Patrol, maybe 3 or 4 Boxs/Items at the most - kids First Aid Supplies Box, Adult First Aid Supplies Box, Burns Box, Trauma Bandage Box and My Sport Medicine Kit . . . I'd combine my Minor Consumables Box with My Burns Box, that would free up most of the top shelf, and 1 small shelf.

For 1 or 2 week trip away like the Simpson, I have enough room in the back to throw in a 40Lt Food Box, My Personal Kit Bag, Overnight Bag, Beading (Pillow, Bed sheet, Dona) Bag, Camp Stretcher and Air Mat in the storage area at the back of the Canopy.

 

[Batts88]

I only carry a small glove box kit it's been fine for the past 32yrs I've done first aid courses through work for 30yrs you can compromise by using other items you carry or find in the bush see how it goes for the next 32yrs. Unless I was an outback medic I don't need a masive kit that takes up half my storage an epirb or calling the RFDS would suffice use the extra room for carrying more food and water etc.

 

[Bru9]

My take on 1st aid kits is they are mostly designed to prey on suckers who can't walk without tripping over a guy rope. All this bs stuff you need out there, so much safety it makes me sick. I spent enough dozens of times in and out of a few specialist clinics and average Joe super clinics for a long term cyst to know the stuff us laymen or should I say non ambulance drivers have access to is a joke. Even things like proper guaze you can't get, you should see what surgeons have, then you might understand why I get pissed at these nannies who insist on safety, nurses at super clinics didn't even get good stuff, messed up system. Like for snake bites all you can really do it roll up a bandage. Me my way of life is commando style, go out in the Bush and be prepared to not come back, that is life. I have met a few real army blokes who just walk thru a pure Bush like a bulldozer and are not at all affraid of snakes,spiders etc. Me too I make bear grills look like a boy scout and when kids go away with me I make sure they are safe. 1st aid my a$$