First Aid Kit Basics

How many times have you heard the media pundits tell you that in order to be prepared you should have a "first aid kit" with your emergency supplies.

We are going to help you define what some agencies and the media have been generally reluctant to do. You can make adaptations as you see fit and as your skill level dictates...but first some thoughts on that ...

Practical Considerations:
Everyday kits come in many sizes - for biking, ATV, car, boating, camping, job etc..
The gear in the kit may be used by others that may be more skilled to use them than you are.
Many kits found in stores are inadequate for more than a simple emergency.
You might be called upon to use this kit many times during a disaster.
Constructing your own first aid kit (DIY) is a part of the training.
In an extended emergency (30 Days+) medical assistance may not be readily available.
Good kits will cost some money. We suggest that if you can - build your own. You may consider more extended disaster gear to have on hand to supplement your first aid kit for a long haul.

Having as much first aid training and reference materials on hand are important for long term emergencies or when you are sheltering in place. Certification is required for the everyday use of some of these materials....if your life is in danger you should not be concerned about that.

Learn how to do things in an emergency - if you get help, great - if not, saving your own life or that of a family member is what matters.


Suggested Home First Aid Kit 2-4 Person

First Responder Kit Bag or Fishing Tackle Bag or Specialty Bag/Tool Bag or Large Day Pack
Spray Saline or Wound Wash Bottle or Sterile Saline Liter Bottles (2) **
EpiPen - Prescription Required (2)
Personal Prescriptions Marked in Sealed Bag - Current Med List Completed
Foam Sam Splints "Pocket Cast" - Hand/Wrist Version (9")
Hemostatic Dressing/Bandage Combination - Quick Clot- Celox (4) **
Vinyl gloves that fit you (12 pair)
Vaseline Impregnated Gauze Pads (4) or Asherman Chest Seal &
Sterile Aluminum Foil Roll (1)
Providone Iodine Wipes/Swabs/Gauze (12)
Sterile Dressings 4x4's (12)
Sterile Dressings (aka Gauze Pads) 2x2's (12)
Multi-Trauma Dressings Large 12x30" (2)
Roll Gauze - 2" x 4yds Kling/Kerlix or similar Conforming Bandage (12)
Roll Gauze - 4" x 4yds Kling/Kerlix or similar Conforming Bandage (12)
Combination "SurgiPad" Trauma Dressings 8x7.5" (6) or Thick Feminine Hygiene Pads **
Assortment of "Band Aid" type adhesive bandages **
Large 8x8 Sterile Burn Gel Dressings (4) **
Instant Cold Packs (4)
Surgical Suture Kit (Military) with extra sutures (1) **
CPR Rescue Breathing Device (1) or Face Shields (2)
Roll Bandage Tape 1" (3)
Bandage Scissors - Large Medic Style (1)
Penlight (1)
Flashlight - Or Headlamp LED Lithium Powered (1)
Spare Set of Lithium Batteries for lights (1)
Chemical Lights - Bright White 30 Minute (4) **
Emergency Mylar Rescue Blanket (2) **
Triangle Bandages with Clips/Safety Pins 40x40" (6)
Air Resuscitator Bag - Disposable - Adult (1) (Training Required)
Esophageal Airways - Child & Adult (Restricted Items)
Activated Charcoal Suspension - Poison Absorbent 120ml (1)

Aspirin or Quick Release Crystals Single Dispenser Pouches (10)
Blood Pressure Cuff and Stethoscope (Learn how to use it)
Waterproof Note Pad - Write anywhere Pen with Clip attached to bag
Medical Skin Marker - Black (1)
Ammonia Inhalants Package (1)
A & D Ointment or Vaseline Tube (1)
Bulb Syringe (1)
Eye Wash Solution (1)
Tweezers (1)
Large Disinfectant Hand Wipes (24)
Bio-Hazard Bags - Gallon ( 4)
Star of Life Symbol Designating Kit as a First Aid Kit
Dental Emergency Kit - Complete Sealed (or make your own)
Ziplock Freezer Bags (for avulsions - amputations)
Antihistamine Spray (1)
Triple Antibiotic Ointment Tube (1)
Antifungal Ointment (1) Double for Warm Humid Climates
Emergency "911" Phone - Charged & Programmed with Emergency Numbers Only
Safety eyeglasses with reading lenses or MedShields Disposable Eye Protection

Moleskin Patches for Foot Blisters (1)

Super Glue Tubes - Small (Cyanoacrylate) (4)

Hibiclens Skin Cleanser (8oz) (1)

Butterfly Bandages (12)

Antimicrobial Topical Gel - Handwash 6-8 oz (1)

Silver Sulfadiazine Cream SSD (Silvadine) 50 Gram tube (1)

Zinc Oxide Tube 2oz USP - Skin Protectant

Glucose Tablets - Roll of 10

Spray Bandage (1)

Oral Electrolyte Packs (2-3)

Duct Tape - Small Roll (1)

Tincture of Benzoin - Hardens Skin - Prevents Blisters
Medical Emergency Contact Forms and Current Medications List from http://www.ice4safety.com/

Inspection Tips: Note the Expiration Dates on Contents using Sharpie Marker Pen
Include a First Aid Kit Contents List and Note Expirable Items Clearly!

Learn how to do these things yourself NOW http://tinyurl.com/36qs2c

Online reference sources: http://www.buyemp.com/

Make sure to have a name tag with your contact info attached and mark all the gear inside you can because someone may permanently "borrow" your kit.

** Or as many as you can afford for other kits or replacements for when used.

National Preparedness Month 2010

Uploaded already to twitter in both dated and undated versions so you can use them in educational classes about personal preparedness.

There is still no better and more applicable image to represent preparedness - there are many confusing and poorly designed and mostly confusing symbols out there - exactly what you DON'T need.

Confusion.....it will get you killed.

Check out our new Preparedness Best Practices Safety Posters online and on Twitter

ICE - STILL THE BEST!

Prep Tip - Marking Equipment for Safety

Recalling earlier articles here about keeping it simple and having substance rule out over style - well here are some additional examples. The photos here depict the labeling of an emergency household inverter circuit (IC#5) that can easily be identified in case of power outages as being back up power. Some circuits can use colored labels but we chose to be more subtle. In the shop use yellow - it stands out well.

This practice is common in commercial buildings for a variety of reasons. Suffice it to say having someone in your home/office/shop able to locate viable outlets might have a better chance if the circuits were labeled. Regular circuits should be identified this way also to help during repairs of other household electrical problems. Simple.

Make sure you test and affirm you have everything labeled correctly. Commercial circuits and medical facilities use colored outlet covers....but we suggest you keep it simple to avoid undue attention.

Battery charger or voltage converter input/output voltages are listed in notoriously small print or molded in black lettering to black cases making reading them in an emergency a ridiculously difficult and even hazardous.

The voltage converter with a similar 5.5mm tube connector may look the same as the one for your backup electronics but when hooked up (maybe by someone else helping you) could destroy the device in an instant. Also, if the unit is something you might want on an evacuation it could make matters worse if it was meant for a critical medical device or battery charger.

During an extended stay somewhere you might find additional uses for whatever it is you labeled because you are able to easily identify compatible components. If the component is something required in an emergency then mark it with an ICE Sticker ( still available free by SASE - see website) for rapid identification.

Having eyesight issues or working in low light can also warrant the use of large easily read (or marked with a marker) labels can make a world of difference. There is no need for eyeglasses. Label devices are less expensive today and sometimes you might be able to borrow one from work or a friend.

Having someone home who is not particularly attentive to electrical or utility details and faced with an emergency and needing power will find this preplanning a blessing. Trust us we tried it.
Preplanning and redundancy. Don't forget to label the circuit breaker box properly and keep a back up list/chart in a file. No electrician is required. DIY.

Preparedness Tips - National Preparedness Month

We are getting back to the practice of providing more practical preparedness tips - and since September is National Preparedness Month, we plan to do as many as we can that are both informative and practical. ICE has become so popular here that we have had to spend considerable time in administrative duties.

ICE4SAFETY is fanatically into substance vs style. The messages will be short succinct and to the point. We then will compile them and provide them online so organizations and business risk managers can use them for posters or newsletter items for the people they serve.

All of the discussions have either been vetted with professionals in the field or from our own expertise and experiences. We may be interjecting information from various sources to save you time in researching on some of the more technical or bizarre survival sites online.

The recent exodus from New Orleans for Gustov shows how important it is to plan ahead for all contingencies. Many did just that. Others still don't get it and many who live in denial or in la la land may never get it until it is too late. Your choice - but officials now have said that if you remain - you are on your own.

Reading about survival can be frustrating and downright painful at times - you know you have to do something to improve your odds and prepared but the very thought of it reminds us of our own mortality.

We will break the topics down to size so you can chose them in a more palatable form. We think you will appreciate that and we know it will be easier to accomplish in this manner. No crepe hangers here...just practical folks that want to share with others. Thank you for the overwhelming support we have been receiving from across the globe!

September - National Preparedness Month!

You now have 2 weeks to prepare your organization to recognize National Preparedness Month....so what are you going to do? Not enough time...can't think of anything......well how about taking an hour and working up some ICE posters or handouts for your group or community to get them thinking about being prepared.

Many people still have not heard of ICE and even worse are still not the least bit prepared for anything....much less any serious incident like a storm or accident.

If you visit the website Preparedness Forum Page you can download an ICE Calendar Poster for September 2007. http://www.ice4safety.com/