First Aid/CPR/AED

post-training resources

To schedule a Red Cross First Aid training with me, email peacemindse@pm.me, or find a course near you from https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class.

Next steps

Today, learn what you need about opioid overdose reversal in 9 minutes online, and find some free naloxone.

Today, empower yourself with the AHA Guidelines-On-The-Go or other apps, the Red Cross First Aid App, or the Red Cross First Aid Guidelines.

This week, take a free webinar from survivalmed.org.

This month, learn the Stop The Bleed® content, or sign up for a course.

This summer, take a $250 Wilderness First Aid 2-day course, TECC/TCCC, or the 20-hour Street Medic course. Then every few years or so, take a different one.

Purchase first aid kit materials

See my Stop The Bleed page for trauma kit materials.

cuts and scrapes

clear adhesive bandages

fingertip bandages

wound closure strips

waterproof bandages

triple antibiotic ointment

gauze pads

WFA

sting relief

DEET 25%

poison ivy post-contact

sunscreen

pain

aspirin

acetaminophen

naproxen sodium

ibuprophen

lidocaine patches

lidocaine 2% gel

benzocaine gel

cleaning

hand sanitizer wipes

alcohol wipes

BZK wipes

lead wipes

lens wipes

cold/cough

Emergen-C

dextromethorphan and guaifenesin

Ricola

pseudoephedrine

allergies

loratadine

diphenhydramine

other

lip balm

hand lotion

hydrocortisone cream

glucose

lidocaine .5%, benzalkonium .13%

stomach & bowel

loperamide

calcium carbonate

Bismuth Subsalicylate

tools

fine point tweezers for tick removal

tick remover

cotton swabs

various types of tape

nitrile gloves

safety pins

My favorite pouches

I own and use all of these except the STB-branded kit. They're mostly trauma kits except for the $12 red pouch shown below, which would be a good choice for first aid because it has pockets, space and elastic bands.

$20 molle or belt pouch

This is the perfect size to fit massive hemorrhage tools and chest seals. The TQ goes on the outside if you cut the middle stitching of the elastic, and the pouch can be pulled off if you yank it right. It’s budget, it looks good (even the multicam), it operates well, and it works on a belt or molle. It’s also the smallest IFAK I've found. Larger IFAKs tend to flop around, and people feel the need to fill them with non-emergency equipment that belongs in a backpack. Fits TQ, wound-packing gauze, chest seals and an extra gauze.

The Wilderness Ankle IFAK (4-inch)

I've been wearing this for several years. It's comfortable all day until about hour 14. If I'm wearing shorts or skinny jeans, I throw it in a backpack.

- 1 CAT gen 7 TQ

- 2 NAR Hyfin Vent Compact chest seals

- 2 I.V. naloxone vials with syringes

- Elite First Aid 7.25" EMT Shears (get the 5.5" if you fly, although they've never taken mine)

- QuickClot Combat Gauze hemostatic dressing 3"×4yards

- tweezers, gloves, first aid ointment, a small roll of tape, and a buncha bandaids.

Stop The Bleed kit pre-filled

These are what you may find in public as part of mass casualty preparedness.

Large $12 pouch

This is too large to carry on your person, but it's large enough to fit splints and instant ice packs, so if you have a lot of large things, this bag is good. It has a molle and velcro attachment to be able to quickly detach. It would work well on or in a backpack or in a car. You could even mount it in a car with a little craftiness.