What little items have you added to your range-bag first-ad kits?
- Thread starter Mark1964
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I've found over the years to keep kits simple. Too many cutesy things, too many sizes of band aids just clutter of the kit. I also keep two separate kits. The booboo kit for all things minor. Then the trauma kit, separate, visible, and easily accessible.
CapnMac
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"Little things"--ok, Unc' sent me off to combat ditch medic school long ago and insisted I keep at least some current at it. So, I'll not have a "small" kit that was lacking "little things."
I'll apologize if that comes of sounding harsh. It's not meant to be harsh, or dismissive, or the like--just that I'm dismissive of some of the "inexpensive" kits available in too many places.
Further, taking any classes on this will expose just how tawdry and simple those "discount" kits have. (There's a bit of a sign that they often advertise based on how many things are inside and not the utility of them.)
I'll apologize if that comes of sounding harsh. It's not meant to be harsh, or dismissive, or the like--just that I'm dismissive of some of the "inexpensive" kits available in too many places.
Further, taking any classes on this will expose just how tawdry and simple those "discount" kits have. (There's a bit of a sign that they often advertise based on how many things are inside and not the utility of them.)
herrwalther
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I keep a pair of tick tweezers in mine. Because where I shoot, ticks are far more likely than a trauma bleed. The little light when you get up close to grabbing something small like a splinter or tick.
https://www.amazon.com/UST-Integrated-Backpacking-Wilderness-Survival/dp/B00YDQJK9Y
Bad things happen to good people. Had cancer a few years back. Dr gave me pain meds coming out of my ears. Cancer left but the addiction started. Never robbed or stole. But did have to take a trip to rehab. Not saying this applys to all but some. My only regret is not getting help sooner!!!
I carry my everyday first aid kit to the range. Bandaids, tylenol, aspirin, tourniquet, plenty of sterile pads, blood clotting agent, butter fly bandaids, glove's, and extra ear plugs. There is more just can't remember all.
I ran shooting events for years (high power, smallbore) and I always kept a trauma bag.
Full disclosure, I didn't know how to use half the stuff in it, and wouldn't be qualified to use it. But I figured there'd be that off chance that someone did, if anyone ever had a hole put in them. For instance, I doubt anyone on planet earth would want me intubating and bagging someone - I'd probably kill you if I tried - but having that at the range meant we had a sealed sterile spare.
There was an event at a local gun show once where a person fired a 223 round through a pair of fellows who were shopping. Guy aimed a dealer's gun at a post and pulled the trigger, assuming it was empty. The dealer in question claims that someone must have put the round in the chamber when previously handling the gun, maliciously, although the truth was impossible to determine. What did matter is that the .223 round went through that 3.5" post, through the guy's chest on the other side of it, and then fragments hit a second individual behind *them*.
It was at that moment that I realized that having spares of medical supplies at the range might be useful in case the first ambulance shows up in a multiple victim shoot incident and didn't have sufficient supplies (some crazy shooting people to take their guns during a cease fire always also lingered on my mind, after another range had an armed robbery occur). So I added a couple extra tourniquets (these require training to use properly, particularly noting the exact time they are applied!), an airway opener, and intubation tube. Those stayed at the range in the rifle range building, sealed and sterile.
My view on medical supplies, particularly if your range is "well off the beaten path" - is it's better to have the big ticket items handy.
As far as what I personally kept in my range bag, and covered during the pre-match safety briefing so everyone knew where the medical supplies were*, were quick clot, large sterile bandages (the combat type with long wrap around cotton strips so you can tie them on), various assorted sterilization methods (iodine, sodium or hydroxy-something-rather can't remember, etc),
Nitrile gloves. Lots of those.
Every incident where we had an injury - fortunately few - were of the "I smashed my finger with the bolt" or "I cut myself on a sharp edge of xyz" or "I just got burned by xyz".
Cuts I attended to myself, mainly out of precaution. The worst incident was someone wandering off to the weeds to take a leak, instead of walking to the plumbed bathrooms, they stepped on a nail that went through their boot. I cleaned the wound, flushed it as best I could, stuck a bandaid on it, and sent them to the ER for proper flushing of the wound and .. a tetanus shot. The guy reported back later that day with a bandaged foot and said the ER wanted to thank me for taking the time to flush the wound before he went in. (Apparently time is of the essence when you have a dirty puncture wound, so irrigating that wound out ASAP is important).
Other than that I had to do butterfly bandages on some ugly cuts (one of which I sent off for stitches), and some topical anaesthetic / bandage for the occasional "barrel or brass burn blister".
*** I always gave a "if someone is shot" lecture at the start of the match during the safety briefing, of every match. This served to IMMEDIATELY heighten awareness of safe gun handling as I pointed out exactly where the gunshot supplies were located. I found that doing this made everyone pay MUCH closer attention to the following gun safety dialog, and *everyone* was ultra conscious of safety infractions and safety procedures during the match. This safety lecture included procedures and nomination of someone to take a bright colored flag out to the highway to flag the ambulance so they got the right entrance, who was responsible for calling in the 911 call, who was responsible for securing the immediate incident site and firing line / range if there was an incident, and so on.
When hunting I carry a medical kit that is leg / belt mounted, even if I am hunting alone. If I'm shot by another hunter at least there's a bag with a big red PLUS sign on it strapped to my leg.
ETA: Every one of our vehicles has a trauma kit in it, as well. Response time for first response in the country here is 20+ minutes.
ETA: Yes there is liability when you treat someone for a medical condition. I was always willing to accept this liability when helping someone. Yes, you can be sued for treating injuries if you are not trained and certified. No, I did not care.
Oh other things I carried. Albuterol inhaler (for asthmatics, in case they forget theirs), and snacks (in case someone goes low sugar).
Also, for flushing that puncture wound, I had a large syringe (sterile wrapped, no needle) and a sterile bottle of saline in the bag. Everyone always thinks of bandages when they think of first aid, but having a sterile way of flushing wounds is *incredibly* important.
Also, for flushing that puncture wound, I had a large syringe (sterile wrapped, no needle) and a sterile bottle of saline in the bag. Everyone always thinks of bandages when they think of first aid, but having a sterile way of flushing wounds is *incredibly* important.
Rather unlike you to sound so presumptive and condescending.
My kits are assembled by me and carried in separate pouches ... the boo-boo kit and the trauma kit so as I are or a fellow RO or shooter are not needlessly rummaging through the trauma kit when we need a Band-Aid and bit of antibiotic ointment for a scrape or a wee cut on the nice 71-year-old lady taking her first shooting course.
I operate under the theory, borrowed from a masterful instructor and experienced state trooper, that it's best to have always a couple rapidly accessible pouches in one's personal range bag or a master red bag always on the line when you're teaching or running a range. In the case of the latter, a small kit in the leg pocket of your 5.11s, fatigues or Wrangler cargos isn't a bad idea, either, and a CAT tourniquet on-person might be a pretty fair thought.
By "little things" in the non-trauma kit I simply meant things like 81 mg chewable aspirin, as I and some of the ol' boys I shoot with have been down Heart Stent Road, and some Benadryl as I'm rather sting allergic. I've also found that some stypic (powder or pencil) or a tube or two of Wound Seal is nice addition even if just for a minor cut on someone who's on blood thinners.
I haven't been to military medic school, but I did try to prepare myself a touch and be a decent & responsible fellow with things like the basic Red Cross course, a wilderness first-aid course and a one-day GSW course taught my a Chicago paramedic and former Ranger medic.
Have taught and RO'd and I've seen far, far more little cuts, insect sting reactions, etc. than I've seen GSWs and heart attacks. While I don't teach or RO much any longer, I do always keep a decent "little" kit in the bag to deal with a minor injury suffered by me or one of my fellow white-haired cardiac kids. Bad form to bleed all over one's gun, ya know. Blood is basically salt water!
I'm more practical than tactical, but somehow I get by.
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cslinger
Member
Besides the simple stuff (band aids, gauze, blah blah etc.) I keep a tourniquet and an “Israeli Bandage” (emergency compression type trauma bandage) in all the cars.
JKP
Member
I added shooting gloves for really cold days. I usually go into the truck to load magazines when its cold because I don't like to shoot with gloves on, but winter in Colorado sometimes dicate this (65° on Saturday, 8" of snow on Sunday).
CapnMac
Member
It was not my intention, and I apologize for any discomfit caused.
Ah, heck, I was probably being defensive and needlessly caught the butthurt.
You give a lot of informative answers and explain a lot of stuff a bunch better than I could. I enjoy your posts.
FL-NC
Member
First, only carry what you know how to use. I carry a pretty comprehensive trauma kit in each of my vehicles which go to the range with me anyway, but I also have some training.
Riomouse911
Member
It is wise to prepare god the little injuries. In addition, I carry these items in my pickup and toy hauler because I’m often out in the desert far from civilization, as well as on the boat in case a prop finds a leg.
The tourniquet is super easy to put on even if you’re using it on yourself. These have been very effective stopping massive blood loss in dozens of injury situations locally. (2 tourniquets were used on a local deputy about two weeks ago after he was shot on duty multiple times.)
I also carry packages of hemostatic gauze in each vehicle for stuffing into holes and stopping blood flow, these also are battlefield tested and easy to use. It’s pricy, but in a crisis it can’t be beat.
https://www.amazon.com/Tourniquet-S...d_rd_i=B07GB7WX74&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_rp_4_sc
https://www.amazon.com/EverOne-Emer...d_rd_i=B08M49WGGL&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_rp_3_sc
https://lapolicegear.com/qucoga.htm...mAkPMnqxz6TFrloqFxsw1S_f_yq0TqWhoCnXkQAvD_BwE
Hopefully we will never need to use any of these things, but even if you’re not a former military medic or annually cpr/first aid/AED trained like I’ve been they can be lifesavers for folks with a bit of calm under pressure and common sense.
Stay safe.
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