Vehicle medical bag: What's in your car first aid/trauma kit?

[Sylvain]

I recently updated my vehicle first aid kit after the previous version was damaged during a storm.

It was a good excuse to get a new bag and a bunch of new additional gear.

That kit is quite large (over 14 lbs I think).It stays in the car since I carry multiple medical kits with me when I'm away from the car.

I'm curious what others keep in their kit.Or if you even have one.

Here's the front:

All zippers are marked with red electrical tape (easier to see than black zippers on a black bag).
There's a CAT tourniquet on the outside, a pair of nitrile gloves, a ResQme (glass breaker and seatbelt cutter), and a strobe light.

The bottom exterior pocket deals with bleeding.

It contains another CAT tourniquet, SWAT Tourniquet, compressed gauze, three 4" israeli bandages, one 6", SOFT T tourniquet, a few ABD pads and several pairs of gloves.A pair of trauma shears.

The israeli bandages are already out of the first package for fast access.

Also not shown are a couple of space blankets and large body warmers.

The top exterior pocket has some diagnostic equipment:

Headlamp, thermometer, BP cuff and pulse oximeter.

A third pocket contains a bunch of gauze pads of all sizes, rolls of gauze ...

Also sharpie, pens and notepads, a few hazmat bags.

The largest compartment opens with a clamshell design:

 

[indysims]

I carry a compact "boo boo" kit that I purchased from ITS Tactical and separate trauma kit that I put together.
https://store.itstactical.com/collections/medical/products/its-boo-boo-first-aid-kit

Trauma Kit contains:
Tourniquet, Wound Packing Gauze, Chest Seals, Compression "Israeli" Bandage, EMT Shears, 5x9 Pads, Sharpie, Gloves, Aspirin, and a Razor Knife.

 

[Sylvain]

I keep a pocket BVM in there, a few OPAs (oral airways) of all sizes ...

Chest seals and decompression needles ...

I just have a pair of Halo seals, the others are improvised ones (outside package of israeli bandages already cut + duct tape).

 

[Tactically Fat]

Are you trained in the usage/deployment of the decompression needles?

 

[Sylvain]

Some saline solution, disinfectant, stethoscope (to go with BP cuff), a few pairs of sterile gloves, umbilical cord clamps and more ...

Some PPE: more nitrile gloves (I keep several pairs in each pockets of the bag), eye protection, N95 respirators and surgical masks.

A bag with some meds, water purification tablets, sugar cubes etc.

 

[Sylvain]

A module for sprains and fractures ...

With instant cold packs, SAM splints, a few triangular bandages and tape.

And a small first aid kit (booboo kit) to treat minor wounds, burns etc ...

I think that's about it for the most part.

 

[Sylvain]

Are you trained in the usage/deployment of the decompression needles?

I've been trained, it's part of the curriculum of most TCCC (or PHTLS) classes but I would still let someone with more training do it if I had to.

It's not something I should need when EMS is minutes (usually) away.

 

[GIJEW]

I don't think I can fit all that in my glove compartment! Decompression needles...umbilical cord clamps? Above my pay grade.

 

[rosejm]

Yeah I hate to dirty up such a thread...


Duct-tape, dirty blanket, couple bottles of water in the back of the truck.
Tire iron for the problems the 3 above can't treat.

 

[Sylvain]

Yeah I hate to dirty up such a thread...


Duct-tape, dirty blanket, couple bottles of water in the back of the truck.
Tire iron for the problems the 3 above can't treat.

I like your style.

 

[KittySlayer]

I’m not French but carry a reflective yellow vest.

Just like having some nitrile gloves, safety of the caregiver is a first priority and you should be visible if playing in traffic.

Besides, you never know when an opportunity for an impromptu protest my pop up.

 

[ditcherman]

I can’t believe that only weighs in at 14 pounds.
Very nice. #medkitgoals

 

[obijohn]

About the only thing in my kit i don't regularly carry is O2 and other than OTC meds. I have both available should I need to add on a case by case basis.

 

[Sylvain]

I’m not French but carry a reflective yellow vest.

Just like having some nitrile gloves, safety of the caregiver is a first priority and you should be visible if playing in traffic.

Besides, you never know when an opportunity for an impromptu protest my pop up.

I have several reflective vests in the car, it's mandatory here.I wear one if I need to provide assistance on the side of the road (changing a tire or medical help).
It's why I have a strobe light on the outside of the bag too.

You can do a lot just with nitrile gloves (stop bleeding, make a chest seal etc).It's why I keep some on the outside of the bag.I always carry at least a pair in my pocket as well.

 

[Sylvain]

I can’t believe that only weighs in at 14 pounds.
Very nice. #medkitgoals

Maybe 15 lbs, I'm not sure.
Bandages and gauze are bulky but they don't weigh a lot.
The heavier item in the bag is a bottle of water (1 liter), usually to drink, take meds, wash your hands, rinse a wound etc
I carry some plastic cups as well mainly to give water with sugar to treat vasovagal syncopes.