First Aid, Medical Gear and Rescue gear, how close are you to it?
It seems that in this industry, every time you buy something, you have to buy something else to perfect it. Just buying a first aid kit doesn’t cut it with me because even now, most of the first aid kits you see at Rite Aid or a neighborhood Drug Store isn’t going to have anything that relates to trauma, it’s mostly for people with boo boos, not lacerations, stabbings or gun show wounds. If you don’t have any of the QuikClot, go out and atleast get the QuickClot Sport, if you are a gun owner, get the Combat Gauze and keep it in your car or in your range bag. There are so many things to consider when putting together a medical bag, but if you can afford it, there is every reason to keep some type of Go Bag with you at all times. I have put together medical gear that stays in the family car, a medical box at home, one in my car and I also have a belt trama kit that goes in my tactical vest.
Sure you don’t need to have all of that stuff in 4 different locations, but in this day and age, it’s real easy to be the person that “can handle it” if you are faced with some type of emergency response. Kids get hit by cars, dogs bite people, lawn mower accidents occur and the most common thing are car accidents. You should always have some type of glass break device in your vehicle and a knife that you know can cut a seat belt. I’m more prone to want partially serrated knives since cutting through rope or seat belts often needs sawing. If you don’t have a tourniquet, atleast always know that something like a belt can also work to some degree. Also consider having rescue gear that applies to both Summer Hot weather or Winter wear. Emergency Blankets are so inexpensive that keeping a few in the back of your car, especially if you have kids, is something you may need if your car broke down in temperatures like we had in the Winter of 2014. Consider some type of portable water filtration unit like some of the Camelback products so even if you don’t have water, if you can find it, you can drink it safely without having to haul large quantities around.