Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Minimal Motorcycle Medical Kit, pt. 2

The dust has settled and the First 72 Hours have passed. Follow along as I build a long term plan via Prudent Prepping. 

Even though it is "California cold", raining, and I'm not riding very often, now is a good time to go through my various first aid kits to come up with  a decent amount of gear to carry on my motorcycle. 

In a previous post I showed what I started with, but since then I've added some extra items that I believe are useful.
 
What's In the Bags?
Several things I really like, have used in the past, and a bit extra.

A collection of quality gear!

Left
Maxpedition zipper bag, containing the following: 

Middle
Adventure Medical Trauma Pack, containing the following:
  • 1 x Bandage, Conforming Gauze, 3"
  • 1 x Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2" x 2", Pkg./2
  • 1 x  Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 4" x 4", Pkg./2
  • 1 x Gloves, Nitrile (Pair), Hand Wipe
  • 1 x QuikClot Gauze 3" x 2'
  • 1 x Trauma Pad, 5" x 9"
  • 1 x Duct Tape, 2" x 26"
  • 1 x Bandage, Triangular
  • 4 x Antiseptic Wipe
  • 1 x Trauma and Accident Management Instructions
Right
North American Rescue Mini First Aid Kit (NAR M-FAK), recently purchased directly from North American Rescue specifically to have a red, easily-seen kit, since there isn't red as an order option on Amazon. It contains the following:
  • 1 x CAT Gen 7 Tourniquet Orange
  • 1 x 4 in. Flat ETD, 1 x S-rolled Gauze (4.5 in. x 4.1 yd)
  • 1 x HyFin Vent Compact Chest Seal, Twin Pack
  • 1 x pair Bear Claw Nitrile Trauma Gloves, lg
https://www.narescue.com/m-fak-mini-first-aid-kit-red.html

Why Two Tourniquets?
I have talked with several different riders and racers who all suggested adding another tourniquet, as well as extra bandages and quick clotting agents, since crashing on a motorcycle usually involves hitting the pavement or ground at speed. This means road rash at the minimum, and potentially serious cuts and bleeding. From my own experiences with motorcycle crashes and damage seen on my friends, even this amount of blood-stopping material may not be enough. 

With this in mind I've asked several different EMT's and Paramedics if I should be concerned with the 'Use By' dates on some of my supplies. I was told that yes, there could be some deterioration of the clotting agents, especially if stored at high heat,  more than one or two years past the listed date.

Recap and Takeaway
* * *

Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!

If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!

NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.

1 comment:

  1. David, I see mention of "QuiKClot Gauze" as part of your kit.

    1. The original QuikClot, and the second-generation QuikClot ACS, were both reported as causing burns (the clotting agent underwent an exothermic reaction - giving off heat - when the "water" in the bloodstream was absorbed into it, with temperatures reaching 61C and potentially 74C).
    2. The third generation product, labeled "ACS+" and available since 2006, does not have a report history of causing burns.
    3. The manufacturer's instructions and safety sheet notes that QuikClot is not absorbable, and must be removed from the wound before closure. (For the semi-ignorant, like me, that means that it's safe to apply it and put a dressing over it, but don't stitch it closed.)

    Bibliography:
    1. Secondary copy of "Overview of Agents Used for Emergency Hemostasis," originally pub. Trauma Monthly Feb 2016, and found at the NIH: ( https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4869418/ , particularly sections 3.4 and 3.5)
    2. "QuikClot Hemostatic Dressing Instructions for Use, Ref. 459" ( https://quikclot.com/QuikClot-2020/IFU/Non-Interventional/459QuikClot4x4.pdf )

    ReplyDelete

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