There may come a time when your family or group falls into a situation where standard first aid just won’t do it, maybe not even advanced first aid.  You may well find yourself in the need for extensive medical care delivered in the field.

The Field Trauma Care Kit is set-up for a seriously injured patient that needs emergency medical care based on a significant trauma injury in a situation where hospital care is considerably delayed or not available.  Alternatively, the FTCK is a serious first aid kit contained in an easily transportable pack.  Say, medical care in a 72-hour kit form.

In the last post EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE: Mass Casualty Aid Kit (MCAK) I covered a kit containing medical supplies to provide dressings and bandaging to large numbers of people who suffered traumatic injuries.  The Field Trauma Care Kit is used for a seriously injured patient that needs emergency medical care based on a significant trauma injury in a situation where hospital care is considerably delayed or not available.

Mission of the FTCK –

Provide the following to seriously injured (trauma) single individual:

• Stop extensive bleeding, and,
• Provide for the cleansing, debridgement, suturing and initial external antibiotic treatment to a wide variety of wounds, and,
• Stabilize a patient until hospital level care is available.

Carry Method –

I am not tied to a particular brand or model pack. This pack is a reasonably priced (under $40) sturdy pack. Be careful of using too large of a pack. You will tend to want to fill every corner of a large pack until it is too bulky and/or too heavy to reasonably carry for any length of time or over any distance. Carry what you need but no more. Fully loaded with all kit contents the pack weight  is approximately 11 pounds. A major convenience feature is the pack’s main compartment opens completely and lays flat for full access to all items in that compartment.

Fieldline Surge Tactical Hydration Pack Features –

• Large padded main compartment with full zipper opening
• 2-Liter hydration reservoir included
• MOLLE System on front compartments
• Top heavy duty grab handle
• Roomy secondary compartment with 3 internal pockets
• Small top front pocket with zipper closure
• Lower front pocket with organizer
• Velcro name tape and patch holders
• Adjustable shoulder strap system with sternum slider
• Waist belt
• Side compression straps to balance packed gear
• Bottom compression straps
• Dual left and right hydration hose ports
• Quick access 2-Liter hydration reservoir pouch
• Fully adjustable “S”-shaped shoulder straps with 3D nylon mesh padding
• Dimensions: 17.7″ x 9.25″ x 6.89″

Medical Kit Contents List :

Front – Top Compartment

• 1 x pair of EMT sheers
• 1 x Kelly Forceps 5.5″ Straight
• 6x Germ-X Hand Sanitizer

Front – Lower Compartment

• 2 x Dressing, First Aid, Field, 4” x 7” NSN 6510-00-159-4883
• 5 x Bandage, Gauze, Stretch, 2” x 75”
• 1 x Bandage, Ace, 3”
• 1 x Tape, Medical, Cloth, 1 ½”
• 15 x Pairs, Gloves, Medical
• 2 x Asherman Chest Seal

Main Compartment

Interior Mesh Compartment

• 22 x Closure, Butter Fly
• 7 x Sutures, 4-0 USP, Silk, Black Braided, 18” with Needle (reverse cutting, 19mm)
• 1 x Stapler, Skin, Disposable, with 35 Wide Staples
• 1 x Staple Remover
• 1 x Tube Super Glue

Interior Zippered Compartment

• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Curved, 7”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Curved, 6”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Curved, 5 ½”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Curved, 5”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Straight, 8”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Straight, 6”
• 2 x Kelly Forceps, Straight, 5 ½”
• 1 x Forceps, Sponge, 7”
• 1 x Scissors, Surgical, Blunt, 6 ½“
• 1 x Scissors, Surgical, Blunt, 4 ½“
• 1 x Scissors, Surgical, Pointed, 4 ½“
• 1 x Tweezers, Stainless Steel, Straight, Heavy Duty, 4 ¼”
• 1 x Tweezers, Stainless Steel, Straight, Light Duty, 4 ¼”
• 1 x Tweezers, Stainless Steel, Curved, Light Duty, 4 ¼”
• 1 x Scalpel Handle, Large
• 1 x Scalpel Handle, Medium
• 25 x Scalpel Surgical Blades

Main Compartment

• 2 x 6oz Bottles Wound Wash, Antiseptic/Anesthetic, Band-Aid
• 2 x 6oz Cans Wound Wash, Sterile Saline, Spray, Pressure, NeliMed
• 2 x 2oz Cans Triple Antibiotic, Spray, Pressure
• 1 x 8oz Providone – Iodine, Antiseptic
• 40 x Sponges, Gauze, 4”x4”, Sterile
• 1 x Dressing, First Aid, Field, 11-3/4” x 11-3/4”, Sterile NSN 6510-00-201-7425
• 2 x Dressing, First Aid, Field, 7-1/2” x 8”, Sterile NSN 6510-00-201-7430
• 1 x Dressing, Trauma Wound, 6”, Sterile, (a.k.a. Israeli Battle Dressing) : NSN# 6510-01-492-2275 – Performance Systems

Detailed Content List and Pack Compartment

Front-Upper Compartment –

• 1 x pair of EMT sheers
• 1 x Kelly Forceps 5.5″ Straight
• 6x Germ-X Hand Sanitizer

 

EMT sheers : A type of scissors used by paramedics and other emergency medical personnel to quickly and safely cut clothing from injured people.

Kelly Forceps, straight :

5.5 inch Straight Kelly Forceps made of stainless steel. A handheld, hinged instrument used for grasping and holding objects. Forceps are used when fingers are too large to grasp small objects or when many objects need to be held at one time while the hands are used to perform a task.

 

Germ-X Wipes : Kills 99.99% of Germs. Used for sanitizing hands or surfaces such as around wound areas.   No, I don’t believe in bottles of hand sanitizer for a medical kit, they leak.

 

 

Front-Lower Compartment –

• 2 x Dressing, First Aid, Field, 4” x 7” NSN 6510-00-159-4883
• 5 x Bandage, Gauze, Stretch, 2” x 75”
• 1 x Bandage, Ace, 3”
• 1 x Tape, Medical, Cloth, 1 ½”
• 15 x Pairs, Gloves, Medical, Nitrate
• 2 x Asherman Chest Seal

Dressing, First Aid, Camouflaged, 4” x 7” : This bandage is classified as a small for wounds such as gunshot or cuts smaller than 6” in length They come with 2 ties and safety pins.

 

 

Bandage, Gauze, Stretch, 2” x 75” : Highly absorbent gauze roll is non-linting and ravel free to keep the wound site clean. Unique knit construction offers proper compression without constriction. Self-adhering; stays in place with minimal taping. Conforms to difficult body contours. Sterile bandages are packed in peel-open poly pouches for aseptic handling.

 

Bandage, Ace, 3” : ACE Brand Elastic Bandages are designed to provide support and compression during recovery and return to activity. They are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, easy to use, and adjustable for a custom fit. Odor resistant, hook closure enables the bandage to be wrapped easily and secured without clips. Bandage retains elasticity after repeated use and washings.

Tape, Medical, Cloth, 1 ½” : Cloth Adhesive, latex-free, hypoallergenic tape. Offers strong, reliable adhesion. Comes with durable backing resistant to tearing and stretching. Adheres well to tubing and skin. Not made with natural rubber latex.

 

Gloves, Medical, Nitrate : Nitrile exam gloves are the ideal solution for individuals sensitive to rubber latex and/or donning powder. They contain no allergy causing natural rubber proteins. Nitrile features extraordinary strength and puncture resistance while maintaining tactile sensitivity. Nitrile does not tear as easily as vinyl and feels more natural than both latex or vinyl. These gloves are FDA 510k registered and meet or exceed all current FDA regulations.

 

Asherman Chest Seal : Rusch Asherman Chest Seal is a safe approach to treating open pneumothorax and preventing tension pneumothorax in chest injuries from gunshot, stab wounds or other penetrating chest trauma. The unique one-way valve is designed to let air and blood escape while preventing re-entry of either. The ACS is standard issue for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.

 

Main Compartment – Interior Mesh Compartment

• 22 x Closure, Butterfly
• 7 x Sutures, 4-0 USP, Silk, Black Braided, 18” with Needle (reverse cutting, 19mm)
• 1 x Stapler, Skin, Disposable, with 35 Wide Staples
• 1 x Staple Remover
• 1 x Tube Super Glue Wound Closure

 

Butterfly Closures, Small or Medium : These waterproof butterfly closures are designed to close and secure small wounds and incisions, holding the skin firmly while not sticking to the wound itself. They remove the need for stitches in relatively minor cuts.

 

Sutures, 18”, 4-0 (USP), Absorbent : Multifilament, absorbable suture, 45 cm, undyed. Needle: 19 mm, 3/8 circle, reverse cutting. Used to close properly cleaned traumatic wounds when more advanced medical care is not available.

Stapler, Skin, Disposable, with 35 Wide Staples : The Oasis wide skin stapler is affordable and simple. It fits comfortably in your hand to enhance control of skin closure and also reduces surgery time. Lever action staplers are the most popular design on the market, along with a distinctive staple shuttling feature greatly reduces track friction, a primary cause of jamming. Other features include a short trigger stroke for ease of use and nonstop feed, angled head allows visibility of incision to ensure precise staple placement during operation, arrow indicator assists in accurate staple alignment. Staple count indicator allows you to view staples remaining to help minimize waste. Staple lines are more likely to prevent leakage of blood or air. Wide Staples measure 6.5mm x 4.7mm.

Staple Remover : Versatile stapler remover allows for fast and easy removal of surgical skin staples with minimal discomfort to the patient.   Versatile single-use skin stapler allows for fast and easy removal of surgical skin staples with minimal discomfort to the patient. Consistent performance by placing the metal tip of the sterile remover underneath the staple and squeezing the handles until they touch and the extractor is fully closed. Once the staple is completely reformed the remover can be lifted from the skin and the staple is removed.

 

Super Glue Wound Closure : Yup, good old Super Glue.   There is a proper medical version for wound care, two groups:

• Derma+flex® QS™, SurgiSeal, FloraSeal and Dermabond
• LiquiBand®, Histoacryl, Indermil, GluStitch, GluShield

Note: If you don’t want to, or can’t, buy the full-on human medical version, don’t forget there are veterinary options.

 

Main Compartment – Interior Zippered Compartment

• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Curved, 7”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Curved, 6”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Curved, 5 ½”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Curved, 5”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Straight, 8”
• 1 x Kelly Forceps, Straight, 6”
• 2 x Kelly Forceps, Straight, 5 ½”
• 1 x Forceps, Sponge, 7”
• 1 x Scissors, Surgical, Blunt, 6 ½“
• 1 x Scissors, Surgical, Blunt, 4 ½“
• 1 x Scissors, Surgical, Pointed, 4 ½“
• 1 x Tweezers, Stainless Steel, Straight, Heavy Duty, 4 ¼”
• 1 x Tweezers, Stainless Steel, Straight, Light Duty, 4 ¼”
• 1 x Tweezers, Stainless Steel, Curved, Light Duty, 4 ¼”
• 1 x Scalpel Handle, Large
• 1 x Scalpel Handle, Medium
• 25 x Scalpel Surgical Blades
  

Note: All medical instruments are self-explanatory.

Main Compartment – (in main compartment but in Ziploc bags)

• 2 x 6oz Bottles Wound Wash, Antiseptic/Anesthetic, Band-Aid
• 2 x 6oz Cans Wound Wash, Sterile Saline, Spray, Pressure, NeliMed
• 2 x 2oz Cans Triple Antibiotic, Salve, Pressure
• 1 x 8oz Providone – Iodine, Antiseptic
• 40 x Sponges, Gauze, 4”x4”, Sterile
• 1 x Dressing, First Aid, Field, 11 ¾” x 11 ¾” , Sterile NSN 6510-00-201-7425
• 2 x Dressing, First Aid, Field, 7-1/2” x 8”, Sterile NSN 6510-00-201-7430
• 1 x Dressing, Trauma Wound, 6”, Sterile, (a.k.a. Israeli Battle Dressing) : NSN# 6510-01-492-2275 – Performance Systems

Band-Aid Antiseptic Wash : 6.0 fl oz bottle. Cleans minor cuts, scrapes & burns, relieves pain & itch and helps to prevent infection. Used to clean minor cuts, scrapes and burns by thoroughly flushing the affected area.

Recovering from an injury begins with properly cleaning a wound; the sooner the better. Germs cause infections when you have an open wound. Germs will be found on the inside and outside of the wound. They get inside from whatever object broke the surface of your skin and through migration from the skin post-trauma.

To give the victim the best chance of survival from being wounded you must properly clean the wound; which includes removing both the debris and killing the germs the best you can. And the wound cleansing generally will be accompanied by some degree of pain. This wash product has antiseptic properties to help kill germs while you are irrigating the wound washing debris out, but it also has a mild anesthetic as well. But trust me, they will still feel pain, just not as much.

NeliMed Wound Wash Saline Spray :

NeliMed is a sterile saline solution that cleanses minor wounds and scrapes without any burning or stinging. Sprays in any position, including when inverted.

This is a great product to clean a wound. It is pure saline that is under pressure. You can debridge the wound much better that using non-pressurized saline or other wound washes.

Triple Antibiotic (ointment / salve / spray) :

Triple antibiotic ointment is a topical solution containing three antibiotics – bacitracin, neomycin, and polymyxin B sulfates. It is used to prevent infection and heal wounds. The combination of antibiotics works to kill bacteria on the surface of the skin, keeping open wounds free of germs that could cause infection.

After you get the wound cleaned up, maybe sutured you still have to worry about infection. The iodine based products mentioned above go a long way towards preventing that infection by killing the germs/bacteria topically at the time of application; but they are not antibiotics.

This item is an antibiotic, and it is designed to kill bacteria that can cause infections and assists in the wound healing. This product can be used on burns as well to help prevent infection. And don’t be an idiot…DO NOT TAKE THIS PRODUCT ORALLY !

 

Providone – Iodine, Antiseptic : When tending to a wound or preparing the skin before minor invasive procedures, it is important to properly disinfect and cleanse the area. Povidone Iodine Ointment kills germs efficiently. Health-care antiseptic for preparation of the skin prior to surgery. First aid antiseptic to help prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes and burns. Active ingredient: Povidone-Iodine, 10 % (equivalent to 1% titratable iodine).

 

Sponges, Gauze, 4” x 4”, Sterile : Rayon and polyester blend is ideal for applying ointments, prepping or cleaning. Highly absorbent. Packed in sterile, patient-ready envelopes.

 

 

Dressing, First Aid, Field, 11 ¾” x 11 ¾” : This bandage is classified as a medium for larger wounds such as intestinal or larger areas of burns, etc. Dressing comes with 4 ties and are very absorbent (1 unit of blood).

Dressing, First Aid, Field, 7 ½” x 8”, Sterile : This bandage is classified as a medium dressing used for larger wounds. Has four cloth tails.

 

 

Dressing, Trauma Wound, 6” (a.k.a. Israeli Battle Dressing) : This bandage is classified as a medium for larger wounds such as intestinal or larger areas of burns, etc. This bandage can be applied with one hand, has an easy securing device, and can be used as a tourniquet.

 

Remember, without training your equipment isn’t much good. Rendering medical care, especially trauma care, isn’t easy unless you have the skills.  You gain the skills through training.  Get training!

This medical kit (FTCK) can provide very good care for trauma victims in the field. There is a lot of capability here that can save lives. This is a great kit for use when you family is far from main-stream medical care.  It can also be an amazing life-saver during a disaster or especially during grid-down.  Prepare, save lives, and repeat.

 

 

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