When working as a team, whether it is your family or group of friends, there can be times when more advanced first aid needs arise. If you are hunting someone may get shot accidentally or if hiking someone may fall and cut themselves. Having the ability to provide more in-depth first aid to your team or family members is critical when 911 or hospital care is not available or will be delayed by hours or longer. That is where the Team Basic Aid Kit (TBAK) provides you the means to render that emergency medical aid.
In the last post MEDICAL CARE: Individual First Aid Kit (BOK & IFAK) I covered items that each person carries on their person. Those items are to be used for that person. In other words you wouldn’t use your IFAK contents for someone else. They first aid items are for you, to be used on you. Let’s get on with reviewing TBAK mission and contents.
Mission of the TBAK –
- To return the person to activity without additional immediate medical care, or,
- To provide the cleansing, suturing and initial external antibiotic treatment to a variety wounds.
- To provide sufficient care that allows them to self-mobilize to more advanced medical treatment, or,
- To prevent death by bleeding.
Carry Method –
Your Team Basic Aid Kit is worn by the team/family member with the most first aid training when your team/family is in the field. It can be attached to a MOLLE vest, any belt, etc. The carrier needs to be sufficiently large enough to carry all the kit contents but small enough to not be overly intrusive or restrict movement. It must be able to stand up against hard field use as well as rough weather conditions. I suggest the military MOLLE Condor Rip-Away EMT Pouch.
Condor Rip-Away EMT MOLLE Pouch
It is a MOLLE pouch with a carry handle, secures with a zipper and an additional buckled strap. When you release the buckle on the strap the pouch can be “ripped away” from the backing. The backing is connected to a MOLLE vest/pack or belt. You can remove the pouch without working the MOLLE straps. This makes it very easy to work with. Once you have it handy, you can lay it flat, unzip and it folds open to easily display all the contents; which are also easily accessible.
- Tri-fold design.
- Multiple pockets and elastic loops for storage.
- Double zipper closure.
- 2″ webbing, with pull-tab for quick/temporary closing.
- Two inch patch area across front of pouch.
- Wide handle for carrying or rapid removal.
- Two D-rings on the back for shoulder strap.
- Size : 8″ H x 6″ W x 3.5″ D
- 1000D Cordura material.
Contents –
- 1 x Dressing, First Aid, Camouflaged, 4” x 7”, Sterile : NSN# 6510-00-159-4883 – Elwyn Inc.
- 1 x Dressing, Trauma Wound, 4”, Sterile, (a.k.a. Israeli Battle Dressing) : NSN# 6510-01-558-4108 – Performance Systems
- 1 x Dressing, Trauma Wound, 6”, Sterile, (a.k.a. Israeli Battle Dressing) : NSN# 6510-01-492-2275 – Performance Systems
- 1 x Bolin Chest Seal : NSN 6510-01-549-0939
- 8 x Sterile Gauze pads, 4” x 4” (4 packs of 2 each)
- 1 x 2” Non-Woven Cohesive Wrap Self Adherent Bandage (a.k.a. Coban, FlexWrap or VetWrap)
- 1 x Quick Clot Silver, Antibacterial, Blood coagulant, 25 gram : Z-Medica
- 1 x Quick Clot Silver, Antibacterial, Blood coagulant, 50 gram : Z-Medica
- 1 x pair of Kelly Forceps, straight
- 1 x pair of blunt-nosed thumb forceps with serrated tips (a.k.a. tweezers)
- 1 x pair of EMT sheers
- 5 x packets of Sutures, 18”, 4-0 (USP) black, nonabsorbent (Silk or nylon)
- 1 x bottle (6oz) of Band-Aid Antiseptic Wash (also contains anesthetic)
- 1 x bottle (1oz) of Iodine tincture (2% USP) antiseptic
- 4 x packets of Providone-Iodine prep pad
- 2 x caplets of Iodine tincture applicators
- 1 x tube (1oz) Triple Antibiotic (ointment / salve)
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.
Dressing, Trauma Wound, 4” (a.k.a. Israeli Battle Dressing) : This bandage is classified as small for wounds such as gunshot or cuts smaller than 4” in length. This bandage can be applied with one 
hand, has an easy securing device, and can be used as a tourniquet.
Dressing, Trauma Wound, 6” (a.k.a. Israeli Battle Dressing) :This bandage is very similar to the 4” Israeli Battle Dressing described above, but can be used for larger wounds. The long elastic tails can also be used to construct slings, etc.
Bolin Chest Seal (BCS) : The BCS is a sterile occlusive chest wound dressing for treating open pneumothorax and preventing tension pneumothorax that result from gunshots, stab wounds, or other penetrating chest trauma. Sucking chest wounds require an emergency first aid solution that is fast, direct, and effective. The large (6” diameter), rugged 
polyurethane disc structure of the BCS can cover practically any size chest trauma site. The temper of the disc prevents any disc wrinkling from occurring during application. In addition, the wound side of the disc is covered with a thick layer of jell-based adhesive, strong enough to not only seal over hair and blood but also flexible enough to be removed and reapplied to the trauma site if required.
Sterile Gauze pads, 4” x 4” : Rayon and polyester blend is ideal for applying ointments, prepping or cleaning. Highly absorbent. Packed in sterile, patient-ready envelopes.
2” Non-Woven Cohesive Wrap Self Adherent Bandage : Elastic Adhesive Bandage is a type of cohesive bandage or wrap that adheres to itself, but does not adhere well to other surfaces such as hair or skin. Porous, allow skin to breath and comfortable to users. Provide controlled compression. Water resistant, will not loosen by sweat or water.
Quick Clot Silver, Antibacterial, Blood Coagulant (25 & 50 gram) : Advanced clotting sponge stops moderate to severe bleeding until further medical help is available. Silver version has the added antibacterial advantage of ionic silver. Quikclot is a chemically inert material in a mesh bag that speeds coagulation of blood, resulting in a stable clot that stops bleeding and is safe to leave on wounds until more advanced medical help arrives.
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.
Blunt-nosed thumb forceps with serrated tips (a.k.a. tweezers) : Same as above but with the common characteristics of tweezers.
EMT sheers : A type of scissors used by paramedics and other emergency medical personnel to quickly and safely cut clothing from injured people.
Sutures, 18”, 4-0 (USP) black, nonabsorbent : Multifilament, non-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.
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.
Iodine tincture (2% USP) antiseptic & Providone-Iodine prep pad : A disinfectant and antiseptic to help prevent skin infection in minor cuts, scrapes and burns.
Once the wound has been washed and the debris removed you want the next step of germ killing to take place, this is where the tincture of iodine comes into play. You can also use this to clean an area around the sutured wound area prior to applying a clean sterile bandage. The sterile 4×4 gauze pads are great while applying the iodine.
Remember, if you are not using a sterile pad to help apply this product, or you are not using a sterile bandage after applying this product, you are defeating the purpose of the germ killing capabilities.
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 !
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