Driving Force Magazine Mention/Thoughts on Trauma Kits

I thought it was pretty cool when CY reader and author Thomas Kelley wrote an article about something I mentioned here in trucking industry magazine Driving Force.

I'm becoming a big believer in the theory behind so-called "blowout" kits developed for the military. These are ultra-compact (roughly the size of of a canteen), easily administered first aid kits originally designed to handle traumatic battlefield injuries. The odds of me going into combat are between slim and none, but I do go to my local shooting range several times per month and try to take a couple of shooting classes every year. You never know when or where a negligent discharge (idiot-caused shooting) or weapon/ammo failure may pop-up, and it simply seemed prudent to buy a ready made kit to deal with the possibility. I viewed it as a cheap form of insurance for not only myself, but everyone around me at the range.

The more I thought about it, however, the more it seemed to make sense to have more than just the one kit in the range bag. I have a 25-mile commute to work and another 25-miles on my return trip, and considering the fairly heavy traffic I drive in, accidents are routine (I'd say once a month, sometimes more). Most of these accidents are fender-benders without any injuries at all, but every one in a while there are stomach-churning wrecks where people are hurt very badly indeed. It didn't take much to realize that many of the components of a blow-out kit would function just as well in first aid treatment of certain car crash injuries.

The key at Driving Force liked the idea, and thought it was worth posting on the subject considering their audience is, after all, professional drivers.

I'm currently planning to buy at least two more kits (possibly three) so that I have something at home and in each of our family's vehicles in addition to my range bag. Odds of your average person being in the position of a potential first responder aren't catastrophically high, but I's much rather spend $50-100 bucks and never have to use such a kit than come upon and accident and watch some die that I might have helped simply because I wasn't prepared.

I'm not remotely qualified to recommend any particular kit, but Cavalry Manufacturing has a nice selection and a Web search for "ifak" or "blowout kit" should bring up some options.

If you do get one of these kits, keep in mind that simply having a kit isn't going to save lives if you don't know how to use it. A Red Cross First Aid Class is highly recommended.