The Arms Guide
  • Home
  • Concealed Carry
  • Firearms Training
  • Handguns
  • Rifles
  • Gun News
  • AR-15
  • Reloading Gear
  • Gun Safes

A Simple Inexpensive Trauma Kit for Everyday Carry

princeton edu

May 30, 2017 by James Ogletree 24 Comments

When I first started to carry a firearm, the last thing on my mind was a medical plan in case I got shot, or to treat someone who had been shot. In the world we live in today, there is no telling when or where you might run into a life-or-death situation that will require medical treatment while paramedics are on the way. I looked up medical kits, and medical training online, and I found a medical training class to take (in the near future). Then I started to look up medical kits that would include supplies for gunshot wounds. After a good hour of searching I found many YouTube videos about “blow-out kits” or “trauma kits” which are commonly used in combat for gunshot wounds. A blow-out kit is small, with just enough items to treat a gunshot wound to the arms or legs, but trauma kits can be equipped all the way up to treating a sucking chest wound. NOTE: Before using a medical kit in a trauma situation, be sure to pursue proper training on how to use these items. The Arms Guide is not a source of medical instruction.

Trauma Kit Contents 

In the trauma kit that was given to me by my very close friend after he returned home from overseas, I found a number of items that are simple but do a great job at giving basic first aid. I recommend people have at least the following equipment in their trauma kit. These components can cost between $40 and $80.

1. Combat gauze—used to pack (stick into wound cavity) a gunshot or similar wound, preferably some that has a blood clotting agent to help stop bleeding. This may not be included in some standard kits.

2. H & H gauze—used as backup to combat gauze for large wound cavities.

3. A roll of cloth tape

4. Israeli Bandage—like an ACE bandage, but with a pad to soak up excess blood and a pressure point to help control bleeding.

5. Tourniquet—an item placed above the wound to cut off blood flow, mostly used for arterial bleeding wounds.

6. Halo Chest Seal—these are placed onto the entry and exit wounds of an injury victim’s chest to prevent air from flooding the chest cavity and crushing the lungs.

7. Decompression —used to relieve air pressure in a chest cavity from a sucking chest wound.

8. Nasopharyngeal Airway—used to create an open airway, by inserting a tube through the nose.

Below is a picture of a US Army improved Medical kit.

olive drab
Image courtesy of Olivedrab.com

The Trauma Kit as provided by the US Army is a bit large for everyday carry. So, when I received mine, I took out all of the contents, and vacuum sealed them, which cut the size down in half.

Larger Trauma Kits

In today’s market, there are endless possibilities when it comes to trauma kits. The items listed above are only part of the entire medical bag that I carry in the car every day, which includes items such as SAM splints, an IV bag, and a stitching kit. This larger kit stays in the car so that if I come upon a medical emergency, I have the gear to be able to help treat a variety of injuries.

Ideally, in any self defense situation, one would hope to come out unharmed. However, there is always a chance that you or someone else may receive a life threatening injury. With proper training and equipment, you may save your life, or that of the person next to you.

Featured image courtesy of Princeton.edu

Filed Under: Concealed Carry, First Aid, Gear Tagged With: aid, bandages, cheap, EDC, emergency, emergency gear, every day carry, first aid, first aid kit, gear, gunshot, inexpensive, kit, Medical, safety, self-defense, simple, trauma, wound

Related Posts

  • Ladies’ Concealed Carry: Dressing for CCW Part 4 - Cover Garments - TheArmsGuide.com
    Concealed Carry – Should You Carry?
  • Concealed Carry - What to Carry
    Concealed Carry – What to Carry
  • Concealed Carry: How to Carry (IWB)
    Concealed Carry: Inside the Waistband

Comments

  1. Avatar for James OgletreeJim P. says

    December 21, 2013 at 11:37 am

    ThomasWilliams2 Thanks for the clarification.

    Reply
  2. Avatar for James OgletreeJimmyOgletree says

    April 10, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    FateofDestinee super glue is very bad, chemicals can make things worse, what I did for an ex was have plastic wrap, (seran wrap) then put the gause over the wound, and would use the plastic wrap to wrap around the wound then tape over the plastic wrap, that way the plastic wrap acts as a barrier.

    Reply
  3. Avatar for James OgletreeJimmyOgletree says

    April 10, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    BruceHatfield PPE or personal protection equipment is essential to any first aid, you want to protect yourself from unknown substances,

    Reply
  4. Avatar for James OgletreeFateofDestinee says

    April 10, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    JimmyOgletree FateofDestineeFortunately for me, that’s not the case. Super glue was actually invented as a battlefield alternative to stitches/sutures during World War II. I’ve had doctors super glue me in the hospital (which is how I first learned that I could use it for lacerations). I’m grateful, ’cause it saved me many a time while I worked food service. ;D

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

In Case You Missed It

Best Ar 10 Upper Receiver
Rifles

6 Best AR-10 Upper Receivers – A Buyers Guide

January 11, 2021

Best Bipod For Remington 700
Rifles

Best Bipod for Remington 700 – The Arms Guide Review

January 11, 2021

Best Handguns For Women
Handguns

The 6 Best Handguns for Women – Complete Buyers Guide

January 11, 2021

Best Glock Trigger
Handguns

5 Best Aftermarket Glock Triggers

January 11, 2021

© Copyright 2021 Thearmsguide · All Rights Reserved.

  • Comms Check
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us

Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases from Amazon.com.