Comments on: First Aide is Secondary

By: Jeff Gonzales

Jeff Gonzales — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:12:50 +0000

In reply to marty. Ha…good points for sure. Understanding the tactical imperative is key, be safe.

By: Jeff Gonzales

Jeff Gonzales — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 21:11:38 +0000

In reply to Morgan Atwood. Hi Morgan, I really appreciate your comments and thanks for sharing. Constantly pushing the edge is how we improve. Be safe.

By: marty

marty — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 13:19:14 +0000

Jeff, as always you’re spot on. This article reveals the two basics about tourniquets (or any life-saving devices/measures): After you’ve already been killed by the bad guy (1) tourniquets are hard to put on; and (2) they are not as effective as you might hope. Seriously, I’m not trying to detract from the importance of available emergency medical care or a good blow-out kit, but your point is well made … everything must be prioritized. PS, I’m new to the website, community and blogs, but love it … please keep ’em coming.

By: Morgan Atwood

Morgan Atwood — Sat, 12 Jul 2014 03:23:48 +0000

I teach a class on, as I like to put it, “you, your pistol and your gunshot wound” type first aid; Self care. And one of the very first things I say in class is that the best medicine, is to lay the other mother low.
Fortunately, there are increasing advancements in minimization of first aid equipment, particularly “Tactical”, that are making it easier and easier to carry an acceptable minimum of tools (TQ, packing material/hemostatic, wound dressing, tape/seals) in very little space. After many years of foot dragging and refusal to minimize size of gear, the tac med companies are coming around slowly. This is a win.

My choice is to carry med gear as often as possible; I’ve got a hip pocket kit, little broader than a wallet but about .75″ thick, with a TQ, Combat Gauze, duct tape, and an H&H Mini-Pressure Dressing, in it. That’s in addition to firearm, reload, small fixed blade, impact weapon and flashlight (+ wallet, phone, keys).
My decision to do that is rooted in two things: Having worked to minimize the bulk of everything else I carry, without stopping carrying it (a 10+ year ever evolving process), and believing that *IF* I have the room for them, I’ll be better off opening ready made medical supplies, than improvising them, when I am hurt, and just finished a fight.
That said: I think that a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms important in “tactical” medicine is vital; That understanding should be the base for learning (and continued practice of) improvising the vital tools for managing major hemorrhage and survivable chest injuries. The knowledge and ability to improvise the necessary tools, to achieve the desired outcomes, can be taken anywhere, at any time, and weighs absolutely nothing.

Thanks for writing this; It was a challenging read for a guy who is often harping on “always carry your med kit”, but a good challenge, thought provoking, and appreciated.

By: flashback

flashback — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 16:15:29 +0000

BatMan Utility Belt…dude you make me chuckle 🙂

Seriously though…good points and I am a little guilty as charged…I tried to carry too much stuff and one morning while getting ready for the day I stopped and thought about what I was doing as I loaded up my belt and pockets.
Not being nearly as “nimble” as I once was I was now loading myself down with even more weight…I’ve paired down my ‘on-body’ to basically weapon(s), phone, wallet….the briefcase (messanger-bag type) is generally close at hand to carry my other EDC gear and business related items…dual purpose.

Awesome posts!!