Core Essentials You Need in a Trauma Kit

Trauma kit awareness has increased greatly as society becomes more attentive to the risk of life-threatening emergency situations. That’s why more people than ever are looking for the right kit for their emergency stash. Whether you directly engage in dangerous work or adventures or you just want to be prepared for any possibility, building a quality kit takes time and preparation. With something this significant, you want to be sure that you cover all of your bases, which is why it’s important to stock your kit by category.

Trauma Kit Reference Material

If you lack the experience to know how to respond to potential injuries and traumas, your kit should include reference material with detailed instructions. A quality first aid or emergency response book is a great tool for this. Adding a book like this to your kit helps ensure that you have instructions to properly address most possible traumas.

Airway and Breathing Support

There’s no telling when you might have to address a situation that requires either clearing an airway or resuscitation. You should consider adding things like bag valve masks and barrier masks for CPR or general respiratory support as well as airway inserts for unconscious individuals.

Trauma Kit Wound Care Supplies

One of the most common needs following an emergency or traumatic event is wound care. The right wound care supplies can make a big difference in an injured person’s outcome.

Bandages

Opt for a substantial supply of bandages in many sizes. Self-adhesive bandages are a quick and easy solution for so many minor injuries, so you’ll want as many as you can get.

Gauze

Gauze is equally important because some injuries will require more attention than what a self-adhesive bandage can provide. Make sure you have plenty of sterile gauze in both packages and rolls. Choose the non-stick type for the best results and consider adding somehemostatic gauze to help stem bleeding.

Bandage Wrap

Every trauma kit can benefit from bandage wrap as well. This wrap adheres to itself, making it simple and easy to wrap gauze and keep it in place over an injury of any size.

Disinfectants

Stock plenty of wound wash and disinfectant cleaner for injuries so that you can clean them before you bandage them. This reduces the risk of infection.

Bleeding Control

When responding to any type of trauma, you need to be prepared for the potential of severe injuries. That means having tools on hand to help manage heavy bleeding. Occlusive seals andtourniquets are important to keep in every trauma kit for this reason. When possible, choose tourniquets that deploy with one hand so that you can use one if you’re injured and by yourself, too.

Basic First Aid Equipment

Every comprehensive response kit should have some basic first aid supplies, too.

Trauma shears — These are beneficial when you need to cut through clothing or bandages because they cut most materials with ease.
Splints — Fractures are always a risk in any trauma environment, so you should stock up on some splints and braces as part of your kit.
Nitrile gloves — You can’t be sure that you’ll have a way to wash your hands, nor can you eliminate the risk of pathogen exposure. Nitrile gloves help to reduce contamination when you’re treating an injury and should be present in any trauma kit.
Cotton swabs — Cotton swabs are beneficial for applying ointments and similar solutions directly to a wound.
Alcohol wipes — Whether you’re preparing an injection site or just trying to clean around a wound, alcohol wipes are a great way to do so and disinfect the area at the same time.

Extensive Emergency Resources

If you’re preparing for any potential trauma, that means more broad-spectrum supply stocking. You’ll want to invest in things that you might not otherwise consider as trauma response material but can prove beneficial.

Thermal blankets — Trauma response can do unusual things to the body, including systemic shock. When you’re trying to help regulate body temperature and stem the effects of shock, thermal blankets are a great way to go. You should keep a couple of them in every trauma kit.
Pen lights — You can’t always count on perfect lighting and visibility, especially when you’re dealing with a traumatic situation. Stock up on a couple of pen lights for targeted visibility and lighting to help you clearly assess and treat injuries.
Matches — Matches should be present in every emergency kit regardless of the purpose. You can’t ever be sure when you might need matches for a fire, so add some waterproof strike-anywhere matches to every kit.
Rubbing alcohol — Rubbing alcohol is great as a surface disinfectant when necessary, which allows you to help reduce the risk of infections when you’re treating an injury or open wound. You can also use it to disinfect tools and equipment.
Hypodermic needles — Whether you’re potentially addressing a diabetic emergency or dealing with any other medical emergency, having a supply of fresh, clean, sterile hypodermic needles is always beneficial.

Trauma Kit Medication Supply

In addition to addressing immediate injuries, you’ll also want to have some medications on hand in your kit.

Pain Relievers

Consider stocking a variety of pain relievers so that you have options for those with allergies to certain medications. Keep something from each of the major sources, including ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen.

Antibiotic Ointments

Open wounds benefit from antibiotic ointments to help prevent infection while healing. Keep plenty of triple antibiotic ointment on hand at all times.

Antihistamines

An allergic response can be a serious concern, especially when you’re dealing with a traumatic event. Keep antihistamines on hand in your kit, as well as epinephrine, to help address these issues.

A comprehensive trauma kit has the basics for responding to as many types of injuries as possible. Start with the fundamentals and expand your kit from there as you see fit. Check out thetrauma response kit at Survivd to get your emergency response material stash started with ease.

https://www.skilledsurvival.com/trauma-kits/#section2

https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/survivalist/survival-skills-build-your-own-trauma-kit/

https://www.mountainmanmedical.com/the-essentials-how-to-build-a-mass-casualty-trauma-kit/

https://mind4survival.com/trauma-medical-kit/

https://blog.sscor.com/four-airway-devices-to-include-in-your-trauma-bag

https://www.penncare.net/2022/06/your-guide-to-supplying-an-ems-wound-care-kit/