WWT Basic Med Kit- The Uses

Hello All,

We are going to start doing a few posts about the medical side of our tactical world. As part of it we are going to start with some pretty basic introductions to medical treatment in the field for yourself and those around you. Eventually we will get into some more in depth stuff, but its always a good practice to review basic stuff. I realize that this might be a review for some of you, but for others this may be their first time seeing this stuff.

Recently we released our WWT Basic Med Kit that you can see here. Some may be interested in the kit, but are not familiar with what is in the kit, or are unsure how to use it. Again...bear with me....this is new to some people. I want to at least give you a rundown of some of the uses of the contents so that any fears can be dispelled. During any situation where the kit may be needed, help could be hours away, or not coming at all.

Here is what is in the kit:

2 Pairs Nitrile Gloves
2 H&H Compressed gauze
1 Pair of Traums Sheers
1 Israeli Bandage
1 Nasopharyngeal Airway



Lets start at the top.


Gloves
Why do we need gloves? In the world of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), we have a saying and it goes like this. 

"If its wet, warm, and NOT yours....DON'T TOUCH IT"

That's why we need gloves. People all around us have diseases we don't know about and its just best to shield ourselves from what they may have, and well as shield them from what we may have. Gloves keep all bodily fluids off of your hands. Now if your like me, you always have cuts and scrapes on your hands from working. Those cuts give a perfect pathway for diseases to enter your body. 

H&H Compressed Gauze
In a nutshell, this is a awesome tool to use in medical treatment. It can be wrapped around wounds, used as a tourniquet, used as a sling, or folded on top of itself and used to stop bleeding. It also is really great for off label uses as well. It can easily be cut into strips and used for knots. 

Trauma Sheers
Trauma sheers are probably one of the best utility cutters out there. They are really inexpensive, and they cut almost anything. I use them at work to cut trauma victims clothes off....(he he), and it will cut through rope, webbing, and small size cable. If the material is not extremely tough, you can cut it. 

Israeli bandange
This bandage is really awesome to use, and its really simple. You can use it to stop bleeding, as well as a tourniquet. The best part, is that it is made so that you can lock it in place once the proper pressure has been applied. Ever used an ace bandage and used those little mettle clip thingy's? They come off to easily. A regular roll of gauze also needs tape, or to be cut and tied off, and that usually requires a second person. The Israeli bandage is made for one person to use, and it stays in place. 

Start by following directions. Place letters on the wound with the funky looking clip to the right of the wound. Wrap around your arm once until you reach the clip. Feed the bandage into the clip and then wrap the opposite way in order to tighten the bandage. Continue to wrap into you reach the end. At the end you will find another clip that will allow the sides of the bandage to be tucked into it. BAM! Easy as pie. It will stay in place, and you can resume whatever you were doing. If it needs to be tightened, just repeat the process, and just apply more pressure. You can use the bandage on arms, lets, heads, torso's..just about anything thats bleeding.....well not ANYTHING, but you get the point. 

Nasopharyngeal Airway
Your probably thinking....."What the hell is that?"....well I shall explain. They look like a short, soft piece of hose. They are made to provide an avenue for air to move into someones lungs in the event that their mouth is no longer suitable due to injury.

It is inserted with the beveled side towards the middle of your nose. To do this you really need to have a little bit of lube, but in a pinch, spit works. They are pushed all the way into the nose and you will feel it in the back of your throat.

 Now....I was in paramedic school and some dumbass decided he would accept a bet to see if he could put it in his nose. Since I called him a dumbass, you can probably guess how it turned out. He bled like a stuck pig. This is only to be used if needed folks. 
There are different uses that you can probably come up with on your own if you were in some type of survival situation. 


That sums of the basic uses of the contents of the WWT Basic Med Kit. I hope some people have a little insight or clarification, and that this has been a good review for others. Remember, if you have any questions please don't be afraid to ask. Also if you need further assistance grasping a concept, please go to a local first-responder in your area and they should be happy to help. 






White Wolf Tactical LLC is not responsible for your actions while using this kit. ALWAYS seek professional training. Always remember to dial 911.




-Mike, Nationally Registered Paramedic