| There are so many different options in first aid | | | | The delay in EMT response is another large |
| sets - small first aid kits, large first aid kits, | | | | consideration - basic patient stabilization and care |
| various professional trauma bags, even military | | | | may be the only thing required in densely |
| trauma bags. The inventory of materials and | | | | populated areas where emergency response is |
| supplies in these setups varies widely and the | | | | under 5 minutes. Naturally you may want to |
| number of different class specifications makes | | | | prepare for more than the best-case scenario, |
| comparing and contrasting the various trauma bag | | | | since emergency care can be severely delayed or |
| contents difficult at best. Products on the market | | | | even non-existent in a catastrophe or large-scale |
| can range from a basic medical "survival bag" up | | | | emergency. Care in rural or remote areas can |
| to and including a very comprehensive first | | | | obviously assume a protracted response, |
| responder trauma bag. | | | | sometimes in excess of 20 minutes - longer for |
| There are industry descriptions that range from | | | | difficult to find construction projects or poorly |
| the size of the group that the kit is intended to | | | | marked county roads. Situations like these require |
| service (you may hear such terms as "5 man kit", | | | | much more comprehensive kits, generally including |
| "15 man kit", etc) to very specific applications | | | | an AED (Automated Electronic Defibrillator) to |
| such as EMT trauma bags or even Combat | | | | assist in resuscitation from cardiac arrest. |
| Trauma Bags for Armed Forces medics. How | | | | Training is the third major consideration - all the |
| does one choose the best option for a specific | | | | tools and equipment in the world are useless |
| application out of a host of first responder packs | | | | without a fundamental knowledge o f medical |
| and stocked trauma bags? | | | | response and the proper first aid applications. |
| A large consideration should be made on three | | | | Even in situations where response is under 6 or 7 |
| main points: the number of people present, the | | | | minutes, an untrained responder can do more |
| amount of time required for first responders | | | | damage than good if the victim is handled |
| (EMT or Fire Department) to respond, and the | | | | improperly. Basic prudence would suggest that |
| level of first aid training present in the group. | | | | everyone should have basic first aid and CPR |
| The number of people referenced by a kit can be | | | | training, but if the skills are not regularly honed |
| somewhat misleading - it may lend some insight | | | | and practiced then panic can set in during an |
| into the number of band-aids and gauze pads in a | | | | emergency. One solution to aid training is to |
| specific kit, but it tells us very little about the | | | | provide an EID (Emergency Instruction Device) in |
| depth of care that the kit is able to provide. | | | | your stocked trauma bags - more information on |
| Obviously some knowledge about the number of | | | | the EID can be found through Critical Response |
| people being serviced by a kit and the duration | | | | First Aid. Designed to be a visual and auditory aid |
| that the group might have to withstand before | | | | in a crisis and to prevent panicked responders |
| restocking occurs is very important. Generally it is | | | | from doing more harm than good, the EID can |
| more appropriate to break down the proper level | | | | prove to be a vital part of your first response |
| of response by issuing the best responder kit per | | | | program. |
| square footage in the facility or by a specific | | | | All the variables can make a decision on first aid |
| number of employees which will be assigned to | | | | and response kits very difficult; if you need more |
| the kit. For instance, it may make more sense to | | | | information or have questions, a wealth of |
| purchase four comprehensive kits for 25 people | | | | knowledge and support exists from a company's |
| per kit rather than try and cover everyone with | | | | safety group to the resources available from a |
| one "100 Man" kit which may only provide the | | | | distributor, such as Critical Response. |
| bare basics in care. | | | | |