My new pack.

[bonehead]

There might be someone in the group that is fully qualified to use such things. Z could be the mule.

[Doktor]

There might be someone in the group that is fully qualified to use such things. Z could be the mule.

Now, now... this comment made from to in 2 seconds.

While Z might not be qualified yet, he is one hell of a stubborn prick and I believe he will make it from a "mule" to a "nurse" in record time.
Reading my response again before posting, made me go again.

[chanjyj]

I am a masters student at the moment. A member of two different groups. Yankee 1 a volunteer SAR/disaster relief team and the Faulkner County Rescue Squad.

Z
I think the question was more in regards to what type of medical certifications you hold.

I sort of wondered myself. There are a few things in your jump bag that, at least in my state require, at a min, EMT certification to use. And more that a few that are paramedic and above.

Yeah Z. GG phrased my question a little better.

Re-reading through your list I was quite surprised you have a suture kit w/o LA.
As well as the AED on your wishlist have you considered packing some O2?

[zraver]

Yeah Z. GG phrased my question a little better.

Mule for now, just first aid/cpr/aed personally. first responder soon, then EMT.

Re-reading through your list I was quite surprised you have a suture kit w/o LA.
As well as the AED on your wishlist have you considered packing some O2?

o2 is heavy and hard to refill in a disaster zone. The stuff above first aid level is for the team nurses to use. The desire for an AED is because those things save lives. They are the seatbelt of the cardiac arrest world.

This is actually only 1 of 3 packs I keep in my truck. Its the biggest, heaviest and most expensive but I also keep a search pack and a saw pack in them as well. Well I also have a shoulder bag wit a rescue squad shirt, MRE, work gloves, handiwipes, gatorade and a hi-vis vest to grab and go when we get a call.

[chanjyj]

I agree with you to an extent, but I find the heavy emphasis on CPRs and AEDs the past few years misleading. When you have a patient in cardiac arrest, chances that he/she will need to be intubated are pretty high anyway. And even if that isn't the case, the administration of O2 while performing CPR is beneficial. Using a bag valve mask is not something I would like to do if the patient needs to be transported anywhere. Much prefer to hook up the mask and O2 line.

That said I understand the difficulty of bringing along a tank, and looking at your current load out I have no idea where it would fit.

All the AED needs now is cardiac stimulants for the PEA/asystole patients (assuming the ACLS nurses are authorised to administer it).

[zraver]

I have a cpr mask that can be hooked up to o2 carried by responding emt/ambulance. With an ambu bag and AED 1 person can perform extended cpr/operations giving ambulances more time to respond. Only cardiac med I carry is small does chewable aspirin. Stimulants or any type other than caffeine is highly regulated in the US. To the point the government would rather people die of anaphylactic shock then let epi-pens be easily available. Also I think only 1 type of nurse (DNP???) is authorized to administer anything but OTC meds.

I hear there is a new national standard coming for EMT-B's that will allow them to administer epi-pens. fingers crossed.

[DonBelt]

Z, Does your group have a medical director? A medical director should be able to write you a script for many of those things, epi-pens and narcan, etc. provided you have a written approved protocol, implemented and verified training and someone who in the Medical Director's opinion has the scope of practice to administer. (this does not necessarily have to be a licensed nurse or medic in all circumstances) Your kit is impressive, I didn't notice any SAM splints or frac-packs but maybe I just missed it. If I may make a suggestion? You can lighten that load by dropping a few items- the trauma shears should be able to handle 90% of all your cutting needs, you could probably leave out the clothing cutter/O2 wrench tool and some of the assorted scissors. Probably a frac pack could be replaced with a couple of SAM splints- they are always under utilized for what can be done with them. EMT-B's can administer EPI-pens now. There are new standards coming up though, so keep your ears open. As far as the wilderness training, try checking with your local BSA. They often arrange for wilderness first aid courses for adult leaders and older scouts. My personal experience is 8 years as an EMT (firefighter/emt) I do rescues and ambulance transports- prior to that I had first responder training from the red cross and military (Navy). I also run the first aid for a large re-enactor camp which has had as many as 900 people in attendance, and do the first aid for most of the Scouting activities I'm involved with. I hope you continue your efforts and find the time for an EMT course. Pre-hospital care and first response increase the chances of survival for injured and sick people and the more wide spread this ability is the closer it is to those who will need it. Keep posting pics of your kit- your organizing system is great and I'd like to see how it evolves.

[zraver]

Z, Does your group have a medical director? A medical director should be able to write you a script for many of those things, epi-pens and narcan, etc. provided you have a written approved protocol, implemented and verified training and someone who in the Medical Director's opinion has the scope of practice to administer. (this does not necessarily have to be a licensed nurse or medic in all circumstances) Your kit is impressive, I didn't notice any SAM splints or frac-packs but maybe I just missed it. If I may make a suggestion? You can lighten that load by dropping a few items- the trauma shears should be able to handle 90% of all your cutting needs, you could probably leave out the clothing cutter/O2 wrench tool and some of the assorted scissors. Probably a frac pack could be replaced with a couple of SAM splints- they are always under utilized for what can be done with them. EMT-B's can administer EPI-pens now. There are new standards coming up though, so keep your ears open. As far as the wilderness training, try checking with your local BSA. They often arrange for wilderness first aid courses for adult leaders and older scouts. My personal experience is 8 years as an EMT (firefighter/emt) I do rescues and ambulance transports- prior to that I had first responder training from the red cross and military (Navy). I also run the first aid for a large re-enactor camp which has had as many as 900 people in attendance, and do the first aid for most of the Scouting activities I'm involved with. I hope you continue your efforts and find the time for an EMT course. Pre-hospital care and first response increase the chances of survival for injured and sick people and the more wide spread this ability is the closer it is to those who will need it. Keep posting pics of your kit- your organizing system is great and I'd like to see how it evolves.

No medical director... Believe me it is a shortcoming I am aware of. Our nurses do not need one. In our normal area they are part of a multi-state compact and can practice to their level of training under their own authority.

I've got 3 sam splits loaded. (checked, didn't list them oops)

Arkansas EMT-B's wont have epi-pen privs until 2014. I learned that one from the state inspector when we were doing annual inspections of the rescue squad ambulances. We have 4 licensed and in service around the county, 3 in use and 1 reserve. The rescue squad provides community event (rodeos, races, fun runs) BLS ambulance services rather than tie up an expensive ALS unit and paramedic.

[Doktor]

Z,

No matter the regulation, I would strongly advise you to take course in nursing, in particular for what your interest is.

[bonehead]

Now, now... this comment made from to in 2 seconds.

While Z might not be qualified yet, he is one hell of a stubborn prick and I believe he will make it from a "mule" to a "nurse" in record time.
Reading my response again before posting, made me go again.

There was no disrespect given. We have too many lawyers here and those who love to sue at a drop of a hat. As a result there are a litany of regulations about the use of first aid and the tools/drugs that can be administered by whom. For instance when in the outdoor program in my university the leaders had to carry the first aid kit... a 9 pound monstrosity. Everything in the kit was color coded. As a leader and with some first aid qualifications I could use the green but not anything marked yellow or red. If I did not only did I open up myself to liability the school could terminate the program if any lawsuits resulted in me doing so. Only the teacher and a very few select volunteers who were qualified could use the items in yellow and red. As a leader I was one of the mules that had to carry the kit...such were the rules.

[zraver]

I understand. but since I helped found the group and given the lack of sponsors a lot of the cost of providing the minimum amount of gear needed to make us credible has fallen on my head to provide. I'm in this deep and its about wiped me out... Keep driving forward though success isn't supposed to be easy.

[DonBelt]

Grants are a volunteer squad's best friend. Have you thought about approaching a larger dept to see if they might have surplus equipment available? Maybe when they order supplies they will let you piggyback an order on theirs.

[zraver]

Grants are a volunteer squad's best friend. Have you thought about approaching a larger dept to see if they might have surplus equipment available? Maybe when they order supplies they will let you piggyback an order on theirs.

We are private and most departments are public.... The rescue squad might be able to donate something at some point in the future, haven't asked, not even really on my radar. Most grants are denied to us until we get our IRS determination later and have 3 years of existence and the fee the IRS charges is a big church of change for us.

1. we are really spread out from Arkansas to Kansas, 2. shoestring budget and limited donor base 3. young organization and no IRS determination letter. All that said we are making progress.

[Doktor]

There was no disrespect given. We have too many lawyers here and those who love to sue at a drop of a hat. As a result there are a litany of regulations about the use of first aid and the tools/drugs that can be administered by whom. For instance when in the outdoor program in my university the leaders had to carry the first aid kit... a 9 pound monstrosity. Everything in the kit was color coded. As a leader and with some first aid qualifications I could use the green but not anything marked yellow or red. If I did not only did I open up myself to liability the school could terminate the program if any lawsuits resulted in me doing so. Only the teacher and a very few select volunteers who were qualified could use the items in yellow and red. As a leader I was one of the mules that had to carry the kit...such were the rules.

My apologies. I have misunderstood the initial reply.

[chanjyj]

I have a cpr mask that can be hooked up to o2 carried by responding emt/ambulance. With an ambu bag and AED 1 person can perform extended cpr/operations giving ambulances more time to respond. Only cardiac med I carry is small does chewable aspirin. Stimulants or any type other than caffeine is highly regulated in the US. To the point the government would rather people die of anaphylactic shock then let epi-pens be easily available. Also I think only 1 type of nurse (DNP???) is authorized to administer anything but OTC meds.

I hear there is a new national standard coming for EMT-B's that will allow them to administer epi-pens. fingers crossed.

What? An EMT-B for an epi-pen? In Australia AFAIK any, ANY person can do it if the situation is life threatening. I personally know of a school teacher (untrained) who gave it to a student. Of course, the epi-pen was the student's personal one.