What do you recommend packing in a ready to grab trauma kit for one who has no formal first aid training? I don't have a trauma kit so the cotton undershirt is the first thing I think of, and the only thing I have used in the two situations where I have had to control bleeding. Minor first aid is usually not too far away in my type of cutting. Thanks, Ron
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Should be able to find them for about 30 bucks online. Current training is MUCH more aggressive with the tourniquets then in the past -- if you're seriously bleeding slap one on and concentrate your time on treating other injuries and evacuating the patient, and don't worry about the tourniquet if you can get to a trauma center within two hours. If it's over two hours then it's time to see if you can loosen it and control the bleeding by pressure bandages...but if you can't it's better to lose the limb then bleed to death.
You could use your belt, but if you're like me you're then walking out of the woods in your boxer shorts since there's no way my jeans are going to stay up afterwards.
Some bandaids, some 4x4 gauze pads (store brand is fine), some rolled gauze (Kling or Kerlix is *much* easier to use since it sticks to itself better then store brands), some clear medical tape. Ace bandage in case you twist your ankle and need a bit of support as you limp out.
The above list should be able to help most anything short of opening up your guts or cutting your groin area, then you'll need someones T-shirt