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