Pending deployment

[soulsedition]

Good morning everyone, I've been trolling the forums for a number of years, now.
I'm looking at an upcoming deployment to a combat zone, and am seeking some counsel from a medic that has recently returned stateside concerning loadout planning. I will not be functioning as either of my prior MOS's (19k/68wN3) The army saw it fit to train me to be a 37F . However i'd like to keep a small and functional aidbag for when SHTF. I've reviewed the forums concerning this matter, but i generally do better with 1-1 conversation. If anyone would be willing to send me a PM it would be greatly appreciated. Main concerns are: 1. Type of injuries to be most prepared for, pulse ox/other equipment that is rugged enough to endure an 18 month deployment, and other 'pearls of wisdom' Please send me a message. Thanks in advance-
Steve

[swatsurgeon]

Little kit contents:
little squirts of saline for eye wash (obtain from local hospital respiratory therapist),
tear packs of antibiotic ointment,
bandaids including large size,
tourniquet (use the MAT, my opinion),
several 14 or 16 gauge 5 - 8 cm chest decompression needles.
Naprosyn/celebrex/ibuprofen/mega multivitamin (if injured, does help)

Why would you need a pulse ox....do you carry oxygen?
Mental status helps with judging PaCO2, and to some degree PaO2.....not much you can do about oxygenation except keep them breathing, for CO2, breath deeper and faster to reduce it, slower and shallower to increase it.

That's all I would think but no in theater perspective, just what I've discussed with deployed personnel and received feedback on.

ss

[soulsedition]

You wouldn't happen to have been in schuykill haven a couple weeks ago, would you?

[crash]

First of what kind of a bag are you looking for? An aidbag, pouch, or just some stuff to keep in your own bag incase SHTF..

Do you / will you have acess to medical supplies?

If its just for when the SHTF fan all you need is the simple stuff, ABC's airway adjuncts, decompression needles, tourniguets, bandages, Ect. If your going to be trying to be a medic and take care of everyone then you'll need bandaids and that stuff..

If you don't have acess to supplies pm me and I'll see if I can help you out...

[soulsedition]

As i haven't been trained as a 37F Soldier yet, all i have is a paper definition of their responsibilities while in the sandbox. I'd be hard pressed to believe that all i'll be doing is riding around with a loudspeaker handing out flyers (not to mention disappointed) Ideally i'll have (black ops nylon CMP aid bag-small) for boots in the sand, and in the vehicle i'll have a larger aid bag. Not knowing the current supply climate over there for restocking an aid bag makes it difficult, but i've been amassing my fair share of stuff, namely gauze/ace wraps, NPA's, a couple CAT's, and a few of the other bandages. 14 gauges shouldn't be a problem for chest decompressions. The other stuff i'm not so sure about.
But seriously, what wins more hearts and minds than providing medical aide?

So in summary:
small CMP aid bag for dismount
Larger blackhawk type for TMC/Mass cas/ restock.

Thanks for all of the input thus far.

[swatsurgeon]

Re-check your CATs, there was a recall a few months back...many defective ones made it out the door.
I have issues with them, but interms of real estate they take up, that is their plus. Sand kills their velcro and we have torn the bars off of them

[Fiercely Loyal]

Originally Posted by soulsedition

Not knowing the current supply climate over there for restocking an aid bag

But seriously, what wins more hearts and minds than providing medical aide?
.

I am not any anyway claiming a professional knowledge just giving personal experience from a conventional unit. So far it has been an extremely uphill battle for supplies. Hemcon bandages and ACS are like gold. Medics have been unlikely to give things to Soldiers. On a mission in Southern Iraq we made a stop. One person asked for a band aid then suddenly there is a crowd of folks on my Humvee asking for food water and medical supplies. After hollering at the medic to take it somewhere else he closed up shop. Just IMHO if you happen to stop and someone is asking for medical aid, be very SA. Also there is some type of burn dressing with a cooling liquid that works like a charm. We were called to react to an IED detonation on QRF. One soldier had an amputation but was screaming about the burns. Within 3-5 minutes of dressing being applied he was screaming about the tourniquet instead. Hope this helps.