I need a tourniquet and QuikClot

[Scratch]

I'm putting together a battle belt, and have gotten to the med pouch.  I have an HSGI bleeder/Blowout pouch, and I figured I should put something in it besides a bottle of Gatorade.  Problem is... I know nothing about medical stuff.

I looked at a bunch of other bleeder kits and have gotten what I'm comfortable with as far as everything else, but I'm not sure about tourniquets and QuikClot.  I see there are expiration dates on them both, SOF and CAT tourniquets, and different sizes like 25g and 50g of the QuikClot.  Obviously... I don't plan on using this, but who does.  I'm imagining the only place I'm going to wear this is on my property, at my shooting range, but if the SHTF.... Then I'd like to be a little more prepared.

These are the last two items I need on my medical list and I don't want to spend a lot.  Any help?


By the way... I have no idea on how to do much more than put on a band aid.... And that's iffy....  Anyone have any favorite videos on these?

[Groovy Mike]

Try tractor supply or Agway (places that sell hoof trimming supplies) for quick clot.  Sign up for a Red Cross first aide class.

[bulldog136]

A lot of people are going away from quickclot and going to a bandage with it infused.  It burns when touches the skin which is not the issue if you are using but you are most likely outside when using and the powder tends to blow in everyone's eyes causing problems. 

[jason bourne]

For a tourniquet check these guys out. They are designed to be put on by the user under high stress situations.

http://ratstourniquet.com

[1mlt]

OP, you didn't mention "suture kit". Just wondering if you have 1? If cut and bleeding, once bleeding is stopped, you may need to sew up the wound. You can get a good suture kit for about 25.00. Comes in it's own 'pouch' complete, ready to use. We have a couple of them in our packs. Can't help with tourniquet or QC.

Marcus

[jason bourne]

1mlt had a great suggestion. Having someway to seal up a wound is very important. I went a different route than a traditional stitching kit and instead have a medical stapler. Its quicker and more user friendly.

[brokenhands]

If you know someone in the military those items are easy to obtain. When we return the IFAK they take only the pouch and give the option to throw away the guts or keep them. I have over 10 tourniquet. As for quickclot they have replaced it with combat gauze. Does the same exact thing but it is infused in the bandage for stuffing it into the wound and does not heat up as extremely as quickclot did. Or you can go out and purchase these items. Everytime I've done a turn in I have kept these items and have them in mine and my wifes "bug out bags" and in our vehicle. I'am aware of the expiration dates, as for tourniquet if it has not been used it is still good.

[ranger1968]

    If you already have some other basics, then you are off to a good start;  with individual trauma kits,  stopping the bleeding is usually you first priority, since if you don't stop the bleeding, at least temporarily, the rest is all academic;

    For the circumstance you have described, you're not looking to do surgery or permanent repairs- you are wanting to stop the bleeding long enough to get help, and get you you to some real medical care;  in that thought process, here are a few things you will want to have, for sure:

   2 or 3 25g Quickclot sponges.... You need more than 1, 1 doesn't always get it. http://www.amazon.com/QuikClot-Sport-Advanced-Clotting-Sponge/dp/B001B62XHU/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1428516831&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=quikcclot

  An H Bandage... hands down, one of the most useful items in the kit, a really, really good all around dressing...    http://www.amazon.com/H-Associates-Bandage-Flat-Folded/dp/B0084GDNOM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1428516708&sr=8-2&keywords=h+bandage

   A Swat-T tourniquet ...  easy to use, easy to pack, effective:  http://www.amazon.com/SWAT-T-Tourniquet/dp/B003IWNOVO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428516906&sr=8-1&keywords=swat+tourniquet

   And at least 1 occlusive bandage of some type ..... a lot of people overlook the occlusive, but when you need one, it's what will do the job : http://www.amazon.com/HALO-Chest-Seal-Performance-Occlusive/dp/B003VSORKC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1428517012&sr=8-2&keywords=occlusive+dressing

 
 Lastly, think of shock; even though you have gotten the bleeding under control,  shock is a very real possibility; to help preserve stability, you need to hold your body heat, so toss at least one of these in the kit:  http://www.amazon.com/Emergency-Mylar-Thermal-Blankets-Pack/dp/B00STLP3GI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428517570&sr=8-1&keywords=emergency+blanket%5D  They don't take much space, they are cheap, and they will help retain that heat and ward off shock a bit....

   I linked Amazon out of convenience , b ut you can get all of these things from any number of sources, so shop around; Good luck, and let us know how it comes out .....

   

[jwperry]

Scratch,
I used to run the same Bleeder pouch you have. It can get to be a tight fit, but I was able to fit

http://smile.amazon.com/QuickClot-Combat-Gauze-Z-Fold/dp/B001E1CLTC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428681032&sr=8-1&keywords=quickclot+z+fold
http://smile.amazon.com/HALO-Chest-Seal-Performance-Occlusive/dp/B003VSORKC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428681072&sr=8-1&keywords=halo+chest+seal
http://smile.amazon.com/Ever-Ready-First-Aid-Compression/dp/B003DPVERM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428681116&sr=8-1&keywords=israeli+bandage

I also had a small bottle of iodine & 2 pairs of XL nitrile gloves in there. I opted for the Z-pack QuickClot over the H&M/QuickClot combo for space savings. I bought my z-packed QC on ebay over amazon; I was able to pick the furthest out expiration date and the price was cheaper (like 2 for 1) when compared to amazon.

I attached my SOFTT-W tourniquet to the outside of the pouch via BFG tourniquet NOW! attachment.

Remember a bleeder kit isn't a full IFAK, so don't go overboard trying to turn it into a full kit and an IFAK isn't a full trauma kit.

[swamplady]

There is another clotting agent called Celox that is available in powder form, or infused into gauze pads or rolled gauze. You can find it on amazon or ebay. Not supposed to burn, although I can't imagine that being a very big concern after you've been shot! 

[ranger1968]

There is another clotting agent called Celox that is available in powder form, or infused into gauze pads or rolled gauze. You can find it on amazon or ebay. Not supposed to burn, although I can't imagine that being a very big concern after you've been shot! 

  The new Quickclot  that's encapsulated doesn't burn; I've plugged both femoral and carotid bleeds with it successfully....

  It's really, really good stuff.

[panoz77]

From personal experience, superglue is a must have in a med kit, I have sealed up some nasty wounds with superglue and they have healed better than ones using stitches. It also really helps to stop bleeding in nasty cuts that are hard to close.   Just make sure the wound is clean first before using it.  I use the gel type.

[mvinciguerra]

Do not get the SWAT, get the CAT, I have trained with both, if you had to apply it your self, the SWAT one is next to impossible while covered in blood. The CAT on is easly applied one handed even if covered in blood. Get the impregnated gauze or something like that if going the quick clot route, do not get the granules, the impregnated gauze can be used on a belly or chest wound, you cannot use the granules for those wounds, if some of those granules touches your organs, you are gonna have more problems. Also the gauze can be used for say a head\face wound, if you got some of those granules in your eyes, its a chemical burn on your eyes and can cause blindness.

[ranger1968]

Do not get the SWAT, get the CAT, I have trained with both, if you had to apply it your self, the SWAT one is next to impossible while covered in blood. The CAT on is easly applied one handed even if covered in blood. Get the impregnated gauze or something like that if going the quick clot route, do not get the granules, the impregnated gauze can be used on a belly or chest wound, you cannot use the granules for those wounds, if some of those granules touches your organs, you are gonna have more problems. Also the gauze can be used for say a head\face wound, if you got some of those granules in your eyes, its a chemical burn on your eyes and can cause blindness.

  The CAT is a lot bulkier and tougher to pack; we are using both, and the SWAT is what ends up the small pouches, where space is at a premium; as for Qwikclot, to my knowledge they haven't offered loose granules for sale for several years now, so it's always going to be a sponger or a gauze dressing at this point ; I've used both the gauze and the sponge extensively, and for deeper, more serious wounds , the sponges are a little easier to use as you can actually work them into the wound a bit , packing it instead of covering it, which seems to work a bit better for the hemostatic agents....

  For general bandaging /dressing, I recommended the H Bandage with good reason....

[Danjal]

QuikClot went from powder to granules to gauze. The powder blew into responders eyes and was pretty invasive. The granules were better,but ultimately they went with gauze impregnated with it. QuikClot recalled the powder and recommended watering it down to destroy it due to irritation issues. The granules went the same way as it was being improperly used. ALL hemostatics NEED pressure behind them so they won't wash out from blood pressure. Several marines found this out the hard way. They thought it was dump on and forget. The gauze works multifold. Folded up over wounds, wrapped around limbs or torsos for clotting and pressure, and wound packing. And in my limited knowledge I back off or assist the real professionals when they arrive.

All in all.. hemostatics are for severe bleeding. Gauze can do a lot. Especially with wound packing. I still carry some gauze and sponges in case, but they're almost strictly for uncontrollable bleeding. All other methods like tourniquets, wound pressure, packing, and the like should be used as well.

Pack tampons if you're preparing for gunshot wounds.

Remember this also: First aid only extends life to get to a doctor or surgery.