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Old 12-01-2009, 06:18   #76
Surgicalcric
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Originally Posted by docstumpy View Post
Mind me asking what youre suggestion would be then...
Under the stress of being shot at, blown up, etc... a soldier will grab whatever they get their hands on, not what you hope they will grab for and use. having them make a conscious decision when they should be running on autopilot is not the right decision, IMHO.

Either train your guys to the same proficiency level with the SOFT-T or remove it from your vest.


As for the CAT's, I know of several medics, including myself, who have had several of them break coming right out of the plastic.... OMMV but I stay away from them as much as possible...
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Old 12-01-2009, 06:33   #77
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Originally Posted by Surgicalcric View Post
Under stress they will grab whatever they get their hands on, not what you hope they will grab for and use.

Either train your guys to the same proficiency level with the SOFT-T or remove it from your vest.


As for the CAT's, I know of several medics, including myself, who have had several of them break coming right out of the plastic.... OMMV but I stay away from them as much as possible...
Thats the exact reasoning I had both on my vest. What a soldier can do during training is one thing, but what he can do while under fire is another, unless the training is up to par. That SOFTT is meant mainly for me and my two qualified CLS tankers.

Do you mainly stick to the SOFTT's or are there other types you use?
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Old 12-01-2009, 10:27   #78
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You know, if I were a recently trained conventional Army medic, I would probably rely on the airway management and TQ advice of a Chief of Trauma, an Anesthesiologist, and an 18D rather than arguing with them, but that is just me.

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Old 12-01-2009, 15:47   #79
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...Do you mainly stick to the SOFTT's or are there other types you use?
The topic isnt what I use, it is about you being comfortable with your takers spending precious time, which you may not have, differentiating one TQ from the other in the dark, then putting it into use...

If your guys were equally competent with the CAT and SOFT-T I would have less an issue but according to your previous posting that is not the case.

As for what I use/carry, my guys and I carry SOFT-T's (2 center-line on their armor) and I carry a few extras in all of my aid and CASEVAC bags... There are also some CAT's thrown in for those guys who have girl arms that I may run across. My guys are trained on both and are expected to be proficient at using both TQ's just as they are applying pressure dressings, performing needle drills, and crics...after all, my life may be the one depending on it.
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Last edited by Surgicalcric; 12-01-2009 at 15:52.
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Old 01-03-2010, 13:35   #80
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Great thread on personal medical kits, one question though

SwatSurgeon, and 18D's..

On one of my teams one time and old 18D was giving a sucking chest wound class, and how to make a field expediant flutter valve, to release preasure, when patient is experiencing a hemothorax. He showed to take a 10 or 12 gauge needle, then cut one finger of a latex glove, drop the needle through the opening of the glove finger you just cut off, so it is sticking out the end of the glove. Then take scissors and cut a V on the open end of the glove finger you cut off. This creates an expedient valve to relieve preasure, but doesn't allow air back into the chest. After reading through this thread, I didn't see anyone mention valves they use for decompression on the needles, just needle lengths to avoid heart sticks. I'm just an 18B, so sorry if I butchered any of the medical terms. My question is either to Swatsurgeon, and any 18D's, have you ever heard of this being used, did it work, or is this a total waste of time to ever consider it, if so, what would be better.

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Old 01-03-2010, 15:26   #81
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...have you ever heard of this being used, did it work, or is this a total waste of time to ever consider it, if so, what would be better...
I have seen street paramedics use this technique but have never used it myself. The trouble with leaving the catheter in place is the lumen will become kinked or occluded by a clot.

Given this we just use a new needle/catheter each time the patient needs decompressing.

HTH,

Crip
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Old 01-03-2010, 15:55   #82
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Lumen?

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Originally Posted by Surgicalcric View Post
I have seen street paramedics use this technique but have never used it myself. The trouble with leaving the catheter in place is the lumen will become kinked or occluded by a clot.

Given this we just use a new needle/catheter each time the patient needs decompressing.

HTH,

Crip
Appreciate the clarification Surgicalcric, one question, which I googled, but it says a Lumen refers to amount of light, which I am sure is not the case here. What is a Lumen, in reference to decompression?

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Old 01-03-2010, 16:13   #83
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... What is a Lumen, in reference to decompression? Buck
The lumen is in reference to the catheter's inner diameter. If the catheter (made from teflon) gets kinked air cannot escape.

Crip
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Old 01-03-2010, 16:48   #84
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Old 01-03-2010, 17:19   #85
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Any thoughts on ARS for Needle Decompression for my personal kit? I have taken the certified first medical responder course.
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Old 01-03-2010, 17:34   #86
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Any thoughts on ARS for Needle Decompression for my personal kit? I have taken the certified first medical responder course.
It is nothing more than a 14ga x 3.25" IV catheter packaged in a plastic tube to prevent it from becoming bent in your kit.

Nothing special about it...
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Old 01-03-2010, 20:42   #87
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The only needle I would stake my/your life on if I had a known delay to have access to a chest tube is made by Cook catheter company. I think I posted a link and picture some time ago.... they are wire wrapped/supported needles in 10 or 12 G than can not kink,collapse and are large enough to have a lower incidence of occlusion from blood/fibrin/clot, etc.
The north american rescue needle is just as the very smart Surgicalcric has stated: it's a basic 3 1/2 inch needle in a fancy package with marketing behind it...no new mousetrap there at all.
Look up the Cook pneumothorax decompression or cric kit...their needle is expensive but the one I carry for a wounded officer...bad guy gets the north american rescue (or similiar) one .......

ss
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Old 08-25-2010, 09:46   #88
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My whole problem with trying to make a small kit is, it ends up turning into a full blown aid bag! I grab something, and then think "That would come in handy"... and again, and again... next thing you know Im thinking I may as well carry my aid bag!?
Its the same thing when I pack now! I think about every dang thing that could happen and I have some gadget for it!
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Old 08-25-2010, 18:02   #89
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My whole problem with trying to make a small kit is, it ends up turning into a full blown aid bag! I grab something, and then think "That would come in handy"... and again, and again... next thing you know Im thinking I may as well carry my aid bag!?
Its the same thing when I pack now! I think about every dang thing that could happen and I have some gadget for it!
That's OK. You'll grow out of it. I carried an M5 bag, in the car, for about 5 years after I got out of the Army.
Now, I keep an Epi-Pen in all my vehicles along with gloves and figure I'll improvise if needed.
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Old 01-31-2012, 11:15   #90
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Betadyne swabs and alcohol pads

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Originally Posted by D9 View Post
I'd like to see a few of the above lists fit into a small pouch. I have my doubts.

I carry this in my first line kit:

2 CAT Tourniquets (all TQs can fit in the outside part of the SOTECH pouches)
1 SOF Tourniquet
2 Quiklots
2 Hemcons
2 Z-pak Gauze
2 6" ACE
3 Asherman Chest Dressings
Small portion of 100mph tape (yes, I was on a team with Crip)
2 14 GA Catheters
8 Betadyne swabsticks
8 Alcohol prep pads
Trauma shears & rescue knife
Laminated 9-Line CASEVAC cards
1 Sharpie
1 Alcohol pen

For me this kit is for "Care Under Fire," which means I am not going to be doing any lengthy treatments out of this pouch.

Therefore:

1. The tourniquets for uncontrolled extremity bleeds.

2. The Quicklot and Hemcon for other bleeds

3. The catheters and Asherman's for developing tension pneumos

The rest of the stuff is oriented towards getting the patient started on the road to definitive care. The 9-Line card and markers are so I can get this process started and do not send my pt to the rear with bad info or none at all.
I am a National Guard medic with one tour and I know that I have a lot to learn still. Why do you carry 8 betadyne swabs in addition to 8 alcohol pads? I have heard of using alcohol pads to help clean the site before a NCD and I understand that you could do the same thing with betadyne. However, it looks like you only carry 2 14 ga needles for NCDs- do you swab the site multiple times? I was told in 68W school to try to use alcohol before sticking, but that it was not as important as them breathing- "That is what we have ABX later for." Is there another use for betadyne that I am missing? Is sterile technique that important that I need to carry more alcohol pads and betadyne swabs in my vest kit? Thank you so much for your time and guidance.
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