Mounted search and rescue

[Karen Nesbitt <spanishequines@yahoo.com>]

[This is a combination of two posts from Karen Nesbitt.  I have
deleted HTML duplicates.  -Una]


The list below are items are items that EQUIMEDIC (r)
   has in their first aid trailer kit.

        Small Trailering Soft Sided Bag 
10 long handled cotton tipped swabs 
8 medical towels 
6 wood applicators 
24 non-sterile gauze pads 
6 sterile gauze pads
5 non-adherent gauze pads 
3 3M Vetrap Bandaging Tape 
1 one third pound roll of cotton 
1 adhesive tape roll 
10 alcohol wipes 
10 hand sanitizing towelettes 
4 povidone iodine swabsticks 
1 four ounce eye wash 
1 betadine surgical scrub
1 eight ounce hydrogen peroxide 
8 iodine wipes 
1 flashlight 
  6 exam gloves 
1 hoof pick 
1 tourniquet 
1 bandage scissors 
4 bandage pins 
5 18 gauge by one inch needles 
2 ten cc syringes 
2 twenty cc syringes 
1 thirty five cc syringe 
1 stainless steel thumb forcep 
1 wrap cutter 
10 antibiotic foil pouches 
6 three quarter inch adhesive bandages 
6 one inch adhesive bandages 
2 Electrolyte Gold packets
1 two ounce small antiseptic ointment 
1 four and a half ounce small liniment 
1 six ounce bloodstop
   
  --------------------------------------------------------------
  IMPORTANT small  item things I see missing in the commercial trailer kit 
are:
   
  A pad of paper and pen
  stethyscope
  thermometer
  scissors (2pair) - bandaid snips and cloth
  a small instruction book on simple but effective first aid
  ziploc baggies of various sizes
  trash bags
  roll of saran wrap
  solar blanket
  bed sheet
  cord - strong but thin
  ace bandages both in wie and narrow
  leg wraps and cotton pads or quilt pads
  ladies hygiene pads and or diapers
  foam cloth whiplash  neck collar
  neophreme  knee brace wraps for human
  matches (waterproof)
  snakebite kite
  magnifying glass
  flint
  aspirin 
  Tylenol and or other OTC  pain releif 
  needle and thread
  hot cold ice pak
  washcloths and towels
  water bottle and water
  hankerchief
  surgical masks
  saline
  electrolytes for the horses
  snack food, gator aid,  orange juice small easy open cans
  a small leather repair kit
  rain ponchos
  salt tablets
  wrist wraps 
  amonia capsules
  whistle
  finger splint
  compass or gps
  one small first aid pak (these come in a small plastic box and are very 
handy)
  QUIET AND CALM PASTE
  ---------------------------
  Things I find  particularlly useless in the commercial kit unless you have 
the medication to go with are the syringes and needles and you know what you 
are really doing there.  The needles are questionable.  However the syringes 
can be of value in debriding wounds.  Some of the other items in the amounts 
they suggest are high and low in what I would prefer to carry.  The number of 
certain iems over others when you consider the mess a horse can get into, 
likewise a human.
   
  The nylon carrier - I prefer to use a five gallon bucket with lid for my 
trailer aid kit
  and use a nylon backback to put what I would take on the trail that can 
then be put into a saddle bag.  The bucket is air tight and keeps things 
clean and I like to pack each item in a ziploc bag to keep things even 
cleaner.  We are working in a naturally dirty environment and these things 
can be protected.  The bucket can come in handy for a spare water bucket if 
needed back at the base.
   
  The backpack can be worn by the rider and the saddle bags or cantle bag can 
then also be used to carry other things.  I like to have a colapsable vynal 
cooler that fits into my saddle bag that closes with a zipper.  I can put a 
six pack of drinks in that with a sandwich or what ever food.and an ice pak
   
  My saddle bags of choice are codura with leather buckles...they are strong 
and flexible...I find the leather ones leave something to be desired n 
packing them, but are also nice depending on the trip.
   
  I would prefer to avoid high attention colors in a first aid kit simply 
because it is something I take responsibility in carrying and I would not it 
easily visually to be stolen while either on a trail ride or other. Besides 
the fact that eventually the "brite" colors will also scrubby looking and  
dirty.
   
  I find the over the horn aid kits a hassle since I like  to carry a lariet
  rope and like my horn free of any encumberances.  My rope is an absolute 
must carry.
   
  Bottomline...there is more we can add and stuff we can leave, none of it is 
any good unless you know how to use it and every situation is different
   
  How many of each item is debateable, some people like to carry horse 
tranqualizers
  and those are not always available to the general public.
   


There is more, but one other item in this day that is of importance...- 
  the ever poplular  - mouth peices for mouth to mouth!
   
  Question, where are good places to get some of these things for our first 
aid kits that normally are not seen in the local drug stores!? See my other 
post with more extended list...You will know what items when you go to look 
for them, that is if you do not have them already and case in point the 
example above and if you are not a already a paramedic?
   
  Karen Nesbitt
  Illinois - Unaffiliated
  Iroqouis County
   
   

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