A few weeks ago we reviewed tourniquets (see ‘“Stop the Bleed: Tourniquet Time has Come”’) as a means to check massive bleeding following a gunshot/stab wound or other major trauma. However, a tourniquet is only one facet of the treatment for such serious problems: a proper “blowout” kit contains all the items you need to hopefully save a life, perhaps your own, until advanced medical care reaches the victim.
A blowout kit is a small, pocket-sized collection of supplies that is carried with you all the time, especially when in operating in a dangerous environment such as the shooting range or a major event. Such a kit doesn’t include many items but has a high bulk-to-benefit ratio.
There are many prepackaged kits on the market and each has strong and weak points. There are also a number of suggested kits posted on the internet with contents ranging from comprehensive and bulky to just plain stupid and unrealistic.
The goal of a blowout kit is much the same as a handgun: it must be effective for its intended use but easy enough to carry that it will actually be in hand during the rare moment when needed.
As both an example and a starting point for buying or building your own kit, here is a rundown of the pocket blowout kit carried by the author for years while working the streets as a police office. The primary goals of his kit are effectiveness, light weight, minimal bulk and above all, packaging that will survive endless cycles of jostling and being taken in and out of a cargo pocket when changing pants.
This isn’t the “ultimate” kit by any stretch but one example that has survived the test of time (items links to Amazon.com):
Carrier
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Condor Pocket Pouch |
Tourniquet
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SWAT-T Tourniquet |
Gauze– To control bleeding by packing into wounds that have caused massive tissue destruction
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QuickClot Combat Gauze (Z-Fold) |
An Alternative
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Z-Pak Dressing Twelve feet of sterile gauze mashed into the size of a couple of facial tissues. Easy to use and inexpensive, plus package can be used as improvised chest seal. |
Gloves
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Rescue Essentials Black Nitrile Gloves |
An Alternative
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Kimberly-Clark Purple Nitrile Exam Gloves |
Chest Seal
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Seals for penetrating wounds of the chest cavity are a problem in a pocket kit because of their size (at least 4×6 or more) and that they cannot be folded for any length of time without damage. In the short term, a gloved band or taped plastic gauze package works effectively. Tegaderm dressings, Vaseline gauze and expired defibrillator pads all work if you can find one that fits into your kit. |
Tape
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Adventure Medical Kits Sol Duct Tape |
Another Useful Option:
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Patrol Officer’s Pocket Trauma Kit by Rescue Essentials |
ABOVE ALL- Don’t forget that “Owning a piano doesn’t make you a musician!” Seek professional training in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) before using any medical product or device.
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