Arb Aid Trauma kit

[Andy Collins]

My thoughts following on from this thread, and giving it some serious consideration.

The best kt in the world will save no lives without adequate training and frequent practice, I think once in 3yrs is too far apart, something we should rehearse far more frequently given the potential for massive injury.

A more serious inclusion in our risk assessments for Emergency procedures.

Every team member should be well-trained and rehearsed in emergency procedures, not just one person on a team (he could be the injured party)

 

I've probably missed something here, and although I'm an "appointed person" for 1st aid, I certainly feel my own training is not good enough, and will be attending a better course as soon as possible, (BTS do an industry specific emergency 1st aid course)

[felixthelogchopper]

I have Cellox in my kit and have never had to use it luckily.

 

One thing I've always wondered obout is how far does it go. I mean, how many packets would you need in the event of a chainsaw injury. I know it depends on the severity of the cut so I'm just wondering how many packets people have in their kits?

 

Depends whether you have granules or gauze. An arterial bleed can flush out celox granules whereas the gauze can be held in place long enough to have an effect.

[Greig Sutherland]

Hi all!!

 

Thanks Andy for bringing this subject up again, it was great to finally meet you and talk at length about this particular subject, rainy day or not Imo the subject cannot be talked about enough as i can see from some of the posts - information and knowledge is a little incorrect, somewhat outdated or just plain wrong and this is where forums like this can play apart in education - that is where we all must come from.

 

To clarify on a few points - (Please understand this is not sales material but educational information)

 

The Quilclot combat gauze used in our kits IS NON-EXOTHERMIC(does not generate heat unlike 1st+2nd generation Quikclot) the active ingredient is Kaolin which is used in may medical products and industries alike, The haemostatic agent used in Quilclot is impregnated into a gauze material which can then be packed safely into a wound, letting any haemostatic agent fall on to blood flow WILL NOT WORK!! indirect pressure to stop blood flow is needed in all instances. Tourniquet application might also be a consideration as a short term solution eg aerial rescue..

 

The price of a trauma kit - £290 + vat

PLB(Personal Location Beacon) - £220 +vat

 

The PLB comes as an added extra for those who are working in remote locations. The idea behind this is not just if you have identified in your risk assessment that there is no mobile phone signal but also to be used if you are unable to direct the emergency services to your location through normal methods(mobile phone) Press the button on the PLB - phone for help and say i have an emergency, i do not know how to direct you to the location but you will be contacted in a few minutes with grid ref details because i have activated my PLB. The ambulance is on its way.... deal with the emergency until they arrive.

 

Our kit will not fit under most seats:) that is the idea - It has to be taken on site with you at all times, where else would you want your first aid kit - CLOSE AT HAND!! That is why it is water proof and crush proof - to keep your life saving products safe, clean and dry.

 

With regards to show demos - Arb Aid would love the opportunity to be part of this, we have the kits, knowledge, industry experience and trainers to be able to provide the best educational demonstration the industry has ever seen!! We are already incorporating real life scenarios into our training and candidate assessments.

 

Hammer - you can make that decision, if the company you work for does not carry sufficient provisions for first aid then they are breaking the law and putting YOUR LIFE and you workmates lives at stake - all in the name of profit!! Unfortunately it takes a serious injury or for another arborist to die before companies think about updating or improving what they are already doing which is very sad Imo - all for the sake of a few hundred quid!! I know you have been a loyal and valiant supporter of Arb Aid from the very start and with that in mind there will be a kit on it's way to you very soon my friend..... Thank you

 

Gareth - Good point you have made there, Arb Aid takes all the hard work out of sourcing your own kits and products, the contents are tried and tested, we have done all the research on what is best and what works for the arb industry, no more long night on the net resourcing and buying samples to see which works best for you and your team.

 

At the moment myself and the clinical directors at Arb Aid agree that Quikclot Gauze is the best product most suited to the arborist environment, when and if our knowledge changes and a better products presents itself the kit will update as well as the training, i give you my guarantee on this - my only goal is to give arborists better equipment and training to allow them to go home to their families at night - In one piece!! Right now Arb Aid is planting the seeds of change in Arboriculture and Forestry, only good things can come of this i promise you that.

 

After listening to feedback from customer we are now working on a kit with just trauma essentials for those of you who are ok with using grubby dirty fingers to clean sawdust out of your eyes stay tuned for Arb Aid's next product release, coming soon.........

 

Justin, sorry never got to speak with you more i did see you were very busy, sometime soon i hope.

 

 

I will try my best to answer any and all post as honestly, efficiently and without bias so replies might be a little delayed as I leave tomorrow morning for the ISA ITCC forum and trade show in Sydney and i haven't even packed yet lol - Arb Aid will be showcasing the trauma kit and of course to see some of the best climbers in the world hash it out in some of the most beautiful glorious trees in Sydney, wish me luck folks and speak to you all soon.

 

Best wishes for now and climb safe!!

Greig sutherland

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

My thoughts following on from this thread, and giving it some serious consideration.

The best kt in the world will save no lives without adequate training and frequent practice, I think once in 3yrs is too far apart, something we should rehearse far more frequently given the potential for massive injury.

A more serious inclusion in our risk assessments for Emergency procedures.

Every team member should be well-trained and rehearsed in emergency procedures, not just one person on a team (he could be the injured party)

 

I've probably missed something here, and although I'm an "appointed person" for 1st aid, I certainly feel my own training is not good enough, and will be attending a better course as soon as possible, (BTS do an industry specific emergency 1st aid course)

 

[Andy Collins]

In fact I can now confirm that I shall be attending an industry specific course in mid-August. If it meets/doesnt meet my expectations, you'll here about it here 1st

On the kit topic, basic kit is all that should be needed. Major wound dressings, tape and disinfectant (wipes). We are not paramedics, we are 1st response 1st aiders, we should only need to keep the casualty alive until the paramedics arrive on scene and hand over responsibility. Do we really need to spend 100's on a kit? I'm not poo-pooing the kits, but these are questions no doubt many ask themselves, and we are discussing. A typical patrol kit in the forces is not so involved, and they are potentially in a far more dangerous environment. The choice is yours.

FTR the PLB is not part of my critique, if you are in a remote area, where mobiles dont work, 2-ways are out of range, public phone boxes are vandalised and so on, I think these are an excellent idea.

Edited July 19, 2011 by Andy Collins

[Andy Collins]

On a secondary note, would Arb Aid consider making a smaller, more basic kit? Would it be more useful, and more cost effective to the end-user, (bearing in mind, we never actually intend to use it before its end of life date) I've looked into buying the basic dressings, tourniquets to form a kit from specialist suppliers today, and the costs are way below the Arb Aid kits, but if, with a suitable container, this could be done for around 100 pounds I'm sure many would take a lot less convincing, without sacrificing your quality products.

As I said, just a thought.

[Andy Collins]

Well, finally I have done my First Aid update. Celox, I was told, should be discarded, it is not approved. Tourniquets should not be used, along with other surgical type equipment (we are not surgeons or paramedics, we are basic 1st aiders whose job is to sustain life until the professionals turn up and take over, which will take 8 minutes (?)) I even asked the worth of such a kit in this thread and the response was negative. We should (as a duty of care to our employees under the H&S Act) supply a defib unit for each team to give them a fighting chance in the event of a heart attack we were told. can you see this happening, really?

Now I've made my own choices based on the information I re-learned today, and bearing in mind its something I hadnt refreshed for over 10years, and much of it is inappropriate in our everyday situations. Fine for treating that nasty paper-cut or stubbed toe, but in the real world of tree work I feel it falls far short. There is still little or no preparation for potential real events, and with the advancements in prosthetic wounds, the chance to really prepare staff is out there, but sadly ignored.

Anyway, I am once again fully qualified to stick a plaster on your little finger, pull a splinter from your toe, and kiss your knee better if you trip over. You can sleep safely now in this knowledge.

Another soul complying to the H&S tick-box mentality.

[Mesterh]

Sounds like the best option is to just read the little pamphlet you get in a 1st aid kit.

 

So I need to throw the celox away and buy a Defibrillator.

 

At least these have an offer on.

(M0703A): Heartstart Defibrillator FR2 (without ECG) KIT - L. E. West Ltd

 

 

Just got to wait for some more stock.

[Paul Smith]

Andy, I told my first aid instructors the course is a waste of time and a money making scam!

 

If the situation arose where a tourniquet or a set of haemostats were required to save a life I would use them. You could save your friends life, he may be pissed off if he looses a limb but he will be alive!

 

If you do nothing or just use direct pressure in that situation he will die!

 

There are kids patrolling in Afghanistan with tourniquets strapped to their legs in anticipation of having their legs blown off! The tourniquet will save their life.

 

Rant over!

[Paul Smith]

You have to be trained to use a defib!