Airsofters game in all types of environments, enjoying the experience without injury. But, unfortunately, accidents do happen. A little knowledge can help quell the panic and reduce the seriousness of most of them.
Apart from stomach upset, headache, heat exhaustion or similar problems – often from too much sun, bad food or water - the most common problem is minor cuts and scrapes. An untreated cut can fairly easily become infected, especially if it was produced by a plant.
Treatment is simple. Clean the cut, apply disinfectant and close with a band-aid. For larger cuts, requiring gauze and roll bandage, you could have a more serious problem. You'll have to estimate how deep is the cut and whether the bleeding is venous or arterial.
Venous bleeding is more even flowing, and often bluer. Arterial bleeding comes in spurts (as the heart pumps blood) and is usually redder. Venous bleeding can usually be clamped and the wound will self-close. Arterial spurts require special clamp-and-release techniques.
What are the essential items to be kept in basic first aid kits, and why?
I have two kits I take to airsoft events. A pocket kit and a field kit.
One is my small pocket e kit for very minor injures like a scratch. I try to keep this on me no matter when I play.
The other is a larger field kit to handle possible injuries like puncture wounds. I carry this with me when further away from the loadout area or during extended play.
I keep my items in small clear plastic baggies so that I can find what I need fast, yet keep the kit organized. On top of that the clear sealed baggies keep the contents clean and dry.
My pocket set fits in a small baggy.
My larger more complete field kit is kept in separated small baggies as well, but all of its contents fits in to a small go bag that can be worn over the shoulder attache' style or attached to my belt as a butt pack.
Be sure when you attend an airsoft event to have the local emergency numbers written clearly in waterproof form. Keep these emergency numbers such as Police, EMS and of course poison control in the front of your first-aid kit. Be sure to include the local hospitals addresses and a map with directions.
IMO Everyone should take a basic first aid and cpr class. Remember to keep these skills and certifications up to date.
Be sure to read the instructions on all of your emergency kit supplies when you buy them. Don’t wait until you need them. The first few minutes can be very important in an emergency. Don’t waste those precious minutes trying to figure out how to use the items.
Also periodically check the expiration date of all items in your first aid kit.
Pocket kit
Band Aids/plasters (Variety). The most common injury you will treat are small cuts and scrapes.
Triple Antiseptic/Antibiotic ointment for treating minor wounds and scrapes.
Disinfectant wipes for cleansing wounds and to clean yourself after you’ve treated someone’s wounds.
Tweezers for removing splinters.
Latex gloves. Many diseases are transmitted by touching bodily fluids such as blood and urine.
Field Kit
First Aid Manual
Large (4”+) sterile gauze bandages for those slightly larger cuts and bloody noses.
Cloth adhesive tape for taping bandages, and minor splitting like broken fingers.
Cotton roll sterile dressing for holding bandages on the bigger lacerations and abrasions and to put direct pressure on wounds to stop the bleeding.
Blunt scissors for cutting bandages, and removing clothing if needed.
Forceps for removing other items and sewing.
Scalpel for cutting out things like certain burs, fishing hooks ect
Cotton swabs - Q tips to get particles out of the eye, ear and to apply ointment.
Instant Cold packs for bumps on the head, sprains, and heat exhaustion.
Eye patch & eye wash for eye injuries, even though we always require full eye protection accidents can happen.
Eye drops allergy drops
Vet wrap for sprains and immobilizing areas
Mole skin for minor rubs and blistering areas
QuickClot Sport A professional grade answer to an incident that causes excessive bleeding.
Tourniquets, Suture kit, wound glue, IV & Saline kit - Only if trained in their use!
Ammonia inhalants for fainting, unconscious.
Antihistamine (Benadryl) Used for bug bites and allergic reactions.
NSAID's Plus + Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin, amodium a.d. (anti diarrhea) & gas x (anti gas)
Water
Electrolytes (Gookinaid), Energy (Spike), Calming (Kava Kava)
After bite - Bite relief
Bug repellent – Deet (Sealed separate in double baggy)
Waterproof Sunblock
Safety pins, needle and thread set for emergency repair jobs
Gorilla (100mph)
Tape, Zip Ties, Para cord & super glue
Flashlight + Spare Batteries
Rescue Blanket the reflective kind, for keeping someone warm, or cool.
Extra Plastic Zip-Lock bags for a variety of purposes, including cleaning up hazardous material or storing cut-off fingers, etc.
Marker/Pencil + Notepad for noting any observations & treatments .
Mini cooling fan + extra batteries
Multi tool-knife + hex keys Remember replicas can need first aid too.
Compass + map
Whistle - Radio - Cell Phone
This is a basic kit idea that we use. You, of course, may have needs for a bit more or less in your personal kit. Also there are numerous complete ready to use emergency kits out there to buy, just be sure it contains everything you need and read as well familiarize yourself with it's package.
AirsoftDigest.com Magazine Notes:
Everything is In Our Opinion Only - We lay no claim to any of these ideas, suggestions, tunes, etc. We learned, in person and online, from people who are a lot smarter than us and we merely use and try to improve upon what we consider to be useful.
We are open to any additional ideas. If you have an idea you think we may be able to use then send us an E-mail detailing your thoughts.
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