Blow Out Kit

The risk of injury is always on the table when you play the position. - Scott Syvret

Plan and prepare for life and limb threatening injuries before they occur. Get appropriate training in life saving tactical field medical skills. Practice these skills on a frequent basis. Equip yourself and teammates with an individual Operator Blow Out Kit at a minimum. Consider larger Immediate Action kits and use quality products.


Below are supplies that should be included in your individual blow out kit, and why you need it:


Gloves


These of course are to protect you from blood and body fluids, but can also be used to:


  • Make an improvised mouth to mouth barrier
  • Make a flutter valve with the needle to decompress air from the chest space in a tension pneumothorax
  • Be filled with air, water, or dirt, tied off, and used to fill space in very large wounds

Nasal airway size 7.0


This is used to open and help maintain an open air passage in patients with facial trauma/injury or who has a reduced level of consciousness and can't maintain their own airway. It can also be used to:


  • As an airway for emergency cricothyroidotomy insertion into the throat
  • As a chest tube to maintain relief of a tension pneumothorax
  • To put pressure on nosebleeds & speed up their control

2 large safety pins


These are used to secure a patient's tongue to their lip or cheek to maintain it out of the airway and reduce airway blockage. It can also be used to:


  • Secure bandages in place
  • Guide placement of a larger cricothyroidotomy needle or cut-down

14 gauge or larger 3" needle


This is used for two primary applications, to place into the throat during a cricothyroidotomy to provide an airway in cases of facial trauma or upper airway blockage, and to drain air from the chest in a tension pneumothorax.



Cinch Tight compressed "H" trauma bandage


This is used as a primary trauma dressing for all serious bleeding, and the unique "H" point of attachment also allows it to be used as a tourniquet & deep pressure dressing. Because of the elastic bandage "tails" it can also be used to:


  • Function as an elastic wrap for sprains & joint injuries
  • Function as a triangular bandage replacement for slings and related dressings
  • Hold splints & IV in place

Cinch Tight TK-3 combat tourniquet


This is used as the primary tourniquet for life threatening bleeding. Its design allows it to be placed by the patient or by the rescuer. It can also be used to:


  • Raise veins to assist in IV starts
  • Hold splints and dressings in place

Cinch Tight priMed compressed gauze roll


This is used to pack wounds, ensuring that direct pressure is applied to the source of the bleeding, and not just the outside of the wound. It can also be used to:


  • Bandage smaller wounds
  • Pad splints
  • Hold splints & IV in place

A small amount of duct tape


This is used, along with the plastic wrapper from a dressing, to make a dressing for open chest & abdomen wounds. It can also be used


  • Hold any bandage, IV, or splint in place

Hemostatic Agent


You should also include some sort of agent to aid in controlling critical bleeding such as:


  • Quick Clot
  • HemeCon
  • TraumaDex
  • QR Powder
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