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From my latest blog post. (Constructive) Comments always welcome:

Any person that carries a firearm regularly must prepare himself mentally and psychologically to the notion that an adversary could shoot him. This applies both to we who carry handguns every day, and that carry rifles when appropriate, and the CIDG Rifleman, in particular. There is also the possibility of a negligent discharge at the hands of incompetent individuals. We don't always have the opportunity to gauge the ability of the person at the next station at a range, or the other hunters sharing the outdoors. "Buck fever" has the possibility, however remote, of causing a weapon to discharge negligently into another hunter. It is vital that we prepare for the possibility of treating otherwise critical wounds, particularly in the event that medical treatment is unavailable quickly enough to prevent loss of life.

First, the usual disclaimer: I am not a doctor. My training in emergency medicine comes for the most part from combat veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Their experience shows that in traumatic events, such as roadside ambushes and EFPs, that there is very little time for treatment before loss of life. The two injuries that seem to kill the fastest are violent amputations caused by EFPs/IEDs and gun shot wounds to the chest. My "blowout kit" mirrors ones I've examined owned by local National Guardsman recently home from a one year tour of Afghanistan. I recommend that readers seek out competent training in their own areas.

Your blowout kit should be in a compact pouch attached to the front of your LBV/LBE. You should position it in the center of your vest so that you can reach it with either hand. Remember that your blowout kit is for you. You don't use its contents to treat your teammate; you use his blowout pouch to treat him. Everyone in your team that will participate in convoys or patrols should have one and be familiar in its use.

Here is my take on the blowout kit. I put it together after taking FBMG's Emergency Preparedness course. I took the class and material very seriously, and made very few changes from the listed items in the course material, and even then after careful research, and conferring with some local trauma nurses.

The first picture shows how it all fits on my rig. This is a Tactical Tailor MAV with X Harness. It is light and handy, to grab and go. I have the blowout kit just off center, for easy access with either hand. I've included this picture to show that the entire contents fit within the pouch snugly, but without binding the zipper.



(Figure One, the pouch on the MAV)

The second picture shows some of the contents:

1.) One ratchet-strap tourniquet
2.) 4.5 inch x 4 yard (stretched) Kerlix gauze roll
3.) One pair nitrile gloves, size large
4.) One Mylar emergency blanket
5.) One elastic bandage
6.) One pair EMT shears



(Figure Two, contents)

Figure three shows more of the contents of the pouch:

1.) Two Israeli Battle Dressings
2.) Two sixteen gauge Angiocaths
3.) One nasopharyngeal airway, size medium



(Figure Three, contents)

The last picture shows the last of the contents:

1.) Two 4 inch x 4 inch pieces of Moleskin.
2.) One Quik Clot Advanced Clotting Sponge
3.) One Medi-Burn trauma burn dressing.



(Figure Four, the last of the contents)

I think these items represent the basics for initially treating common trauma (bleeding, airway, shock, burns). The purpose is not to give the kind of medical care necessary to heal a wound, but to keep one alive until teammates can secure evacuation.

Again, this is the kit that each carries either to treat himself, or to allow a teammate to treat him. Each should carry his own. That is to say, it is for you, or others, to treat you. You'll treat your buddy out of his own kit. Thus, it is of a necessity for each to carry, and maintain, his personal kit.