Obtaining medical supplies

**Padgett** · 06-09-2012, 11:12 PM

So we want to start a more detailed FAK and I've been looking around but cannot seem to find a majority of the thing I'd like to have. We will have just the basic FAK but I also want to have one for GSW and other major traumas. I'm looking for IV lines and fluid bags, good decent price/place to get syringes and if possible and anyone knows of where to get them meds that would be needed for shock or to start your heart. I'm sure I may be taking it to an extreme but if something happened to one of my kids or husband, I want to have what I'd need to keep them alive.

**myakka** · 06-09-2012, 11:18 PM

When my puppie had parvo, the vet gave me a box full of supplies in order to admin IV's at home. She didn't want me to bring him in for treatment because of the risk to the other animals. I don't know if you can order these supplies from a medical supply company, but you might from a veternary supply.

**dalewick** · 06-10-2012, 12:54 AM

I'm hoping youv'e had training on administering intraveinous IV's and advanced first aid. If not, you'll proably do more harm with the IV than good. Might want to consider oral IV solutions, portable defibrillator and QuickClot. If youv'e had the training, most local medical supply companies will sale you what you need for advanced first aid kits. Main thing needed for after treatment of GSW are antibiotics. Good luck.

Dale

**Padgett** · 06-10-2012, 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by dalewick

I'm hoping youv'e had training on administering intraveinous IV's and advanced first aid.

That's on the to-do list! But my sister and brother in law are both first responder trained. But they are also under the mentality that everything's gonna be fine. So in the event that it's needed I plan to take a few classes.

**myakka** · 06-10-2012, 11:12 AM

Dale,

I have first responder and wilderness first aide, but neither of those had intravenious IV. I have always wanted emt not for the job but for the knowledge. who knows, when I retire if there's time. I doubt things will last that long. Anyway, I grew up on a farm and from animal care I have a good basic idea and would be comfortable popping an IV, but hope to have someone nearby that has been formaly trained.

**DocWalt81** · 06-10-2012, 11:42 AM

Unless you are atleast a paramedic you cannot legally administer an IV. Military just about anyone can if they are trained. IV's tubing and needles are not very easy to get as they normally come by the case.

**Globalwarmer** · 06-11-2012, 01:33 AM

I lucked up and found some IV supplies on Amazon. I am a paramedic, so I start IV's in poor conditions every day. I would highly recommend anyone who does not start lines regularly think twice before planning to purchase and use them. It is sometimes difficult to start a line under ideal conditions, so if you don't have the experience, you will probably do more harm than good in a SHTF situation. There are, as far as I know, no drugs "start your heart". If your heart stops in a SHTF situation, you have probably reached the end of the road, especially in a trauma related cardiac arrest. Under normal conditions, Traumatic Cardiac Arrest Patients have a less than 1% chance of survival. The drug for shock is just fluid. You can buy syringes all day long, but I cannot think of any drug you would give in a syringe that does not require a prescription. As far as antibiotics, try http://www.survivinghealthy.com/. I have no experience with this group yet, but I plan to when I get a little spending money.

For GSW, you want a blowout kit. tourniquet(s), pressure dressings, quickclot gauze(not the powder, there is a reason the Marine Corps got rid of that), and if you get the training and keep your skills up, chest decompression needles, chest seals. and a fast drive to the hospital

**Beanie** · 06-11-2012, 02:02 PM

Padgett, you can get IV supplies and syringes at http://www.dealmed.com/

First, I am not in the medical field but after alittle research and advice I bought:

#656069 Dealmed Complete IV Starter Set
#463002 IV Administration Set
#211324 1000ml .9% Saline Solution
(has an experation date of about a year but should keep longer if stored properly)
This is for one time use only, would need multibles of everything for more than one use except the solution...

They also carry syringes but haven't bought any as I already have them, but I can't imagine what injectable meds you could get other than Animal antibotics???

I agree that proper training would be great but there are video's on Youtube on administering an IV kit, I recommend one that shows inserting in the hand... Sure wish I had some First Responders in my group!!!

Padgett, please understand that I stocked these supplies for use in an extreme emergency ONLY during a SHTF if medical care is 0 and I am relatively sure someone is severely dehydrated that warrants it's use....

Portable Defibulators are available online just do a search... My husband is a Heart Patient (triple bypass & pacemaker) and I wouldn't buy one of them, my understanding is that without expert followup care and certain meds, reviving the heart would do no good...

You didn't mention sutures, dental supplies???

PS: Excellent site Globalwarmer, thank you...

**Globalwarmer** · 06-12-2012, 03:44 AM

Originally Posted by Beanie

PS: Excellent site Globalwarmer, thank you...

No Problem! Someone else posted it in another thread on here. I want to thank you for the dealmed.com thread, they have some very good prices!

**blkhawk21** · 07-01-2012, 06:46 PM

I fully agree with globalwarmer. I start IV's on a regular basis it is a skill that unless you do them a lot it is a skill that is easily lost. Remember the credo Do No Harm.