The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Do you carry a first aid kit in your car?

444 · April 16, 2002, 11:48 AM

If you are going to be stopping your car to help people, the first thing you need to put in your kit is your personal protective equipment. Goggles, gloves, mask, gown. You are exposing yourself to biohazards, namely infectious disease. You are also possibly exposing yourself to other hazardous materials, violent confrontations, danger from traffic............No, you can't always tell if someone is infected just by looking at them. Especially if they are covered with blood. It is driven home time after time in the emergency medical field not to compound the situation by making yourself a victim. The dangers you are exposing yourself to are every bit as real and as dangerous as that of violent crime.
Second; if you are going to be helping victims of accident and illness, know what you are doing. I run into people almost everyday that are trying to help but are instead making the problem worse, sometimes much worse for the patient. Some examples; sticking objects into people's mouths so they won't swollow their tongue. Propping up the head of patients with possible spinal cord injuries to make them more comfortable. Propping up the heads of persons who are unconscious and in the process cutting off their airway. Getting people out of cars that were involved in an accident (persons again, with possible spinal injuries) just in case the car catches on fire. Applying tourniquets to limbs. Doing CPR on persons who are not only not in cardiac arrest but who are wide awake and talking. Giving fluids by mouth to persons who have no airway control.
I applaud your desire to help your fellow man, just making a few random points.

April 16, 2002, 11:48 AM	#9
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	If you are going to be stopping your car to help people, the first thing you need to put in your kit is your personal protective equipment. Goggles, gloves, mask, gown. You are exposing yourself to biohazards, namely infectious disease. You are also possibly exposing yourself to other hazardous materials, violent confrontations, danger from traffic............No, you can't always tell if someone is infected just by looking at them. Especially if they are covered with blood. It is driven home time after time in the emergency medical field not to compound the situation by making yourself a victim. The dangers you are exposing yourself to are every bit as real and as dangerous as that of violent crime. Second; if you are going to be helping victims of accident and illness, know what you are doing. I run into people almost everyday that are trying to help but are instead making the problem worse, sometimes much worse for the patient. Some examples; sticking objects into people's mouths so they won't swollow their tongue. Propping up the head of patients with possible spinal cord injuries to make them more comfortable. Propping up the heads of persons who are unconscious and in the process cutting off their airway. Getting people out of cars that were involved in an accident (persons again, with possible spinal injuries) just in case the car catches on fire. Applying tourniquets to limbs. Doing CPR on persons who are not only not in cardiac arrest but who are wide awake and talking. Giving fluids by mouth to persons who have no airway control. I applaud your desire to help your fellow man, just making a few random points. __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.