Emergency Wound Care Kit

By John Diana

I have been asked multiple times as to which emergency medical kit to purchase in the event of a gunshot accident. The best kit is prevention, as my shooting instructor always states, "never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot, you have identified your target and what is behind it."

With that being said, a quick internet search showed kits costing from $29.99 to $199.95. They are not necessarily specific to gunshot wounds and have items which are - in my opinion - unnecessary.

To move quickly and efficiently during an emergency, a little bit of planning must be done. The "Emergency Team" requires two people, one person should be designated as the "Medic" and the second person as the "Caller." It is the Caller's job to call 911 and know the exact location of where you are (to provide it to the 911 Operator). Running around trying to find out the name and street address of your shooting range, while your friend is on the floor bleeding, is not the most efficient use of his/her minimal remaining time.

While the Caller is contacting 911 and providing information, the medic should be picking up the kit and attending to the victim.

Needless to say - but I'll say it anyway - the instructor should yell "Freeze" to have everyone secure their weapons and provide space for the medic to work.

The Caller must update the medic and instructor that the Emergency Response System has been activated. He/she should then proceed to the range entrance and flag down the ambulance as it approaches.

The designated medic should be someone who is not afraid of blood. We do not want the medic passing out on top of the victim. Yes, pressure to the wound is required, but not in that particular fashion...

I would highly recommended that at least the medic (better both the Medic and Instructor) be certified in Basic Life Support - C.P.R. This is critical knowledge which can save a life, on the range, in a restaurant or at home.

Ok, we have covered the basics, now let's outfit our Emergency Gunshot Kit (E.G.K.).

The E.G.K. Tourniquet - I would recommend two ~ $30.00. A tourniquet is very efficient in slowing blood loss. It is usually placed "above" the wound - closer to the heart. Why should you have two, let's say there is an accidental discharge from a right side holster draw, directly into the right thigh. Do you really think that an 8-10" leg will stop a 115gr F.M.J. 9mm round at point-blank distance? It will pass through the right leg and enter the left...enough said.

4x4 sterile gauze pads, a box of 100 ~ $10.00. These are for placing onto the wound as pressure is applied.

Medium-sized scissors, for cutting off clothing ~ $10.00

White bandage tape, one inch thick: 12 rolls for $11.00. Used to stabilize the gauze pads. Also can be used to secure a makeshift splint of broken bone edges.

A black Sharpie pen ~ $1.00. This is for writing onto the site of tourniquet the time when it was applied. In confusion, you are not going to remember at what time the tourniquet was placed. This is critical, if a tourniquet is left in place too long, it can cause loss of the arm or leg due to lack of blood flow (ischemia) with eventual gangrene. But, under no circumstances must a tourniquet be released once bleeding has been controlled.

Examination gloves, size medium and large, five pairs of each. A box of 100 will cost $9.00. As an aside, they are good to use when cleaning your firearms.

An adult C.P.R. mask with a one-way valve. $ 8.99 If the victim passes into unconsciousness, you will need to start C.P.R. The mask will prevent the victim's vomit from entering your mouth as you provide air to the victim. Trust me, as a former E.M.T., this aspect of life-saving, when it occurs, is, at best, gross.

A 500ml bottle of sterile saline. This would be used if a round went off close to the victim's face, and their eyes and skin were burned by the blast. Saline soaked gauze pads will help keep the site moist until help arrives. The saline can also be used to rinse the eyes of debris.

Place everything into a case that stands out from your other gear. It could be a tackle box, a backpack, or a soft-sided case, preferably red, hunter orange, or yellow in color, but again it can be anything as long as it is visually different from your other range bags - it must stand out.

As you can see, the equipment required is minimal. There are no drugs or IV tubing. Our job is to activate the emergency rescue system, control bleeding, and keep the patient awake, in other words, from going into shock. If they go unconscious, then begin C.P.R. and continue until E.M.S. arrives.

This simple kit, along with calling for medical assistance, can quite literally save life and limb.

Last but not least, at the bottom of every E.G.K. should be three, one-ounce bottles of Vodka, although I prefer Scotch. These are for the Medic, Caller, and Instructor to toast in that they effectively handled the emergency with teamwork, speed and proficiency and that the gunshot victim, possibly their friend, will make a full recovery!