HOW TO MAKE...
IMPROVISED MEDICAL AID - HOW TO MAKE
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Improvised Trauma Pack
1. Improvised Trauma Pack
Overview
This improvised trauma pack is an example of improvisation using commonly available items which have the potential to save lives when used correctly for first aid. The pack provides improvised:
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Tourniquet
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Pressure Bandage
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Chest Seal
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Triangular Bandages
If a commercially approved First Aid item is available, it should be used in preference.
The Improvised Trauma Pack contains 8 component parts:
1. 2 x home made triangular bandages 1m x 1m
2. 1 x metal rod / tensioner with ties
3. 1 x permanent marker pen
4. 1 x storage bag (back up chest seal) with 8 strips of duct tape
5. 1 x chest seal made from powderless nitrile glove
6. 1 x milk bottle top
7. 1 x Desiccant sachets
8. 1 How to Use instructions
Please see the ‘How to Use’ guides for information on application.
New Forest for Ukraine accept no liability for the making or use of these improvised items. These improvised items have been researched and assessed for usefulness, strength, and minimum problems, and we advise adhering to the guides on this website, and the cautions with regard to quality control.
References / Endorsements
These improvised trauma packs and bandages have been scrutinised and viewed favourably (being good examples of improvisation where commercially approved first aid items are unavailable), by Pre-hospital and hospital teams, civilian and military, including; Consultants in Pre-Hospital Care, and Trauma, Nurses, ambulance teams, first responders, and others.
https://www.kidneycareuk.org/about-kidney-health/treatments/dialysis/put-lid-on-it/
How to Make the Component Parts
All the component parts need to be made, assembled and kept in a clean, dry environment. Clean hands, clean work surface, and clean containers to store them in.
Home Made Triangular Bandages
Please see attached PDF and Video for instructions how to make triangular bandages, and what material to use. It is important that you strength test each sheet in several places and discard any sheets that may be weak. Use clean, thin, strong, non-slippery material – with a high percentage cotton mix. Most cotton sheets are non-slippery, most poly cotton sheets are slippery and unsuitable.
Metal Rod / Tensioner with tie
To make the tensioner, you need a door connector metal rod which is available at hardware stores, 3mm strong paracord, and a strong, thin material strip. The metal rod we use is 19cm x19mm x 2.5mm with 4 holes and costs in the region of 50p. It needs to be smooth and not have any sharp bits on the edges or holes. Please see download and video for details.
Permanent Marker Pen
Any commercially available dark permanent market pen is suitable. This should cost about 30p. This is needed to write patient details and time of tourniquet application.
Storage Bag with 8 strips of duct tape.
A commercially available strong sealable bag roughly 24cm wide x 28cm tall is suitable. 8 strips of strong, rippable, good quality waterproof duct tape are applied to the bag for later use to stick down the chest seal
Chest Seal
The chest seal is made by cutting a strong powderless nitrile glove. This is stuck to a patient’s chest to form a chest seal with a valve.PLease keep this very clean.
Milk Bottle Top
A thoroughly cleaned plastic milk bottle top (consider the washing machine). This is used for a haemorrhage control of a small wound (bullet, shrapnel).Please keep the very clean.
Desiccant Sachets
A commercially available desiccant sachet is used to reduce moisture in the pack and to help stop the parts going moldy. Do not leave bags unsealed that contain desiccant sachets.
Instructions
The four sided instruction pack can be downloaded here. Please print on doubled sided A4 paper and then fold in half.
Final Pack Assembly
Ensure all elements are of the required quality and packed into the final Improvised Trauma Pack. Please continue to keep everything very clean.
2. Triangular Bandages
Please see above in improvised trauma pack, PDF and video for details of making triangular bandages. These are used in the trauma pack, and also as very useful stand alone items for other first aid circumstances. Some examples of these are in the trauma pack instructions. Triangular bandages which are too thick, or are slightly slippery, may be packaged up together, marked NOT FOR TOURNIQUETS and sent separate to the improvised trauma kits.
3. Rolled Bandages
There are 3 standard sizes of bandages:
10cm x 2m
15cm x 3m,
20cm x 4m
These can be made from clean cotton, cotton poly, stretchy cotton and brushed cotton in good condition. See the download and video for details.