First Aid Kits

[NapalmMan67]

Recomendations on good EMT shears?  Without purchasing from Amazon.

[12_Gauge_Chimp]

Recomendations on good EMT shears?  Without purchasing from Amazon.

Leatherman makes a pretty good set, but they're a bit pricey at 90 bucks.

I picked up a couple pairs of EMT shears at a local store that's since gone out of business. They weren't marketed as EMT shears, but they're pretty much the exact same thing. I think I paid something like 5 or 6 bucks for each pair I got.

[SCBrian]

I want to say I've grabbed my last few sets from Northern tool. 
Like Chimp said, you wont find them marketed as "EMT Shears" without paying the $$$. 
However a cheap pair of "blunted end cut anything scissors...."
Probably a legal thing. 

[MacWa77ace]

So what's the school of thought on the shears?

Buy very good/expensive shears that need to be sterilized/autoclaved after use.
Or a $10 pair that you can just throw out with the rest of used stuff, etc, after use.

[NapalmMan67]

Fairly certain I don't need a $90 set of shears,, even if they do fold.

A lot of choices in the $10-15 range it seems, not sure how much better they are than the $4.95 ones?  I would think those would be ok to sterilize after use instead of just tossing?  Most seem to be ok grades of Stainless.

[SCBrian]

I think it comes down to WHAT are you doing with them.  As for sterilize? These are EMT shears, not surgical tools.  Should we clean them well, and give them an alch bath, sure.  Autoclave may be a little to much unless you are going to seal them afterwards?  Plus, Not sure of the plastic melting points vs. the autoclave...
To generalize, these are glorified scissors...  Cut bandages, fabric, maybe the occasional odds and ends...  doubtful you will be going sub-dermal with them...

[Anianna]

Most any shears that you fit in a fak will go nicely into a UV multi-bottle sterilizer, which will also nicely sterilize electronics, toothbrushes, instrument mouth pieces, menstrual cups, etc.  It's really nice to have during/after an illness to decontaminate personal items and they're not overly expensive.

I have this one for 69.99:  https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B093CRMBQG/

[MacWa77ace]

I finally did a 'gear pic' and list of the contents of my 'squad IFAK' I keep at work.




EMS Dixigear Empty First Responder II Bag 10.5" x 5" x 8" - Blue

LEFT COLUMN - in left side zipper pouch (top to bottom, L to R)
Sunscreen pillow packs
Tylenol
CAT TQ w/ instructions
Daytime Cough and Cold medication pak
TriBiotic Ointment pillow packs
Emergency Mylar Blankets x3
Dry Burn Dressing x2
Floss/toothpicks
Individual Comfort Kit*

CENTER COLUMN - Center zipper compartment (top to bottom, L to R)
Neoprene Gloves x2
Rubber Gloves x1
Nasopharyngeal x2
TCCC cards x2
Lens wipes x2
Gauze pad 3x3 x1
Compressed wipes x18
Compressed Gauze x2
Wound Packing Gauze x3
Hemostatic powder x3
Dry Burn Dressing x2
Picaridin Insect Repellant individual pillow paks
Gauze rolls x5
Ace Bandages x4
Eyewash bullets x5
Moleskin

Right Column - in Right side zipper pouch (top to bottom, L to R)
Scalpel set
Scalpel disposal box
Forceps x2
Suture kit
Staple Kit
Staple removal tool
Scissors
Hyphen Chest seal x2
SAM splint


Currently have two TCCC IFAK's and am working on a 3rd. Black, Coyote, and Multicam. One is in my car, the other two are kept minuteman ready with 2nd line gear.


And have a home kit that is in a 'medical' cabinet that has more stuff.
And have some medical stuff in my EDC bag, painkillers, Individual Comfort Kit, Assorted Band-Aids, CAT TQ.


*Individual Comfort Kit
Put these items into a small ziplock:
Assorted Band-Aids
Triple Antibiotic pillow packs
Sunscreen pillow packs
Moleskin
Bug Repellant
Alcohol Wipe
Floss/Toothpick