You Are The First Responder

You never know when, or where, things will go wrong. A life-threatening emergency can happen to anyone, whether it’s you, a friend, or a stranger, and acknowledging this fact can be the difference between life and death someday. There are several things people say to justify not being prepared, but that can be a potentially fatal mistake in the future.



Help is Only 10 Minutes Away

Ten minutes may not sound terribly long under normal circumstances, but every second counts during an emergency! And, unfortunately, there are a lot of different life-threatening situations where people can die or suffer serious complications in under ten minutes. For example:

  • A person can bleed out in under five minutes 

  • Your heart can be irreversibly damaged from a heart attack

  • Cardiac arrest patients who need CPR will die in minutes 

  • Severe burns can cause cardiac arrest



It’s Okay; We called 911

Your local emergency services will do their best to help you, but the best possible care isn’t always guaranteed. For example, sometimes the police will reach you first. Law enforcement often have first aid training, but it’s usually basic and may not be what you need. At other times, the fire department is on the scene before anyone else. Most firefighters are trained in basic emergency medicine, but it isn’t their primary job, and they still may not have the skills needed to stabilize you. 

What if an ambulance is the first to arrive? You already have better chances, but it could be an ambulance with a base-level EMT. While emergency medicine is their primary job, base-level EMTs haven’t been trained in advanced first aid as of yet. 



What if Help isn’t Only 10 Minutes Away

Imagine you’re out enjoying nature in your favorite way. It could be hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, hunting, or whatever other activity you participate in. The scenery is gorgeous, the air is clear, and you’re having a great time. That’s when tragedy strikes. Suddenly, you’re bleeding heavily from your leg, and you don’t know what to do. When you call 911, they tell you you’re in such a rural area that the ambulance will take 45 minutes to reach you. 

To make matters worse, this situation is not exclusive to somewhere rural. Even when you’re in the city, response time can vary drastically depending on where you’re located, the state of traffic, and more. For example, a report by Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal in September of 2024 shows that EMS’s life-threatening response time was 12.4 minutes in New York City. 



Why This is Important for You

Life is unpredictable, and your safety is never 100% guaranteed. While you should always hope for the best, it’s critical to also be prepared in case the worst does happen. Having a trauma kit nearby at all times can save a life, whether it’s your own, a loved one’s, or a stranger’s. There are many emergencies where prompt action can prolong a person’s life or situation until they can receive professional treatment.

  • Immediately treating an arterial wound can save a life

  • Giving aspirin to a heart attack patient quickly can save their life and prevent excessive damage to the heart

  • Keeping a patient who’s suffered a traumatic injury warm can prevent hypothermia 

  • Cooling a patient early on will drastically reduce the severity of a heat injury such as heat stroke

  • Starting CPR immediately can massively increase a patient’s chance of survival


The first three sections highlight three of the major concerns we consider when creating a kit here at My Medic. We recognize the need for a comprehensive first aid kit that covers basic to traumatic injuries, easy accessibility to all items in your FAK, and the fact that YOU are the first responder in an emergency. 


No matter what situation you may find yourself in, we have a kit for you.

 



Author | Allison Lee

I'm Allison, a content writer at My Medic. My passion is empowering others with first aid knowledge and skills through my writing.

11 comments

  • Karl Gunn

    Hello retired former Fire Captain. Still you can show forward this information to friends family etc . Their still are those who do not dare will not care until it happens to them directly ..I would like to see a smaller IFAK that would be easy for the logger or that tree guy to gave on them . Then again it is very hard to change a culture of IT WONT HAPPEN TO ME ATTITUDE DUDE ! SAME AS IDIOTS REFUSE YO WEAT CHAPS EHEN USING A CHAIN SAW . MANY CHOOSE A CULTURE OF POOR ATTITUDES . I AM BEING NICE . EVEN CYCLISTS SHOULD HAVEVA SMALL IFAK . CAPTGUNNMAN@GMAIL.COM.
    ———
    My Medic replied:
    Hey Karl, we completely agree that everyone needs to be prepared! You never know when something could happen. For smaller kits, you should check out our Sidekick Pro and Everyday Carry kits. They’re perfect for strapping to your belt and going about your work!

  • Martin Levitz

    I am a Army veteran who recently purchased a large ifrack and a hikers med pack and a super straw I want to purchase 5 hikers med packs and 5 super straws what is my deliveries price?
    ———
    My Medic replied:
    Hey Martin, shipping costs vary. Additionally, the Super Straws were also a limited release for our Summer Sale. We don’t currently have them in stock, but we may in the future!

  • Linda Bradley

    How much does this cost?
    ———
    My Medic replied:
    Hey, Linda! Our kits range from $85 to $1500 depending on your needs.

  • DC

    Great article! Succinct and helpful. You all do great work and we love you for it! ❤️‍🩹
    ———
    My Medic replied:
    Hey DC, thanks so much! Stay safe out there and have a great week!

  • Tom White

    I am all for supporting any one who is or have worked in the health care field. Especially since I worked in a hospital er and worked as a Combat Medic/Lifesaver in the Army for 15yrs…….something that I try to stay up to date on & will forever hold near and dear to my heart.
    ———
    My Medic replied:
    Hey Tom, thank you for your service! Stay safe out there and have a great week!


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