# Serious first aid kit **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 2, 2009, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542 "2009-01-02T02:43:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542/41 "2009-01-05T04:44:58Z")
> [@Kaboodle](#): > > (Bolding mine) > It’s not quite the same chemical. Medical glue uses “2-octyl-cyanoacrylate”, household glue uses “methyl-2-cyanoacrylate”. From [Cecil’s column](http://http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2187/was-super-glue-invented-to-seal-battle-wounds-in-vietnam) Huh. My bottle of off-brand superglue from the dollar store reads 2-octyl-cyanoacrylate. Weird. ---
**Author:** ![St.Urho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8e7dd6/32.png) [@St.Urho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St.Urho)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542/42 "2009-01-05T04:56:19Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > That was just something I thought of that wouldn’t be in an ‘over the counter’ kit. [It’s available over the counter.](http://www.amazon.com/Glutose-Oral-Glucose-LEMON-Flavour/dp/B000OWK7RU) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542/43 "2009-01-05T04:58:51Z")
What I meant was that it’s not something that you’d find in a pre-made kit you’d buy at Rite-Aid or REI or someplace. At least, I’ve never seen one so equipped. (But then, it’s not something I’ve looked for.) ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542/44 "2009-01-05T12:12:09Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > When I walked away from my WFR course the condition that really stuck in my mind was anaphylactic shock. Potentially, someone can get stung by a bee in the middle of nowhere and 15 minutes later they’re dead. I categorize an epipen or an epinephrine kit as an essential item in any wilderness first aid kit, provided the responder is trained and certified to administer it. I think these may be prescription only in the US, which is unfortunate (regarding this concern) if it’s the case. I know the one I carry in my personal allergy kit (I have an uncommon food allergy, which has never gotten to that level of severity) is by prescription. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542/45 "2009-01-05T14:13:26Z")
Yes, Epi-Pens are only by prescription in the US. You can get one if you are a trip leader for an organized group - many MDs will give you a script in that case. But otherwise carry Benedryl and ask the person if they carry a pen. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542/46 "2009-01-05T17:03:42Z")
And my friend was advised against keeping an Epi-Pen in her car, due to the heat degrading the epinephrine. She has to have one at her daughter’s school, a couple at home, and one in her purse. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542/47 "2009-01-05T17:17:40Z")
There are civilian versions of Quick Clot: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickClot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QuickClot) [http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0048462517925a.shtml](http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0048462517925a.shtml) I also suggest a couple of those “survival blankets”, a good bright light, and some means of starting a fire. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/serious-first-aid-kit/479542.md?page=2)