PHILOSOPHY: SKILL OVER STUFF

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Reality check:

You are NOT a hospital.

• Limited supplies
• Limited training (presumably)
• Remote location
• Evacuation may be hours/days

Your job:

• Stop life-threatening bleeding
• Stabilize injuries
• Prevent infection
• Manage pain until help arrives OR self-evacuation

Kit design principles:

1. Treat likely injuries (cuts, blisters, sprains – not gunshot wounds)
2. Items multi-purpose (triangular bandage = sling/tourniquet/head wrap)
3. Skill-appropriate (no point carrying suture kit if can’t suture)
4. Weight matters (ounce carried = ounce earned)

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