Note: The issues and views discussed here are from experiences and research conducted by the author and should not be considered as medical advice. There are several definitions as to what first aid is. If one looks at it closely they all point to one common denominator. First aid is the provision of care by a lay person with limited skill or equipment to an injured or unwell individual. ­This article will look at first aid and the first aid kit in the context of airsofting or skirmishing.

During each and every skirmish day the site that you play in should have a safety briefing before the start of the games. This usually includes guidelines on the wearing of safety glasses or full face protection, signals on when a game is stopped due for safety reasons as well as taking note who among the skirmishers of the day have any medical condition and/or are on any medication. Should first aid be required it is a UKASGB guideline that all sites have a qualified/trained first aider present during skirmish days and that a well stocked first aid kit should be kept within the premises. Any injury should be reported immediately to a game marshal so proper first aid can be given.

In most skirmishes that I have taken part in the most common injuries suffered are cuts and scrapes. More often than not airsofters just leave it be (bleeding and uncovered) rather than seeking first aid to cover the cut or scrape with an adhesive bandage. I’ve had my share of cuts and scrapes too. Like the rest I never went to the site first aid station to ask for bandages. After a while I thought it would be a good idea to bring my own bandages. First I used to just bring a few adhesive bandages and put them in my BDU chest pocket for use as needed. I usually brought more than I needed so I shared what I had if someone asks. During last year’s War and Peace show I chanced upon a USGI medic kit which contained a few items which were still of use.

It contained a couple of adhesive bandages, a sterile gauze pack, a triangular bandage/sling, some purification tablets (which unfortunately were out of date) and a lip moisturizer. It also contained a small instruction leaflet on CPR and how to use the triangular bandage. I purchased the kit so that I can always have a proper first aid kit with me when skirmishing. It adds to authenticity of the game scenarios wherein one can “patch himself up” or help another team member without having to exit the game to go to the safezone.

I kept the stuff that were still of use but added a few extras to the kit. A couple of alcohol swabs/wipes, a tube of  antiseptic cream, a pair of latex gloves, scissors, and a small forceps. I also added a couple more adhesive bandages from a refill of a home first aid kit.

After adding these I now have the following in my first aid kit:

• Adhesive bandages – 10pcs
• Alcohol wipes – 10pcs
• Sterile gauze – 1 pack
• Triangular bandage – 1pc
• Antiseptic cream – 1tube
• Latex gloves – 1pair
• Scissors – 1pair
• Forceps – 1pc
• Safety/instruction card – 1pc

What the kit is capable of providing?

With the improved contents of the kit comes the ability to address the most common injury in airsoft; cuts and scrapes. I can now clean the cut or scrape with alcohol wipes and apply an adhesive bandage over it. (The kit can clean and cover up to ten small cuts). The bandages come in different sizes and shapes so sometimes I use the pair of scissors to trim the bandage to fit the cut. If one would rather choose not to cover the cut a dab of antiseptic cream can be applied over it.

One might ask what the forceps are for. Well one thing, it is definitely not to clamp blood vessels, we're not talking injuries like the ones in Saving Private Ryan or Blackhawk Down. It is for a far less common yet still annoying form of injury….if you can call it that --- Wood Splinters. If you’ve ever had one of these wooden needles from hell embedded under your skin you can appreciate what the forceps are for. These things are not only difficult to remove but also very annoying, excuse the pun, but it really gets under my skin the few times it has happened. The tapered tip of the forceps makes it easier to relieve one of such discomfort compared to having to dig it out with a pair of push pins which if I may add can sometimes drive it in further.

The rest of the items I guess should not be used at all either for personal use or for someone else. As the use of such would mean that the official site first aider should be the one giving first aid and not a fellow skirmisher (this is to avoid any entanglement should any legal issue arise). The first aid kit is therefore primarily for personal use, but could be shared if someone should ask for an adhesive bandage or two.

Reprinted from Popular Airsoft Magazine Volume 1 Issue 2 April 2008.