First aid kit...opinions

[gbird]

I went to the link that Jessica313 posted in her "Ebay" thread, for WIndy City Parrot ( www.windycityparrot.com ) and found this first aid kit....it costs $25.00



1 - Bird Kit Case
1 - Bottle Styptic Powder (toenail/feather bleeding)
1 - Pair Latex Gloves (personal protection)
1 - Bottle Eye & Skin Wash 1 Oz. (flush eyes or wounds)
1 - 1" x 6 yd. Sterile Gauze Bandage (wrap wound areas)
1 - Pair Scissors (trim feather/cut bandage tape)
1 - Pair 5" Locking Forceps (remove broken blood feathers)
2 - PVP Iodine Antiseptic Swabs (sterilization) 2 - Antiseptic Towelettes (clean wound or hands)
2 - Packages 2" x 2" Gauze Pads (apply to wound area)
5 - Cotton Swabs (apply ointment or creams)
1 - Roll 1/2" x 2 1/2 yd. Adhesive Tape (secure bandage)
1 - Hand Wipe (personal cleanup)
1 - Bird Emergency Card (record info/vet phone number)


any opinions, or comments will be appreciated. Is it worth it? Does it have everything needed in a good first aid kit?

Thanx!

[CamelotCrazee]

I have 2 of that kit one for my car and one for my house along with a bottle of alcohol and a bottle of peroxide it kicks butt

[CALVINS MOM]

IMHO, the only items you will really use from it are the following:

1 - Bottle Styptic Powder (toenail/feather bleeding)
1 - Bottle Eye & Skin Wash 1 Oz. (flush eyes or wounds)
2 - PVP Iodine Antiseptic Swabs (sterilization)

Unless you are experienced, you are not going to need forceps to pull a feather. You will be too afraid. You won't take time to put on vinyl gloves if your bird is in an emergency. Most of the other products you can merely buy at the nearby drug store and, again IMHO, if your bird is in need of gauze or adhesive, it will be administered by a vet.

We just had a couple last night who wanted to buy the kit and asked my opinion. I told them the exact same thing. Also, you cannot put styptic powder on skin. Always nice to have, but hopefully is never used. Everyone has Q-tips.

I think it is always best to keep Neosporin cream on hand. Flour and cornstarch can be used temporarily to stop bleeding, but remember it is a food product and will grow bacteria (hence, the Neosporin cream).

And your vet - that number should be easily located in case of an emergency. I have mine memorized.

[Conure & Macaw Mom]

I got that exact same bird first aid kit at the bird show I went to a couple months ago. It has alot of stuff in it. Hopfully I'll never need it but you never know. I think it was around $10 or so. Crystal

[greyburd]

We were just discussing First Aid Kits over at OPL a couple of weeks ago. We came up with a list of things to keep in the kit. Kathie, I agree with what you said, but I still think it's good to have some of those things on hand (just in case). Here's the list we came up with:


Some of these things, like the Silvadine, are usually by prescription only.

Silvadine: This is used to force wounds to heal and to seal burns
styptic powder: NO STYPTIC POWDER. It is a chemical cauterizer. Use corn starch instead to stop a blood feather.
cornstarch or flour: Pack into a blood feather shaft to start a clot
latex gloves: to keep your germs off of a sick bird and vice versa
birdie eye/skin wash: to rinse out wound or eye
sterile gauze: To secure a splint or wrap a wound
scissors: to cut gauze. Keep a second pair for wing trims.
forceps: to remove things caught in a mouth or tiny things too small for fingers
hemostats or needle nosed pliers: to remove a blood feather
iodine antiseptic swabs: to seal and clean wound
antiseptic towelettes: to clean a wound
gauze pads: to collect bodily fluids usually post surgery
cotton swabs: to clean out areas around the vent, mouth and eyes
adhesive tape (cloth kind): to secure a splint or secure a gauze pad
hand wipes: to clean your hands
betadyne: To clean a wound. Especially good if added to warm water to soak a sore foot or toe injury. Also good for cleaning HUMAN wounds.
vet wrap: To secure a collar, wrap a perch, hold a splint
ace bandages: to protect YOUR arms
Neosporin cream: antibiotic cream to dress a wound. Don't use ointment.
nail clippers (two different sizes large and small): to clip nails. Clean after every use.
gram scale: to chart the progress of a birds weight.
Restraint: to keep a toweled bird restrained and free up both hands to administer meds, clip nails, administer shots
syringes (size from 1 cc to 50 cc): for administering meds
Prep H cream: to reduce swelling and ease pain from an injury.
Hot water bottle: to keep a sick bird warm
Children's Benadryl: antihistamine. Good for bee stings and other allergic reactions
splints: to stabilize legs and wings
foam insulation tubing: to make collar to prevent plucking and mutilation
Emergency vet information: Keep all vets within one hour and at least 2 avian vets.
Bird's Medical records: Take them with you to the vet
Ophthalmic drops: eye drops
derma-clens cream: Skin cleaner
Throat and vent swabs: to collect samples
blood collection cards and tubes: to collect samples for labwork
Avian biotech forms (for disease testing): submission cards for labwork
Heating pad: to heat an ICU as a bird convalesces
sterile hand and bath towels that are in a vacuum sealed bag: to restrain and clean a bird
Mini flash light: to look down throats and in the vents
Tweezers: to remove splinters
Wire cutters: to remove O rings and chains
Instant Ounces: to add calories to sick and recovering birds diets
Lactated Ringers Solution and needle syringe: to administer Sub Q injections in cases of dehydration
Sterile water: for cleaning and mixing of meds
Metamucil: add to soaked bread to help with kelation if your bird ingests something toxic
Pepto Bismal: to administer to birds with digestive disorder.
Ivory soap or Parafin wax: to pack a blood feather

[greyburd]

However, I don't think all of that will fit in that little box!! you might need to get something a little bigger!

[The Outlaw]

Thanks, Don. Too many folks figure that the few items provided in most over the counter kits will be enough. They never are.

[Buteo]

Thanks, Don. Too many folks figure that the few items provided in most over the counter kits will be enough. They never are.

True....but then even ambulances don't always have everything the paramedics need.

[Winged_Victory]

True....but then even ambulances don't always have everything the paramedics need.

Well said! But anything is better than nothing at all. I used to be an EMT and know how true that statement is!

Thanks,

[Valo's Moirana]

I put the emergency kit together myself (some of the stuff comes right out of my lab gloves, sterile syringes, splints etc, the rest I bought at the store and stored all of it in a box). I got most of the things Don listed.

One of the key points IMO that a lot of people overlook - have the information of at least 2-3 vets (i looked up 6) on hand with phone number, address and directions (nothing worse than having a sick bird and no idea where the vet is located - mapquest never loads properly when you need it most). Also, keep all the medical information together. Have a book/print-outs of the most common diseases and their symptoms and the things you're supposed to do if your bird gets sick - especially for unexperienced bird owners (like me), this can be a lot of help so you know what to do in case Baby gets sick.

Also, read the emergency threads on the board - lots of info on symptoms and first aid.