I really hate to pile on, but I cannot discourage this strongly enough. While I typically don't appeal to authority, I'm an Army Medic with nearly 10 years ARNG side and a deployment to Afghanistan. I've recertified as a 68W 3 times, attended BCT3, taken part in live tissue labs, a Combat Medic Mentorship Course, and conducted thousands of hours of OJT and real-world work as a Healthcare/Trauma Specialist on the military side. Do not pack tampons to provide bleeding control for penetrating trauma of any kind. That's not what they're designed for. They're designed with a very specific purpose, and an untrained person could cause significant harm if trying to employ them in the manner suggested by the OP. The Army standard (for non 68Ws, per the AWT Guide) is to pack Kerlix (or Combat Gauze/other hemostatic gauze if available) into the wound in order to control bleeding. The 68W standard is to pack Kerlix (or Combat Gauze/other hemostatic gauze if available). The Marine Corps standard is to pack the wound with Kerlix (or Combat Gauze/other hemostatic gauze if available). The Navy standard is the same. The Air Force standard is the same. These are the organizations that deal with this type of injury on a regular basis. They are, arguably, the source for standards and best practices regarding penetrating trauma.The bottom line is this: What were you trained to do? What are you, as a CAP member, allowed to do? If your response to those questions does not include "packing wounds with tampons," then you're wrong if you're packing them in your 24 hour gear with any purpose other than addressing menstrual bleeding.
I carry them in my gear, but for a very different reason. Compact emergency fire starting material. :-)
I say go ahead and put one in your IFAK(great for nose bleeds). I see alot of untrained and unqualified people in CAP carrying around med equipment they should not have. People in CAP need to stop playing EMS.
Never had much of use for them otherwise, except for well, the obvious use - I do find female cadets forget to pack things, and do carry a supply to cadet events.
Quote from: CAPAPRN on September 26, 2016, 07:34:10 PMNever had much of use for them otherwise, except for well, the obvious use - I do find female cadets forget to pack things, and do carry a supply to cadet events.This has been addressed earlier, but the difference between a pad and a tampon being provided to a female cadet can be significant, especially since Toxic Shock Syndrome is no small issue (especially given the stress and potential field environments at CAP events).If you don't know what Toxic Shock Syndrome is, you should look it up. And then take the tampons out of gear... 1st Lt Raduenz