Tex G. loaded up his truck with his shotgun and three dogs and headed out to the desert to go rabbit hunting.
When he was just west of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Tex was blasted in the chest by his own shotgun…
And the shooter was his 120-pound Rottweiler.
The shotgun was laying on the floorboard of the truck when the dog jumped and caught the trigger with his paw.
At first, Tex believed he had been shot by another hunter, but as he looked around, there was no one in sight.
Tex rolled out of his truck and took cover.
Then he used his cell phone to call for help while he applied pressure to his chest wound.
“It went through my ribs my lung and busted up my collarbone on the right side,” Tex said.
“I had a gaping hole, you know, and a lot of blood there too. I could see the blood and I felt it,” he said.
He suffered three broken ribs, an injured lung, and a broken collarbone.
He was taken to an area hospital where doctors determined it would be best to leave the bullet inside him.
Tex said he has long since forgiven Charlie. “He did not mean to do it,” he said. “He’s a good dog.”
Luckily, Tex was able to stop the bleeding from his wound long enough for medical personnel to arrive.
Whether you are accidentally shot or the victim of an intentional shooting, time is of the essence.
This is why I recommend carrying a gunshot wound kit anytime you are at the shooting range or going hunting.
So, here are a few things you should make part of your gunshot wound kit in case you need to treat a wounded person.
Tourniquet:
A tourniquet is the first item I would make part of your kit because it is the most important.
When bleeding is so bad that direct pressure doesn’t stop the flow, you have no choice but to use a tourniquet.
A tourniquet is something you need to know how to apply.
Test it out beforehand, because if you don’t apply it correctly it will be useless.
And don’t forget to note the exact time the tourniquet is applied as this will help doctors treat the patient.
I would consider the Combat Application Tourniquet that sells for about $30 on Amazon.
Trauma shears:
When someone has been shot it’s critical to find out how many times and where the holes are on their body.
Keep in mind, there could be entry and exit wounds or the bullets could still be in their body.
Cutting away clothing will be one of the first things you do when treating a gunshot wound.
EMT shears are one of the easiest ways to cut through clothing.
You can keep these shears in the pocket of your bag or inside your kit. I would check out shears from brands such as 5.11 or SOG.
Pressure bandage:
Applying direct pressure and using a direct pressure bandage to a wound is one of the most effective ways to stop bleeding.
You should keep at least two pressure bandages in your gunshot wound kit since there might be an entry and exit wound.
Consider looking at Quikclot clotting gauze. These sell for about $20 on Amazon.
Chest seals:
Chest seals work by closing the chest wall opening but still allow air to enter the chest through its normal route.
They provide an effective seal that allows them to stay in place even if there is sweat, air or blood.
There are two main types of chest seal: vented and non-vented…
Vented chest seals allow for the release of air or blood but prevent the re-entry of air through the wound.
Non-vented chest seals adhere to the chest. They create a seal and do not allow air to escape or re-enter.
There are many chest seals available on the market.
One brand is the North American Rescue Chest Seal. It sells for $15.
A few other items you might want to consider adding to your gunshot wound kit are extra gauze and a blanket.
If you are dealing with multiple wounds, you will need the extra gauze.
The victim will likely go into shock so keep a small blanket in your kit to keep them as comfortable as possible.
Like I said, a gunshot wound kit should be with you anytime you go hunting or to the shooting range.
It is something that can be small enough that you can attach it to a backpack or even a chest rig.
At the very least, keep it in a nearby vehicle so you can grab it in an emergency.
And keep in mind, this type of kit isn’t restricted to bullet wounds. It can be used to treat major bleeding no matter what the cause, so make sure to keep one handy.
