Published on March 3, 2025
Gunshot wounds are among the most serious and life-threatening injuries you can face in a survival situation. Whether you're in a self-defense scenario, hunting accident, or post-collapse firefight, knowing how to treat a gunshot wound can mean the difference between life and death. In an emergency, there may be no hospital, no paramedics, and no time to wait for help—so it’s up to you to act fast.
Surviving a gunshot wound depends on two critical factors: having the right medical supplies and knowing how to use them. In this guide, we’ll cover how to build a proper gunshot wound kit and step-by-step treatment techniques to stop bleeding, prevent infection, and give the victim the best chance of survival.
A standard first aid kit won’t cut it when dealing with a gunshot wound. Band-Aids and antiseptic wipes are useless when someone is bleeding out from a bullet hole. Gunshot wounds require specialized medical gear, including hemostatic agents, pressure bandages, tourniquets, and chest seals.
Gunshot wounds cause massive blood loss, and if you don’t stop the bleeding within minutes, the victim can go into shock and die. Having the right tools before an emergency happens is essential. Even if you never plan on using a firearm, there’s always a risk of being caught in a violent encounter, hunting accident, or civil unrest. Being prepared means being ready for the worst.
A gunshot wound kit (GSW kit) is different from a basic first aid kit. It should contain trauma-grade supplies designed for treating severe bleeding, deep tissue wounds, and penetrating injuries. Here’s what you need:
Tourniquet (CAT or SOFTT-W) – A must-have for stopping massive bleeding from limb wounds. Learn how to use it properly.
Hemostatic Dressing (QuikClot or Celox Gauze) – Special gauze treated with clotting agents to stop bleeding fast.
Israeli Bandage or Emergency Pressure Dressing – Used to apply heavy pressure to a wound and control bleeding.
Chest Seals (Hyfin or Halo Seals) – Essential for treating gunshot wounds to the chest to prevent a collapsed lung.
Trauma Shears – For cutting away clothing to access the wound.
Nitrile Gloves – Protects both you and the victim from infections.
Gauze Rolls and Pads – Used for packing deep wounds and absorbing blood.
Medical Tape – To secure dressings and bandages in place.
Antiseptic Wipes or Betadine – To clean around the wound and reduce infection risk.
Elastic Bandage (ACE Wrap) – Helps secure dressings and adds compression.
Permanent Marker – Used to write the time a tourniquet was applied.
CPR Face Shield – If CPR is needed due to loss of pulse or shock.
For long-term survival situations, consider adding antibiotics, pain relievers, and sutures to your kit.
Now that you have the right supplies, let’s go over how to treat a gunshot wound step by step.
Before rushing to help, make sure the scene is safe. If the shooter is still active, get yourself and the victim to cover. The best medical care won’t matter if you get shot too. Once the area is secure, move to the victim and begin treatment.
Gunshot wounds cause massive blood loss, so stopping the bleeding is the top priority.
If the wound is on a limb:
Immediately apply a tourniquet above the wound, between the injury and the heart. Tighten it until bleeding stops completely. Use a marker to write the time the tourniquet was applied (to prevent permanent limb damage).
If the wound is on the chest or abdomen:
Do NOT use a tourniquet. Instead, apply direct pressure using a trauma dressing or hemostatic gauze.
For deep wounds:
If the bullet hole is actively bleeding, pack the wound with QuikClot or gauze, then apply a pressure bandage to hold it in place.
If the bullet wound is in the chest, neck, or upper back, it can lead to a tension pneumothorax—a life-threatening condition where air gets trapped in the chest cavity, crushing the lungs.
Use a chest seal (Hyfin or Halo) to cover the wound. If a chest seal isn’t available, use plastic wrap, duct tape, or any airtight material.
Apply the seal on both the entry and exit wounds to prevent air from entering the chest.
Monitor for labored breathing—if the victim struggles to breathe, partially lift the seal to allow trapped air to escape.
Gunshot victims often go into shock due to blood loss. Signs include pale skin, rapid heartbeat, and confusion.
Lay the victim on their back with their legs elevated (unless they have a spinal injury).
Keep them warm by covering them with a jacket or blanket.
Reassure them and keep them calm—panic worsens shock.
Even if you successfully stop the bleeding, gunshot wounds require advanced medical care. The victim needs surgery, antibiotics, and wound care to prevent infection. If medical help is available, get them to a hospital as quickly as possible. If you’re in a long-term survival scenario, be prepared for extended wound care, cleaning, and infection prevention.
In a collapse or grid-down scenario, treating a gunshot wound becomes even harder due to the lack of professional medical care. Infection is the biggest threat. If the wound isn’t properly cleaned and treated, sepsis (a deadly blood infection) can set in within days.
Flush the wound daily with sterile water or a diluted antiseptic.
Change dressings frequently to keep the wound clean.
Watch for infection signs—redness, swelling, pus, fever.
Use natural antibiotics like honey, garlic, and yarrow if modern antibiotics aren’t available.
A gunshot wound is one of the most serious injuries you can face in a survival scenario. If you don’t act fast, the victim can bleed out in minutes. That’s why having a proper gunshot wound kit and knowing how to use it is essential for preppers, hunters, and survivalists.
Even if you never expect to be in a firefight, accidents happen. A stray bullet, a hunting mishap, or even a violent encounter could leave you or someone you love fighting for their life. The knowledge and gear you carry could mean the difference between survival and tragedy.
Share this article:
April 2, 2025
Long after the bombs fall, the power dies, and the cities burn out, people will still be dying. But not from violence. Not from starvation. From infections. A small cut on the leg. A splinter that got ignored. A broken blister. A toothache. In the old world, they’d be annoyances. In the new one, t...
March 30, 2025
People like to imagine that when society collapses, the real threats will be bullets, starvation, and exposure. And those will be killers, no doubt. But they won’t be the biggest ones. What will really kill most people? Treatable injuries. We’re not talking about battlefield trauma or exotic diseas...
March 7, 2025
Infections have killed more people throughout history than war, famine, and natural disasters combined. Before the discovery of antibiotics, even a small cut could turn deadly. In a survival situation where doctors and modern medicine are unavailable, an untreated infection can mean slow, painful de...