I think I am going to add individual dose over the counter meds like Imodium, Tylenol and somebody mentioned Benadryl. But let me share what I have done;
MTM 30 Caliber Ammo Can. All of $9.99, waterproof, small enough not to be bulky and big enough to carry a lot of stuff. But I had to do some modifications to keep things in place more or less. After a “smart” use of glue gun and some spare kydex, I ended up with this:
Bandages and related on the left side and the rest on the right side. Those square things you see are four tin boxes ($6.99) to carry small items (one is full of bandaids) that could get misplaced or do not need to be bouncing around…and yes I stole that tip from the comments, thanks! I will properly label the cans so I don’t have to guess what is in which. And still leaves plenty space for other stuff which I fins myself needing to fill with something.
Something I always found missing in all kits and made a point to cover is a cutting instrument, preferably scissors/shears. It is annoying to cut stuff with your knife when you are bleeding and a downright pain in the ass when you have nothing, so I added a pair of trauma shears.
That is a bit of Kydex leftover molded to hold the shears and attached to the cover with hot glue. (UPDATE: Hot glue, Kydex and plastic do not work well together. Trying crazy glue before going mechanical fasteners)
The only thing missing is a sticker that screams FIRST AID! (coming soon) and that should do it. I have tape, modern merthiolate for disinfection, steristrips, Celox, bug bite ointment, rash cream and even ammonia ampules.
If there is something that you think I need in the boo-boo box, drop a comment.
PS: I added a eyeglass repair kit I da stashed away. Wee little thing even comes with a magnifying glass and I know I can’t drive or do several things without my glasses.
And my eye wash saline is expired. Gotta go to Wally world 😐
UPDATE: Crazy glue didn’t work either so I went with mechanical restraints.
These cans also come in purple (for whatever reason) and in orange in other sizes.
That would also be a good way to make them stand out against the ones in use for ammunition or tools.
Nosebleed plugs
Good one, thanks!
Holy crap… They are cheap, but I don’t need 500! 😀
Cotton balls!
If ya have room a splint or two is always good, think knees and fingers, a good pair of tweezers, bagged or individually wrapped nitrile gloves if ya don’t have em already?
A+ on the shears and sourcing individual dosing of meds.
Gloves in already and tweezers inside one of the boxes too. I’ll look into the splinters, Thanks!
Get the orange and blue folding splints. They roll up small and work wonders.
Also get some anti-hystamines; they can slow down alergic reactions and buy you time.
These kind of splints. Except this site has stupid pricibg, way cheaper at tge drug store or ebay
https://www.realityworks.com/product/medical-splint-rolls-5-pack/
What kind of tweezers are people thinking about?
I’ve seen first aid tweezers that look somewhat like stamp collector tweezers, blunt and crappy. The only tweezers I’ve ever found that actually work are watchmaker tweezers, with small sharp tips, made of high quality stainless steel. They need a protective sleeve for the tips to keep those from being bent or broken.
Watchmaking tweezers are indeed awesome or high quality ‘ eyebrow plucking’ tweezers with kinda alligator jaws and either angled or needle tips. The thing a lady friend might keep in her bathroom kit and you’ll get a good smack if she finds ya took em.
Best thing I’ve found for digging metal shavings and fine glass out of my hands and arms.
Burn dressing miggt be somthing to toss in, North American Rescue has a really nice one thats coming in a lot of IFAKs these days
Tweezers and a magnifying glass card…
https://www.amazon.com/Sliver-Gripper-19074-Tweezers-Recloseable/dp/B002LVUWK4/ or there is a version with a little metal clip that goes on a keychain
https://www.amazon.com/FUCAS-Credit-Magnifying-Lenses-Wholesale/dp/B074WPTMZX/
nail clippers
blister medic
https://www.amazon.com/AMK-Blister-Medic-Medical-Kit/dp/B000TTL8IA/
tube of crazy glue
soapy hand wipes, get from chik fi a
wrt gloves, you need more than one pair. They tear, esp when put on in a hurry, and you might have helpers that need gloves
^^^these are all things I use that are in my altoids tin edc ‘boo boo kit’
Some discussion of my boo boo kit, and truck bags from a while back…
https://www.ttgnet.com/journal/2016/08/13/saturday-13-august-2016-home-made-first-aid-kits/
nick
I carry a IFAC hung from the handle above my rear door for booboos &
a mil spec trifold M-3 medic bag squirreled away elsewhere for the bigger OH OH’s / OHSH*Ts
for OOT treks I still have my Plano 747M box and my EMT kit
just a former NREMT-P
(way out of spec & retired) doing CYA
I’d look at something like this for a patch:
https://www.amazon.com/VANQUEST-1-5-Inch-Medical-Cross-Super-Lumen/dp/B07PXHX417
I’d actually pick up https://www.rescue-essentials.com/the-nick-fixer/
I’d add some SAM splints in different sizes. The nice thing about SAM splits is that they are XRAY transparent. That means if you have splinted someone the ER room won’t remove the split to do xrays, if they have a clue and most do.
Finally I’d look at rescue-essentials firstaid kit refill module. Just to double up on stuff since you have the room.
Random thoughts:
A Phlstr Flatpack with a (verified non-counterfeit) CAT hot-glued inside the lid (you should always have one on your belt, so that makes 2). You’ve got CELOX, why not a TQ.
Keep like with like – the boo-boo tin should contain bandaids, merthiolate and antibiotic ointment together, all in one place, not spread across 3 or 4.
A decent inexpensive folding knife. Trauma shears work for most stuff, but sometimes there’s stuff that needs to be cut with a knife; rounded blade tip for seatbelts is a plus.
A good penlight that uses batteries (field replacement of batteries works, field recharging doesn’t)- OR – Petzl makes a tiny headlamp in a container like a giant cough lozenge & uses 2032 batts (tape a couple spares under the box lid), wear as a headlamp, or use as a flashlight.
A triangular bandage – cheap, folds up small, multiple uses-emergency tourniquet, pressure bandage, sling, cut into strips to attach a splint, etc. I keep a dozen in my GunClass Student Kit for use as bibs for female students with low cut tops.
A length of 3/8″ – 1/2″ hardwood dowel hot-glued under the lid to use as a windlass for the triangular bandage emergency tourniquet.
Small bottle (150-200ml) of sterile water for eye wash or wound irrigation. Contact lens saline solution works for eye wash, replace every 45-60 days.
Rigid “inspect and replace” schedule for contents that may expire.
I have one TQ on me at all times while I am out. The truck has two “Oh Sh**!” kits “https://gunfreezone.net/my-oh-sh-kit/ with I think 3 TQs more in total plus other major blood loss stuff.
Knives? I carry three with me and a seatbelt cutter with my keys. As for lights, I am considering a small head lamp because two hands is always better.
And There is a 15 ml mini bottle of saline in the box.