Med Packs and Supplies

up until now the only medical gear i have is a BOK on my chest rig and a bigger IFAK on my backpack. after watching a TV show last night (hmmm i wonder which one...), i started thinking of populating a medical bag. ive always been of the mindset not to have more than what i know how to use, but in a certain situation, i may find myself with someone a bit more knowledgeable (example, one of my close friends in my area's brother is an EMT). not only that, but even with the kit on my pack and my BOK, its not enough to treat more than myself +my wife, for example my parents live 10 miles away and if something happened we would be getting together. i have military training as well as civilian first aid certs/training (not a EMT or anything), so i am not completely stupid with regards to first aid. i figure it may not be a bad idea to have a medical pack that can be thrown in with my other gear, whether in a car or bugging in or whatever.

so, what packs are you guys using, for those of you who have one? what is your gear list? as of now i am just thinking of doubling or tripling whats in my BOK and IFAK, but not sure if there are other things i should add.

It is always worthwhile to periodically re-evaluate one's gear, and naturally that includes one's IFAK and so forth.

I would suggest keeping the IFAK as small and light as possible, since you will be carrying it, consonant with prioritized and most likely needs. OTOH, it would be wise to pre-position more extensive supplies at one's BOL, such as your parent's place, as well as other possible BOLs.

One also has to be realistic. For example, at the present time, one is much more likely to suffer a sprained ankle than a gunshot wound when making the trek to your parent's place. So plan accordingly. You would probablly be better off to walk that route––plus some detours–– so often that you can do it in the dark, as in little or no flashlight use. If you have to make some minor "improvements" along the way, so be it.

In a true SHTF scenario, the gunshot wound might rise in liklihood. But without modern medical help, even a fairly minor gunshot wound––or any similar trauma–– might be fatal in the end.

It is all well and good to configure one's IFAK in the assumption prompt medical attention is available, but only if that is the case. Without modern, prompt medical care, one is back into the medical dark ages. Your cell phone is probably just as useful as your IFAK right now, and that assumes you have a reasonably good IFAK, and the knowledge to use it properly, as you stated above. Modern IFAKs are designed to stabilize the patient, and allow them to be transported ASAP to more comprehensive care. If modern care is unavailable for some reason, then the typical IFAK would have to be re-thought in light of that circumstance.

Let's say one of your party falls and suffers a compound fracture, wherein there is considerable blood loss. OK, then, apply the modern first aid, and transport ASAP. A modern, reasonably well-equipped IFAK will probably to the job all right. Chances are very good for a complete recovery. Suppose there is NO transport, and NO modern medical support available. In such an instance, one might be looking at an amputation, as was often the case in the past.

Configure your kit to cope with the prioritized uses, and know how to use it. You have a decent FA knowledge, so tailor your kit accordingly.

thats pretty much what i said lol.

i know how to stock a BOK and an IFAK, but more looking for input on a dedicated med bag.

Dedicated Med Bag/Pack? Why not the USGI unit? IIRC, www.entrygear.com has 'em, listed under the SDS items. Sometimes they show up at www.unclesamsretailoutlet.com.

Link to Med Pack: https://www.entrygear.com/list.asp?listtype=cat&cat=241&mfg=30.

Disclaimer: no financial interest.

ahh yes, i forgot about those! im also looking at the USMC Corpsman's med bag, they arent too expensive compared to the current offerings from the big name companies.

Tag on this one. Have a good pack and list of gear and will post with pics at a later date. I'm a part-time paramedic by trade and have blundered into some interesting situations off-shift that made me glad I had some extra gear on hand.

Word of note, a really kick-ass med kit is a long-term commitment. It can be pricey, so prioritize and make small purchases over time. I found a lot of stuff at www.buyemp.com, but that is not an endorsement and I have no connection with those dudes at all. Unofficially, beg, borrow, and acquire bits and pieces using innovative and creative means as well.

My kit:
Mystery Ranch NICE frame RATS pack (in multicam, of course) with basic life support (BLS) gear but cheating with some IV catheters, PRNs and saline flushes. I got some awesome velcro-backed, reflective / luminous, nametapes for the individual kits in my pack from www.1800nametape.com (same disclaimer, no affiliation). Example nametapes: IV START, HEMORRHAGE, AIRWAY, DRUGS, etc. The RATS pack has hook and loop strips on each pouch that just want a tape to lay on them and inform you of the shit you have in each one. Kit assumes that I have kept my CPR skills up-to-date and can perform BLS CPR until advance life support (ALS) arrives - most importantly with electric therapy.







Starting from the top:

Scene safe / PPE (either on the pack or stowed in the rear external pockets):
20 pairs large nitrile gloves
5x HEPA N95 masks
4x cyalume light sticks
1x Leatherman CORE
4x Sharpie markers
2x 3" x 5" write in the rain notepads

BLS Airway
24, 26, 28 and 30 FR nasopharyngeal airways (NPAs) and KY jelly packs
Oropharyngeal airway (OPA) set (infant to big, fat adult)
1x yellow, amber, and purple King Airway kits


BLS Breathing
1x ea Bag valve mask adult, child with extra masks for infants

BLS circulation
BP cuff
Cheap stethoscope (I keep a good one on me working / traveling)


2x BLS hemorrhage kits
5x 4x4s
10x 2x2s
5x 4" cling rolls
1x Israeli bandage
2x 3" x 9" Vaseline gauze
1x CAT - in EMS orange so I can see it
1x 2" tape
1x cravat


1x IV start kit
5x 18 gauge catheters
1x IV start kits (tourniquet, 2x alcohol wipes, 1x 2x2, 1x PRN/saline lock, 1x 1" tape)
5x PRNs
5 x 10cc saline flush


1x OB/gyn kit (deliver a baby)

Trauma (in top lid pocket)
1ea Adult and Pediatric cervical collars
2x trauma shears
1x mylar blanket
2x hot packs
2x cold packs

Drugs (in top lid pocket)
150mg Benadryl / Diphenhydramine (6x 25mg doses PO) - good for allergic reactions, motion sickness, anxiety
648mg Aspirin (8x 81mg doses chewable, equivalent to 2x myocardial infarction doses of 324mg ASA)
1600mg Ibuprofen (8x 200mg doses PO)
12mg Immodium / Loperamide (6x 2mg doses PO)
TUMS (calcium)

All-in-all weighs under 30lbs, but I don't have 1,000cs of normal saline in the kit (yet). My goal is to have two liters in the future. So far all I've had to use / replenish is bandages and dressings from the hemorrhage kit and Immodium. The RATS pack can easily mount a D-tank of O2 under the main pack on the NICE frame, if you have access to that level of kit.

Most of what you'll encounter in the civilian world is car accidents, heart attacks, strokes, diabetic emergencies, and people that think they are having any of the above. Key is to understand the signs and symptoms of the medical emergencies and know how to ask for a SAMPLE history and OPQRST history (look them up) so you can feed the medics / first responders good info when they get on-scene. Trauma is pretty much "find it, fix it" because it is a surgical disease that field measures will only stabilize (temporarily).

Have fun with it, Nape and give a shout with questions / ideas.

QH

thank you very much for the input!

Updated with pics in my original reply.

Very nice, sir.

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