Disclaimer: I am not a doctor nor to I portray one on TV. My advice below is only my opinion based on my experience as a former EMT and my years deployed on the battlefield. Seek your own training and continually improve your medical skillset.
The purpose of your main medical kit is to be a complete source of items you may need within your skillset. There is always a touchy balance of having enough right stuff and minimal useless stuff. Hopefully, this kit will grow as your skillset grows and one day the life you save may be your own.
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You don’t necessarily need a special made bright red medical bag with reflective tape and medical symbols. You just need to know your bag and what’s in it. I know a local doctor who uses two large solid black duffle style bags for his med kits. Visit your local thrift store and see if something there will work for you.
Traditional Bag - My main kit is almost identical to the ASA Deluxe Medical Trauma Bag . It has served me well for over 10 years.
Backpack style - The Meditak First Aid Rucksack is a great solution that isn’t too big but is perfect when hiking or the terrain make a traditional style bag unmanageable.
Tourniquets or TQs were once taught as a last-ditch effort but now have become the first action for stopping rapid loss of blood. Advances in tourniquets as well as medical advances make this an every day carry item. I have tourniquets in every med kit but also on my armor plate carrier, gun range bag, ankle holster, and vehicle glove box. There are only two I recommend but I personally only use one of these. Whichever you choose get a few and train with them!
The first is the CAT Combat Action Tourniquet. It is the standard carried by emergency responders nationwide. It works flawlessly and is easily applied. Make sure you have the real thing. A TQ is not something you want to buy budget knockoff. They are going to be $25 or more a piece.
Secondly is the SOFTT-W by TacMed Solutions and my personal favorite. It works no differently than a traditional CAT and has a similar 1.5” strap. There are two small differences between the SOFTT-W and the CAT that make it my choice. First, is its size. The CAT has the big plastic C shaped windlass lock. In comparison the windlass lock on the SOFFT is a small triangle which folds down and fits better in pockets and kits. Secondly, is the detachment buckle. If you are using this on your own leg or the leg or arm of a pinned/trapped patient you can unbuckle the strap, put it around the leg or arm and re-buckle it. You can’t do that with a CAT.
Individually wrapped sterile 4”x4” bandages - Are cheap and used for everything…including starting fires. . I also carry smaller 2”x2” bandages as well.
3” Gauze rolls - Can be used to wrap a dressing to secure it or entire rolls can be used to pack a wound without unrolling them.
QuikClot 3” Z-fold bandages - Use a natural clotting agent called Kaolin to accelerate your body’s natural clotting ability. They are more expensive than normal bandages but provide a massive life-saving advantage in the field. You can read my complete article on Quick Clot here: https://www.burgeondefense.com/blog/quikclot-gauze
Celox - Is a blood clotting agent (same concept as QuikClot) I use the small packets of the powder in all my med kits. It can be poured directly on the wound before you apply a dressing. Can be tricky to apply in rain or wind.
Israeli Style Bandage 6” - A med kit is just not complete with a couple of these. They also make 4” size which I carry in my ankle med kit. In my main bag I have two 6” and one 4”.
Nasopharyngeal Airway or NPA - Provides an open airway for a patient who typically has a mouth or jaw injury. It is inserted through the nostril and rests with the flare or trumpet end against the outside of the nose. If someone has gotten stung on the tongue by a bee, this will save their life when their tongue swells. Size 28 is an average adult size.
CPR Mask Everyday Carry - These CPR masks have a great carrier pouch and can ft on your key ring. Simple way to provide a barrier.
CPR Mask for Main Med Bag - Keep this on top or clipped to your bag strap. It has two masks one for adults and one for infants/children. They have a one-way valve and can connect directly to a bag valve hand pump.
Berman Oral Airway - This is a six piece kit providing all the sizes you may need for keeping an airway open on a unconscious patient. This will invoke a gag reflex if the person is conscious.
Burnshield Hydrogel 4x4s - I carry two of these in my main kit. Helps cool and sooth while you get the patient to the hospital.
Burn Cream with Lidocaine - These are refill packs for those large metal first aid kits. They work perfect in your med kit too. Minor burns can be managed pretty well with these. I’ve used them more times than I care to admit.
EpiPen – or epinephrine auto injectors are a critical item for any family member with a life threating allergy. Yes, these are criminally overpriced in the hundreds of dollars per injector.
Benadryl – I keep a small waterproof tube with a couple of Benadryl in them for my wife and youngest son. They are prone to rare but severe allergy attacks from pollen. Think about who in your family may need Zyrtec, Benadryl, etc. while out camping or away from home.
Hydrocortisone Cream - If you are a camper or outdoorsy family this is a must to stop itching from poison ivy, sumac, oak, and even insect bites.
Chest seals twin pack - The Hyfin Vented occlusive barrier provides a flexible but vented closure for open chest wounds. They come in a twin pack because when bullets go in, they usually come out the other side.
Our family uses the Curad Variety Pack for all of our “Band-Aid” needs. Lots of different options in this box and I have always found what I needed. I put a small handful of these in a snack sized Ziploc for inside my hiking packs, emergency kits, and vehicles.
Antibiotic ointment or Neosporin - For minor cuts and dings you should be using this every time you reach for a Band-Aid on a new injury. The shelf life is usually pretty short on these so keep an eye on your inspection dates.
Sterile Eyewash - A sterile bottle of eyewash is important to wash out small objects. I keep two 1oz bottles in my kit. I was carrying a single 4oz for a while, but it broke on me twice. The smaller bottles seem more durable and haven’t given me any trouble.
I don’t carry any special eye shaped patches or gauze. I have a scissor and can create any unique shape I need with the gauze and bandages I already have.
Space blanket - The mylar thermal blanket has become a staple in almost every kit. When it gets cold just turn yourself into a baked potato and keep the body heat in. These by their nature are pretty fragile so you need to take care when using them. They are also pretty noisy and never fold up as small as they originally came. For a couple bucks a piece they are certainly worth it to have one per person.
Body warmers – Air activated hand or body warmers are worth their weight in a cold environment. I find these are great to keep kids content or get warm enough to fall asleep. I also keep these in my vehicle kits in case I need to spend the night in my truck.
SAM Splint - Bulky but necessary! This lightweight one splint wonder has been a staple in military and civilian medical kits for a long time. It is a thin flexible aluminum sheet covered in a semi-ridged foam. The SAM can be cut to size with scissors, just roll over the edge so it doesn’t dig in and cut the patient.
Reading Glasses - I can’t read without glasses so for me, it is a truly critical item. I bought folding readers that come in a little black hard case. These have saved me countless times.
Medical Scissors - This is a required item in my kits. Used to cut clothing, open med supplies, and trim bandages and splints. You may think a pocket knife is sufficient but they can easily injure a restless or aggressive patient. Medical scissors are safe and strong enough to cut through a seat belt like butter.
There are two I recommend. First is a standard no frills Madison Supply stainless steel scissors used throughout the medical industry. Secondly, is the Raptor Rescue Shears, an upgraded version by Leatherman. These are the coolest scissors out there and they fold down and store in a belt holster. As can be expected from Leatherman, they are equipped with 6 essential tools, including folding emergency response shears, a strap cutter, a ring cutter, a ruler, an oxygen tank wrench and a carbide glass breaker.
Emergency Whistle – An emergency whistle for each pack is smart thinking. This is highly recommended for kids outdoor packs if they become separated or need help. Plug your ears when testing these out, they are crazy loud.
Sharpie - Used to leave critical info on a patients body such as medication given, tourniquet time, time of injury, etc. I keep the Sharpie Minis in my kit just because they are smaller and have a clip cap that can be attached to a strap on the outside of the kit. One handed yank and you have a sharpie ready to write. These dry out after non-use so inspect them for usability. You can also “refresh” these with a squirt or a few drops of alcohol.
Mid-Size Flashlight – Zoomable and uses four AA batteries (10 hours on low). Keep it accessible!
Keychain or “Button” size Flashlight – Clip it to the inside flap of your kit to provide hands free lighting when digging through the bag. Cheap, just over a dollar a piece.
Sugar - Glucose packs are not only critical for hypoglycemia or low blood sugar in diabetic patients, but also used as a burst of energy for someone suffering fatigue on a hike. I have found more than a few well hydrated hikers who are light headed and nauseous because they think water is all you need on a long hike. You can pick up flavored packs at your local sporting goods store. I caution you that some of these are pretty unpalatable and also some flavors like coffee also have caffeine. The Transcend Strawberry are decent and if you want a no flavor purely medical option the Insta-Glucose work as well.
Pocket Knife - Normally I would recommend the Smith and Wesson Knife for most kits because it can also be used defensively but for my medical bag I prefer a smaller skeleton framed knife. They are easier to clean blood from the open handle and the small size just fits better in the kit.
Durable Medical Tape - 1” rolls of cloth tape are an essential item. Strong enough to be used as a finger splint or hold bandages and gauze in place. They also make wider and narrower widths if you feel the need.
Duct Tape – Can’t have a med kit without duct tape. Sure you have white medical tape but for making litters, repairing rain covers over patients, or securing large splints you just need more strength. The Gorilla Tape To-Go is a nice 1” x 30ft roll of crazy strong tape that is much lighter than a full traditional 2” roll.
ACE Bandages - This particular set is a 4 pack with two 3” and two 4” rolls in 15 foot lengths. Used for sprains and strains but can also be used as a pressure dressing. I have had bad experiences with the Velcro models catching on gear and kit and unlatching, so I prefer the old school clip closures. You can use tape to hold these down as well.
Tweezers and Magnifying Glass. Splinters are a part of life when outdoors and a good med kit will make removing them real easy. Here is what I carry and have found super helpful.
Splinter Out - They are sterile super sharp little spears about 1.5” long. Easier to hold than a needle while digging out the stubborn splinter.
Tweezers - I’ve been using this twin set of pointed and flat tweezers.
Magnifying Lens - This is a 10x lens at just a little over two inches across. The folding cover works as handle and to protect the glass in its case. At 10x you can start fires too.
Instant Cold Packs - Shake, Squeeze, shake again, and you get 20-30 minutes of cold from these anywhere, anytime. If you got room in your kit carry one or two. Perfect for sprains, strains, headaches, and drama filled scraped knee kids.
Gloves – Nitrile gloves (not latex for allergy reasons). Don’t go cheap on these, make sure they fit and wont tear easily. Multiple pairs in a Ziploc inside your kit but also keep a set or two on the outside in a pouch like this one on your bag strap.
Triangular Non-Sterile Bandage - Used for arm slings, eye injuries, splint holds, etc. Tons of uses including a nice cool dude head cover if your stuck in the sun. It also has two safety pins which can be used for splinter removal, secure bandages, or holding your pants closed when a button breaks.
Moleskin Padding - If you are a hiker or long distance runner you are probably already familiar with moleskin. If not, you need this in your kit. Applied overtop a beginning blister or hot spots on your feet, it protects from things getting worse on the trail. You need a scissor or knife to cut this. I keep a couple small precut squares in my camelback hike pack too.
Butterfly or Steri-Strips - Both work equally well to hold together cuts. They are needed when movement keeps opening up your wound by giving some strength and allowing the wound to heal and close. Think of them as little strong pieces of sterile tape to go right on top of the wound.
Sterile Stapler. I get it, just the thought of stapling yourself or someone closed can be a little nausea inducing. The truth is these one-use sterile staplers can save a life. They take up a bit of room but I still keep one in my main kit. Great for when a hunting dogs takes a bad turn with barbed wire fence too.
There is no magical way of having everything you might ever possibly need, I guess maybe if your bugout vehicle is an ambulance. Do the best you can with what you can afford to start with and grow a little bit at a time. Learn new skills and add new equipment and capabilities to your kit. Train with what you have. If an item becomes damaged and open or something expires, don’t throw it away. Use it for training and teach everyone in the family. Med supplies look confusing when under real stress and everyone needs to know what in your kit and how to use it. My prayer for you is that you will never have to use anything serious in your kit. Stay safe and stay researching for the reset.
