Low-Pro Blow Out Kit and Contents

[Dave_M]

So, many of us have, ‘blow out kits’. However, most of them are either totally inadequate to serve their purpose or far too large to be something easily transportable on a rig. Is there an, ‘in between’ someplace?

I think so, and so do others. One can buy something like this rig but it’s going to cost a penny or two. As usual, it’s less expensive to DIY but can be a pain. Here’s my answer:

Several years ago, I bought a ton of Spec-Ops M16/AR mag pouches. At the time they were pretty high-speed, but, in say, the last decade or so, they have been replaced with better pouches. As it stood, they were not relegated to hold mags (though they held four each waaay back when) but for random range stuff like spare mags or parts holders or speedloaders or whatever random crap I had.

Most of those mag pouches remained as holders of random crap. One of them has been relegated to, ‘low-pro gunshot wound pouch’.

Before this came to be, I had a dedicated GSW kit which, while more full of medical gear, was too large and cumbersome to be carried on first line gear (IE: my belt rig). Here’s a small pic of modifications made to the standard:
(Left is stock pouch, center is stock pouch full of mags, right is modded pouch)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/DavePAL84/projects/blow001.jpg

I cut off the side-tops of the pouch (they were in the way when it was opened), painted the buckle red to indicate medical gear, and also did a red paracord wrap around the top webbing for the same.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/DavePAL84/projects/blow002.jpg

Eyelets were put on either side of the pouch for reasons which will become clear here in a bit.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/DavePAL84/projects/blow003.jpg
An ATS medical insert was used for the body. This insert allows for the contents on the pouch to be pulled out en masse (with one hand if necessary) and held together with elastic.

In the ATS insert I have the bare minimums and basics:
-latex gloves
-NPA and lubricant
-Celox and plunger for penetrating wounds
-Decompression needle
-Izzy bandage
-(2) HALO chest seals

Will this be enough for a squad? Absolutely not. Will this likely be enough for a single gunshot? Perhaps. Where is the tourniquet, one may say? Attached through the eyelets with rubber bands on the side of the pouch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/DavePAL84/projects/blow004.jpg

Depending on the pouch placement, the tourniquet can be reached from either hand if it comes to that.

Here’s what it looks like on the belt:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/DavePAL84/projects/blow005.jpg

Yes, with this pouch and contents it takes up the horizontal space of a double or triple magazine pouch but no more. When it lays flat it appears that either the draw of the medical pouch or the pistol hinders each other but that is only the perception as the belt is laying straight (and not around a body).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/DavePAL84/projects/blow006.jpg

And yes, I was forgetting something vital when taking these pictures. Here are the scissors (which fit nicely and out of the way into the webbing behind the pouch)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/DavePAL84/projects/blow007.jpg

[Evil Colt 6920]

Nicely done. Perfect timing too. I ordered what I need for a basic GSW kit today but wasn't sure how I was going to contain it, until now :) Very creative. Thanks for taking the time to post this, very helpful!

[krm375]

I have the Blue Force Gear, Trauma KIt Now, its a a little bulky in its carrier, so I have slightly modified it to make it a little slimmer, it fits neatly in a go bag or a cargo pocket. The IFAK from NARescue is another one that I have on standby as a sealed kit.

[airwayguru]

I have a HSGI Blowout Kit.

It contains 1 4" Isreali Trauma Dressing, 1 Z- Gauze, 1 Triangular Bandage, 2 Pair Cloves, 1 2" Medical Tape, and 1 NPA.

On the outside I have my EMT Shears and SOFT-T Tourniquet.

[dhrith]

That's a great looking little home job. Only thing i would humbly suggest is securing that tourniqet a little better.

[Dave_M]

That's a great looking little home job. Only thing i would humbly suggest is securing that tourniqet a little better.

Double-edged sword.

The rubber bands mean it doesn't sit as securely, which means it easy to just tear off quickly when you need it.

[calicojack]

can you pull that out with your other hand?

[BruceLeroy]

I like the kit. Could put it in a different location just in case the dominate arm/hand was injured but I love the idea.

[chuckman]

That looks great. Because I am a) cheap ass, and b) often lacking funds, I often make my own, so to speak, or at least improvise/adapt. One kit I made up I did with a $20 pouch and some med stuff I had laying around...a guy at a range liked it so much he offered me $100 for it.

[krisjon]

The Dark Angel Kit is very well put together and low profile, but not cheap for what it is.

[indawire]

Excellent, I've been thinking I could assemble something like that. This would make a nice winter project to get the parts together and go thru the leftover pouches for the right size. Thanks for the show and tell.

[K.L. Davis]

Nicely done! The reduction in size of the BOK is forefront with almost everyone; I am currently working on new low-profile trauma packs for two different companies... and the new IFAK at NATICK takes low-pro to a whole new level...

Pardon the pun.

[YO_Doc]

Unless the belt is attached to a plate carrier (think Crye STKSS) you can always rotate the belt with an uninjured hand to better get to what you need.

I also run the Dark Angle kit (the owner is a long time college and drinking buddy of mine, aka bias alert) and I have drug this kit through some nasty Central American jungle and through high mountains around home and everything is still safe inside of the kit. That security is work a bit if you ask me.

In the past I have had other vacuum wrapped med stuff who's package has been damaged and the bandages have become contaminated with water or other nasties. Granted this is easy to ID while inspecting your kit, but still something that I want to further reduce the worry about.

[Submariner]

Where did you purchase your decompression needle?