Thoughts on mixing boo-boo and trauma kits

[rob_s]

I'm talking about for a car or a range kit. Obviously on the one hand it's easier to have it all in one bag, but on the other hand you're more likely to be going into the bag for things like burn gel from brass burns and moleskin for blisters and band aids for paper cuts.

Are there kits/bags on the market that adequately separate the two? Maybe into halves or something? And which side should be the more readily accessible, the trauma stuff or the booboo? I can see an argument for making the booboo stuff more accessible so that the trauma supplies don't get disturbed, but then you have to take that extra second or two to get to them when it really matters while someone could easily wait for a band aid.

One thought I had was a tool box with a removable tool tray on top. Put the sissy stuff on top and the serious stuff on the bottom. That way there's no reason for someone to go digging around and disturbing the serious stuff since they'll see the sissy stuff right on top.

Are there bags out there that have two sides and that can be clearly labeled "trauma only" on one side and "sissy" on the other?

[Iraq Ninja]

Rob,

I really like the military first responder med bags for range use. You can buy them used on ebay for cheap, or new copies for around 20 bucks.

You can use the top section for your boo boo kit.

When I go to the range, I hang it up high behind me and let anyone near me know what it is. I really should mark the outside of it with a red cross. If I get shot, I don't want my last images of life being some guy admiring my nice bug out bag.

[rob_s]

I like the concept, and see lots of copies online. I would kind of prefer a more "open" series of pouches so that things can be more easily found without digging.

That's one thing I like about the tool box idea. Everything on the top shelf should be immediately visible and obvious as to what it is. I'd leave everything in it's boxes/packaging. Obviously this solution weighs more than a nylon bag and is less easily moved around.

[Gutshot John]

The design is of the old "Unit 1" from the Vietnam Era and is a very efficient setup.

If you're interested you can get a fully stocked one here...
http://www.qm-supply.com/zenstore/in...products_id=66

[BobM]

I have a red plastic tool box I'm using to build a home kit. It has some storage built into each end of the lid with clear plastic covers. One one side I put some commonly used items like band-aids and a thermometer. On the other side for the time being I've put a bloodstopper dressing.

I also have two of the 5.11 Tactical medical bags. It is about 6x6" and can be attached to molle gear if you want. It unzips to show two sides, covered by zippered mesh panels. You could put the serious stuff on one side and the everyday stuff on the other. They come in black, OD, and tan: I think they should also offer them in red. I've got one attached to a rifle case and the other rides in my car.

[ST911]

I use several TT FRBs. The zipper pouch on the top of the bag is excellent for boo-boo items. The lid to the main compartment unzips and folds back allowing full access to the inside. Large enough to be really useful, small enough to go anywhere. The newest version is also covered in PALS on the outside, allowing attachement of accessory pouches to expand capacity if needed.

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/firstresponderbag.aspx

Recommended.

Having boo-boo items separate, or readily separable, is handy.

[rob_s]

Something like the BattleLab LLMO – Low Level Medical Operator Bagseems like it might be a good solution, although I'm not exactly sure if this is too big, and it's certainly pretty pricey.





Or even something like a smaller (and hopefully much less expensive) version of the Blackhawk S.T.O.M.P. 2 Medical Coverage Bag (Jumpable) where you could put sissy stuff in the outer pouch, trauma stuff in the inner.

[Gutshot John]

Disregard.

[rob_s]

I agree completely that both of those appear to be overkill, however I like the way that they are accessed and the way they separate the contents. What I think I'm looking for is a bag of similar style with easy access to everything and with everything visible but in a smaller size.

Best way to think of what I'm trying to achieve is a single bag that contains sissy kit items in one easy-to-view compartment, and trauma kit items in another easy-to-view compartment. I want to be able to access one without accessing the other.

This will largely be a range/car kit, so the sissy section will conceivably be accessed several times a month, or at least once a week. People are always getting burned by brass, splinters from wood props, tagged with ricochets off steel, etc. Band aids of various sizes, moleskin, regular medical tape to hold the band aids on in weird spots, burn gel for the brass burns, and maybe some other light first-aid type things like an ace bandage. Basically anything for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. If it winds up being the car kit then chances are good I'll wind up patching up the kid and his friends (or me and my friends) in various ill-advised off-range adventures as well. In other words, the sissy section will need to have a variety of types and sizes, will probably be accessed and need re-stocking frequently, and will potentially be accessed a lot.

The trauma section should have the usual GSW items that I have in my BOK (see the other thread) in doubles or triple quantities and in larger sizes (4" Oales in the BOK, 6" in this kit, plus an abdominal pad), at least two TQs inside and one on the exterior of the bag, hemostatic agents, etc. This section could also conceivably contain items that are beyond my current level of training in case someone that knows more than me has to use the kit. This section would be accessed potentially (hopefully!) never other than once a year to check contents & restock as needed due to expiration and/or wear of contents. I'd like to have enough in this section to treat at least two GSW victims, or two car-crash survivors, but not attempting to carry everything but the kitchen sink (I'm not planning on anything like this thing for example).

That's why I initially asked if maybe I should just keep them separate. I prefer the idea of one bag, but with the totally opposite needs (weekly access vs. never access) I'm not sure if it's a good idea to combine them or not.

[Iraq Ninja]

Rob,

Those bags are really big for your intended use and experience. Big bags mean you tend to put more stuff in them to fill them up. That makes them a bit more complex and thus harder to find stuff at times. Less is more for average Joes like us.

I prefer to have a shoulder strap on my med kits, so you can carry the kit and the patient if need be.