What is the best way to repackage medication for first aid kits?

It would be nice to find some compact, waterproof way to keep a few pills of each kind. Identification also a need.

I got some single dose meds but each pill is in a treated paper envelope package that takes up too much room.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Pills in little baggies with handmade or no labels are suspect by those with guns and badges. Also, finding small food-grade containers could prove expensive. However, I did jam some OTC meds in a 1x2 baggie intended for beads for my EDC (see photo gallery). If I didn't have a tube-centric set-up I would probably just buy the manufactured packs to save the hassle. Yes, a little spendy and space intensive, but it could save the hassles.

Whatever container you decide to use, I would suggest you remove the prescription label from the pill bottle or tab sheet and reapply it to the new container.

This is easy to do, just soak the label sticker with lighter fluid, let it soak for a min and peal it off with a knife and reapply it to the new container. The lighter fluid will soften the glue easily and allow you to remove it with no problems.


I find that in a few months I forget what a pill is and is for if I don’t do this.

I use ziplock med bags, most pharmacies sell them. Ask your pharmacist for duplicate label and just put them on the bags (cover the label with clear tape if moisture contamination is a risk). Like these: http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.j...;id=prod1491358

They make ziploc type baggies from 1x1 inch on up. The companies that sell them usually do so in 1000 or 10,000 sized lots. A bit much for most of us. But at many flea markets there is usually someone that sells them in smaller lots. Normally for only a couple of bucks.

Another Idea is to use straws. But that depends upon the the pill size. Fold the ends and glue shut.

How to do this can be found at Packets

Small zip-lock bags with an area designed to be written on. A industrial sharpie for the label. The baggies go into an insulating and padding sleeve made from alumanized bubble-wrap held together with foil tape and this rides in coated nylon ziper pouch that I have saturated with silicone water repellant so it is pretty moisture resitant.

If I'm hiking in the rainy season, canoing of expecting to cross water I slip the nylon zipper bag into a large zip-lock to add another layer of protection.

I asked the pharmacy about labels for some of my prescription, for repack - I was told NO WAY (it was for a controlled prescription)

One trick for the single packs - get a "seal a meal" - make a small slit in the pack at an edge, pump it down, reseal. They get a LOT smaller

I think I was able to buy the 1.5 inch ziplocs with a white label area (use a sharpie or a regular ballpoint) at Walgreens. A box of 100 was pretty cheap.

Luckily I have a vacuum food saver. I can make a nice, neat set of packets for the pills or anything else that I want to keep dry.

Keeping in mind that it can be illegal to repackage certain "pills," and if you don't want a large amount of any given item, you can use one of those seven day "pill keepers," that are available in any drug store. Fill each little compartment with any given pill, using something like a Brother label maker to label each compartment. For easy access and re-sealing, put the keeper in a quart sized ziploc bag, roll the bag around the length of the keeper, then put a rubber band around the whole thing, doubling it over and over 'til it is snug around the entire length of the keeper. For longer storage put the keeper in a vacuum bag and seal it...

Thanks for the suggestions.

Wish I had a vacuum sealer.

By the way, I use those small colored elastic hair band loops (less than 1 inch in diameter) rather than rubber bands doubled over for small stuff.

I found this at Walmart for $1.50 in their trial size/travel section. Might not be what you want.




[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/lehiman/Temp/photo#5203227393703548482[/img]
[img]http://picasaweb.google.com/lehiman/Temp/photo#5203227393703548498[/img]

Thanks.

Vacuum sealer sounds like the way to go for lots of stuff.

By the way, I use supermarket bought small hair loops about 1/2 inch in diameter before stretched to secure small stuff.

Those hair goodies should be great. For some reason I don't have any of them around tho...

I have just as much of a tendency to be a gram-weenie or cubic centimeter-weenie as the next guy but you have to draw the line somewhere. Prepackaged meds are it for me. I will leave my prescriptions in the package from the pharmacy. I would probably just purchase the individual packs of the OTC in bulk and deal with it from there. The little bit of space "lost" is not that big a deal. Besides, if I have that many prescription meds to worry about I would be carrying something larger than a cell phone case or small digital camera pouch for my EDC.

Someone said a headshop. You know, I haven't seen one in it's got to be nearly 30 years (over 25 anyway). Guess I don't hang around in the "right" places

dweste,

Now that I think about it, how much are you looking to package? A course of antibiotics like a Z pac? Some painkillers?

Mike

I re-use small travel size med continers for Advil and Aleve and use my label maker to mark them for their contents.
I also re-used the glass vials (which are available on the 'net new..I just forgot where) I got my new contacts in. My eye doctor also gave me a couple he had sitting around. They are about 1" high and about 3/4 inch in diameter. For small pills I can store 15 to 30 doses in these.
Pill size is a clear issue. But generally I try to get the smallest container I can put the most pills in.
I never travel with less than 30 days of personal meds. And generally have at least a weeks worth all the time.
My FAKs have a stash too.
Pain meds etc ...well ...the volume seems subjective to me and I rarely use them ...but I know in any emergency scenario that will change. But for now, all my FAKs have travel size containers stuffed full ... they normally only come with 10 pills and are only about half full.

Dweste:

You can find small glass vials as well as plastic ones on the web at places like vials and baggies . Both of these websites have been listed here before though the second seems in line with the aforementioned head shop. I hope this is of some assistance to you. Normally, you can repackage most meds and not worry about LEO's. The ones you cannot are the controlled meds like Vicodin etc.

Take care,

Stargazer

Thanks, all.

You guys just don't know where to shop.

The place for little ziplock bags is American Science & Surplus (http://www.sciplus.com). Just type 'Itty Bitty Ziplocks' in the search box.

They also have ziptop carry-on bags for TGA inspection, with handles at the top so you don't have to carry them in your teeth (that's what it said!). Type in 'zip carry-ons' in the box.

Or just type in 'bags' and see everything. Then try 'military', then 'flashlights', 'containers' etc. They also have battery chargers, solar panels, adapters, batteries, mylar emergency blankets and sleeping bags, etc.

They also have a catalog that's great for killing time while you're waiting for things or people.

Sue