After months of working on my Disaster Survival Kit (PSK?), I've got it close to where I think it ought to be. At the risk of embarassment, etc., I am posting the list of the kit here for your collective comments and review. This PSK is intended to be comprehensive and cover any number of situations, from the desolate Southwestern United States to the urban Northeastern U.S. Items that might not be useful in one locale are, nevertheless, stored in the pack and are removeable as necessity dictates.

The PSK, contained in an OD Tactical Tailor Three Day "Assault Pack" , is as follows:

MEDICAL GROUP
(Supplemented Adventure Medical Kits, "Fundamentals" - Packed in Tactical tailor "First Responder" Bag)
No. Description (Needed if 0)
1 "Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness Medicine"
1 "Illustrated Guide to Emergencies"
1 "Ditch Medicine" by H.L. Coffee
1 "SAM" Splint
1 CPR Barrier MicroShield
1 EMT Shears
1 Non-Mercury Thermometer
1 Hyperthermia Thermometer
1 Sawyer Extractor Kit
1 Roll, Duct Tape - 10 ft.
1 Splinter Picker Forceps
3 Double Antibiotic Ointment
6 Antiseptic Towelettes
2 Tincture of Benzoin
1 20cc. Irrigation Syringe
2 Povidone Iodine Solution (1oz.)
10 Wound Closure Strips
1 Moleskin, 7"x4"
2 Spenco 2nd® Skin, 1.5" x 2"
1 Nonwoven Adhesive Knit Bandage 7" x 4"
8 Nitrile Examination Gloves
2 Sterile Latex Gloves
2 Antimicrobial Hand Wipes
1 Infectious Control Bag
13 4"x4", 2"x2" Sterile Dressings
3 Non-adherent Sterile Dressing (3x4)
1 Adhesive Tape 10 yards ( 1")
13 Strip & Knuckle Bandages
3 5"x9" Trauma Pads
2 Conforming Gauze Bandage (3")
16 Cotton Tipped Applicators
1 Elastic Bandage w/ Velcro® (3")
1 Triangular Bandage
1 Stockinette Bandage
2 Eye Pads
8 Extra Strength Tylenol®
4 Antihistamine
8 Motrin®
1 Aloe Vera Gel 100%
3 Safety Pins
1 Accident Report & Pencil
2 Pill Vials
1 Bag of Sugar
1 Nonwoven Adhesive Knit Bandage 7" x 4"
1 SAT Strap (Self-applied Tourniquet)
8 Diphenhydramine, 25 mg.
6 Pseudoephedrine, 60 mg.
14 IOSAT Potassium Iodide Tablets, 130 mg.
1 500 ml, 0.9% Sodium Chloride Irrigation
20 Advil Ibuprophin Tablets, 200 mg.
4 Petrolatum Gauze, 3"x18"
1 Xerofrom Petrolatum Dressing, 5"x9"
2 Stretch Bandage, 3"x75"
1 "Coban" Self-adhesive Wrap, 3"x80"

SIGNALLING DEVICES GROUP
No. Description (Needed if 0)
2 Motorola 5820 GMRS Radios (in charger w/NiCd batts.)
1 Ultimate Survival Signal Mirror, 2"x3"
1 "Wind Storm" Emergency Whistle
0 MS2000 Emergency Stobe 1

EMERGENCY DEVICES GROUP
No. Description (Needed if 0)
1 Emerson Mini CQC-7
1 Sterling "Superior Sharpener"
1 Model "S" Serrated Knife Sharpener
1 Leatherman PST - Black Oxide
1 Blackhawk Nylon Case for PST/6P
1 NATO Wind/waterproof Matches (25 pk.)
1 Magnesium Fire Starter
1 Mil-spec Candle
1 Mil-spec. Survival Saw
1 Fishing Kit, Survival MIL-F-6218C (ASG) W/electrical Tape wrapping
1 Mil-spec.Gill Net
1 Mil-spec Snare
1 Mil-spec Emergency Water Bag
1 Silva Smoke Jumper Compass
1 Mil-spec Angle Flashlight 2 extra bulbs, red, blue filter.
4 Cyalume 12-hour Lightstick, Green
1 Surefire 6P Flashlight, Case, Spares, Extra Bulb.
1 "Photon" Micro Light Uses CR2016 batteries
1 Suunto "Comet" Micro Compass With thermometer.

SHELTER AND PERSONAL PROTECTION GROUP
No. Description (Needed if 0)
1 Mil-spec Space Blanket
1 Mil-spec Poncho
1 Mil-spec Poncho Liner
1 Bandana, OD
1 Bandana, Orange
0 Pair Leather Gloves 1
1 Mil-spec. Insect Repellent, DEET

WATER AND FOOD GROUP
No. Description (Needed if 0)
1 Camebak "Storm" 100 oz. Capacity; in pack.
1 Vial, "Portable Aqua" Iodine Tablets (50)
3 Meals, Ready to Eat Assorted
3 Mil-spec. MRE Heaters
4 Power Bars Assorted
0 Tea Bags 4
0 Bullion Cubes 8
0 Titanium "Spork" 1
0 Lighter 1
0 Sponges 2

BATTERIES
No. Description (Needed if 0)
4 Duracell "D" Batteries
12 Duracell "AA" Batteries
4 Maxell CR2016 Lithium Cells, 3 Volt
6 Duracell 123 Lithium Cells, 3 Volt In Surefire case w/6P bulb.

MISCELLANEOUS/MULTI-PURPOSE GROUP
No. Description (Needed if 0)
100 Feet, Mil-spec. "550" Cord, OD
1 Roll, Duct Tape, 100', OD
4 Cable Ties, 11"
8 Cable Ties, 8"
15 Cable Ties, 4"
2 Garbage Bags, Large
3 Ziploc Bags, Medium
4 Ziploc Bags, Small
1 Mil-spec. Sewing Kit, OD
1 Mil-spec. Towel, OD
1 Bushnell, Magnifying Lens
1 Timex Watch OD Nylon Strap
1 Collins SAS Pocket Survival Guide
1 "Rite in the Rain" Tactical Field Book Bound, 160 pp.
1 "Rite in the Rain" Tactical Bullet Pen
1 ADC "City Slicker" Map of W.D.C. Laminated
1 ADC "State Slicker" Map of Virginia Laminated
1 ADC "State Slicker" Map of MD, Delaware Laminated
1 ADC Map of DE, MD, VA, WV Paper
1 Asst. Maps of Emergency Destinations
1 Grundig "Mini World" 100 PE Radio AM, FM, SW1-6; earphones.
1 Tactical Tailor "3-Day" Assault Pack, OD Orange nylon internal fabric
1 Ultmate Survival "Hard Cache" Case All-weather, plastic case. 1 Ranger Joe's "Pro" Map Case

PERSONAL EFFECTS
No. Description (Needed if 0)
1 Set, House, Truck Keys
100 Dollars, includes roll of quarters.
1 Credit Card 0 outstanding balance.
1 Calling Card Minimum $20.
0 Passport 1
0 Birth Certificate 1
1 List of emergency contacts, phone nos.

PERSONAL SUPPLIES GROUP
No. Description (Needed if 0)
1 Roll, Toilet Paper
0 Pair, Prescription Glasses 1
2 Pair, Contact Lenses
1 Saline Solution and Case
1 Bar, Neutrogena Soap
1 Deodorant
1 Toothbrush
1 Toothpaste

Note: There are a few things one will not see on the list. Most prominent are firearms. If needed, the firearms would be a Remington 870 Police Magnum with night sights, 00 buck and slug; and a 1911 in .45 ACP (what else) with 230 gr. ball.

I seek your comments on how I can improve my kit.

atty_guy

you usually don't call such a kit as PSK ( EDC,everday carried typed survival kit, usually in small container ) they called it a BOB ( bug out bag, a kit you grab wenn you have to bug out )

add good fixed main blade and you got to many battery's, try to limit the type of battery you use.
some rechargeble battery's would be nice 2, with a charger ofcorse.. add some BIC lighters and a p-38 or other type of non-electric canopener.
can't think of anything else yet...

Looks pretty complete,nice job!

A couple of things that i have in my packs that i don't think i saw on your list that you may want to consider are:
sunscreen - can also be used as a moisturizer in a pinch.
salt- {from a previous post of mine}-good for:
-brushing teeth
-mouth rinse for cankers and the like
-eye wash saline( half teaspoon salt to 1 cup clean water)
-ingrown toenail fix(make a paste with salt,apply and put
bandage over,stings for a minute but works great)
-taken with water ,mildly diluted,can help relieve effects of heat exhaustion(cramps,headache,faintness,etc..)
-and for food!

Something else that you may want to consider is the"bag within a bag" approach (if you haven't already,your list didn't mention another bag ,i think), which i believe was discussed recently in the forum. If you're in a hurry and have to ditch stuff, you may not have time to pick through your pack for the things you feel you have to have.In the top of my BOB pack i have a secondary pack ,that's much smaller and lighter than the main pack,with shoulder strap and waist strap(both good if you have to run for it).My secondary pack contain:
the majority of the medical supplies,small bottle water,4 energy bars,dust mask,goggles,some duct tape,twine,2garbage bags,2emergency bankets,change,small pocket knife,wire saw,toothbrush,1/2 roll tp,personal items,etc...

Something that i don't see in most peoples pack lists is a list!
I know thatsometimes i won't touch my pack for a few months and i forget what all i have in there(maybe you don't have this problem.ha),so i keep a list on the ol' computer that's easily updated,and i keep a laminated(sort of laminated-plastic page sleeves sealed with packing tape) copy in a side pocket of the main pack.

<img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

A couple of comments on the medical aspects of your kit. First, I would trim out some of the duplicate bandaging and dressing stuff. There is virtually nothing that cannot be dressed with simple conforming gauze (Kling) and a couple of 4x4's. Plain old bandaids are fine. No need for a bunch of different kinds.

We have discussed the pro's and cons of steri strips and suturing in the field in this forum. There is really no need for steri strips in your kit. I don't carry them.

Regarding the CPR mask. I would not carry it. There is very little utility for CPR in the field. CPR is effective for the immediate (short-term) response in the case of sudden cardiac death pending arrival of ALS. Prolonged CPR is futile.

CPR in those suffering hypoxia, metabolic acidosis, or exsanguination as the pre-terminal event is pointless. CPR cannot dig the victim out of the deep metabolic hole they are in as a result of the cause of the arrest.

I would not recommend (and don't carry) thermometers. The information that you obtain likely will not change what you do. If someone has a fever, will you treat them with an antibiotic? If someone is obviously sick, will you take them to a doctor regardless of knowing or not knowing their temperature? If someone has mental status changes after immersion, will you change your treatment based upon their temperature? A temperature is useful information to a point. There is also the health risk associated with liquid mercury from a broken thermometer. (I lay awake at night wondering what I might have been without the brain damage suffered while playing with silver balls of mercury as a child from broken thermometers <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

I would not carry both sterile and non-sterile gloves. I would, as you did, stick to nitrile gloves on the outside chance of a latex allergy. Why try and keep sterile gloves sterile? What will you use them for?

I would not carry either a Sawyer extractor (snake bites are not very common and even more uncommonly a threat to life) or a pre-fashioned tourniquet. Doug and I have had some off-line communications regarding the premade tourniquets.

In five years of surgery residency at a level I trauma center and another 15 years of experience in emergency medicine, I cannot remember more than a few patients who required a tourniquet in the field. I would recommend that if you want to have something to use to make a tourniquet, carry a cravat (triangular bandage) and plan on using that. In this way, you will not be too quick to use it. The military has a different need for tourniquets in battle due to the high energy weapons and explosives like mines. Fortunately, things we have little exposure to in civilian life.

Finally, I would encourage you to "field strip" your MRE's. In the military, we open up our MRE's to remove all of the junk that you neither need nor want. Simply deflating the outer bag reduces the bulk significantly.

I hope that you don't regard this communication as a flame <img src="images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />.

It is my intent to simply offer an informed opinion. It is my experience that first-aiders will try and carry a lot of stuff to reassure themselves. As providers become more experienced, they carry less stuff as they are confident in their ability ( and experienced enough to know what they need and don't need <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />)

Most important thing to remember is that training and education will make all the difference. Take an EMT course, volunteer with your local rescue squad or fire department. Get involved!!

Sorry this posting is so long......

Jeff

Is your first aid kit based on Ray Mears' from his book 'Bushcraft'? If not, it is very similar. I am currently putting together one based on his kit. He also mentions carrying water purification tablets in you medical kit, but as you already carry them in the rest of your kit, it doesn't really matter.
Good kit.

Dr. Anderson:

First, let me say that I do not take your advice as a flame. It is hard to judge tone and intent from printed words on a screen, but I believe I understand your tone and intent as being positive and helpful. <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I asked for advice on what was good and bad with the kit. I've talked to some, read a lot, and tried to research every angle. I've had some training too, but not enough. What I didn't have, until your post and others posts, was direct feedback on what I've done so far. Thank you very much.

Second, some additional information that may or may not affect your advice. Firearms training is a more or less regular thing. This can be on the East coast, Southeast, or Southwest. I do spend time outdoors, and when doing so, I'm typically in rural environments. I have had occasion to come across a lot of really bad snakes, spiders, and even crocodiles in the places I've been. And ticks are problem in most of these places as well. Haven't come across mountain lions or bears yet, but that's a matter of time and going farther North and West. And to reiterate, the intent behind the gear is to have everything for any given trip/experience in one place.

Third, I absolutely agree on additional traing. My first responder first aid training has expired and I'm going to get recertified soon. I've thought about an EMT course and volunteer work, but for work-related reasons, probably only the training is possible.

Thanks very much for the first aid kit advice. I will be removing some stuff from the bag. I am not sure about removing the Sawyer Extractor kit, given the bugs and snakes i've encountered, though if I'd be interested to hear your further thoughts, either on or offline, on the subject. Finally, Dr., I don't think your post is long at all. This is great stuff and of value to many others besides me. Again, thank you.

atty_guy

P.S. The SAT strap was givent to me by a Navy Corpsman who developed it in his work. Ex-sanguination is an unlikely thing for me, but I had the device and so put it in with the other medical gear. It beat putting it in a drawer or box somewhere. . . .

Also, I must have played with more mercury as a child than you, I could only get to a J.D., and not an M.D. <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

The book and original medical kit are by Adventure Medical Kits and Dr. Eric Weiss. Ditch Medicine I got separately through Amazon Books . It is also available through Safety Central . This book was a referral from a former soldier friend.

Looks like a great start, hopefully I'll be able to get around to posting my almost finished kit on here for review in the next few weeks.
One thing I didn't see on your list that I find very useful is a watch cap. Also, you might want to consider keeping a change of clothes (a set of utilities would be a my choice) and a pair of boots in or right next to your kit in case you happen to be dressed, oh I don't know, like a lawyer <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (sorry, I just had to throw that in there)

Hope this helps,
Chris.

Great idea on the salt. I may add some to the kit!

As for the bag within a bag idea, I've been thinking about this. I've kicked around whether I need one bag to hold these things, with the resultant time savings from grabbing that bag minus the space loss and weight gain from having that bag, versus taking a little more time to grab one or two containers and one or two sealed lock-tite plastic bags and stuffing them into coat/shirt/pants pockets. My struggle here is that I can't see when there would be a convergence of a shortness of time and a need to go very light. The only scenario I can envision would be if I were being chased by someone. Am I missing something here? Any other scenario that I envision allows me to take the whole bag with me. If I've got to lighten up, I ought to have time to do so and put in the pockets of my coat or pants whatever is most essential. BTW, this "essential" stuff would be in the hard cache or in plastic bags.

Lists are a great thing and yes I have them! That's where I got the list of stuff I posted. I just neglected to mention the list on the list!

I think that: Either Ray Mears based his kit on theirs or he used one of their kits.
thanks for the reply