I'm looking for ways to carry small amounts of OTC meds in first aid kits. 10-20 doses of basic things like ibuprofen. Possible a small box/ bottle? Most of I find is too big.

I haven't done this for a first aid kit, but would a small, empty prescription pill bottle work for you? That is what I use when I travel somewhere.

I have also seen (although expensive) packages of 1-2 ibuprofen, Immodium, Tylenol, that sort of thing in the area of a drugstore that sells travel size products.

Hope that helps.

LW

Where they sell wallets I found an plastic device that is intended to hold pictures or IDs in a wallet. It has eight pockets and each easily holds a half-dozen pills. Folded, held folded with a band, this one intended to hold hair, it fits in a small dry bag.

A challenge: you, anyone using your kit, and any law enforcement need to know instantly what you are carrying, which makes the single dose travel packets attractive, but the packaging-to-content volume in a small PFAK or FAK is not attractive.

I sometimes find Advil and Tylenol in small cases that are bit smaller than a shot shell and come with ten of either and a lot of empty space. Walmart also has small bottles of both in their housebrand that come with 50 tablets in a 1" diameter x 1.25-ish tall, that you can add about 40-50 more to.

In the past I use a small plano organizer like these. I wrote in black marker (super-fine tip sharpie) on the outer case what each med was, then to make things easier I either used a small sticky label or a small piece of index card on the divider to identify each medication, dose and exp date.

Since finding minimus.biz I stopped using this method for my kits, but I still carry my OTC meds like this in my briefcase.

I do recommend a rubber band to make sure it stays shut. These cases are pretty secure, but in my case it is a reminder to shut the darn case all the way.

I use these Pill Pouches, found at CVS or Walgreens:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp140274/ezy_dose/pill_pouch.htm
They are heavy duty and have a good zip lock.Works for my FAKs and carying meds in my work/travel.

I scan and print the labels and tuck the copy in the bags so security can see easily what each bag holds.

For a heavier duty approach I've used bison tubes:
http://www.bisondesigns.com/products/25

The small altoids tins work (not the standard, "PSK" size). I use the little tubes as well - 10 packs of Advil, Tylenol, etc. Concievably, empty chapstick tubes. Tic-tac containers.

For single types of medications, I've found that the small camping/travel bottles work like a charm. The screw top ones are unlikely to open own their own.
http://www.rei.com/category/40006333

For specialized pill organizers...
http://www.forgettingthepill.com/organizers.html

I took a small medicine bottle (about the size of shotgun shell), made a four-way divider out of thin cardboard, and then put in Immodium, Tylenol, Motrin, and Benadryl. I have put the names of the meds, their colors, and the basic dosing on a label. The question is whether it would pass the LE test? I guess it would depend on the officer. Considering it is in a backpack with other specific gear, maybe. For on person carry I would stick with single packs.

I occasionally cruise the travel med section of pharmacies and try to find the smallest OTC labeled bottles for my FAK - relatively unbreakable plastic bottles are a plus. I use clear tape, contact paper, or nail polish to help the label survive.

[Off topic: For prescription meds all you can do is ask the pharmacy staff for their smallest container. Treat the label the same. Be sure the prescription is current!]

Hospitals use small plastic sterile evacuated tubes for blood collection. some have chemicals in them-heparin, edta, or a gel to preserve, anti-coagulate, or separate the serum for lab use-but the red ones are usually chemical free, and will hold a single column of motrin. It's a waterproof, crush resistant, relatively compact solution. These items have expiration dates on them, and are often discarded as they out-date-usually can be had for the asking. I have also fabricated some waterproof containers from empty liter IV fluid bags-cut the top off, dry, add FAK, fold the top over three times and clamp with binder clips. it's a low cost version of the aloksak technology, and has proven more durable than similar contrivances using ziplok bags.

Good point : label everything clearly including dose and exp. date.

I'll post photos of some possible solutions.

Teacher

During my latest trip to the jungles of northern Thailand, I kept all my meds in small ziplock bags which then was kept in an Otterbox. For me that worked great.

I have found that just about any of the OTC containers, once you remove the inner foil seal, do not work well to preserve and protect the contents from humidity, oxygen and permit them to loose effectiveness fairly quickly. This is especially true if they are carried in a kit and subjected to changes in temp. and humidity.

The solution that works for me is not a med. container, but match cases, specifically the orange plastic screw top ones with the black plastic/rubber ring between the top and the case. Made by Coghlan's (no affiliation) and probably others. See: http://www.coghlans.com/products/plastic-match-box-8746

It holds a reasonable number of pills and keeps them safe and dry. A bit of duct tape and a marker will label them for you, or, as I do just mark the top.

I have yet to find anything better in any "made for the purpose" pill case, all of which seem to let more or less air into the case causing the meds to loose effectiveness quickly.

The only other realistic alternative is the individually sealed foil packets of pills.

I found very small zip lock bags in a craft store. They're intended for beads or tiny parts. Some might put illegal substances in them....

I put OTC meds in these, labeled with a sharpie, and I cut out the name portion of the original package. I put prescription drugs in them, and affix the label that goes on the original bottle. Pharmacists will print an extra label for you if you ask.

Then everything goes into a air/water/crush proof box like an otter box.

Particularly for meds that I might hand out on request, the travel packets are the way to go.

I've kept the containers for the travel dramamine, advil, tylenol, aleve etc.....they are the perfect size and relatively watertight. They survive an extended dunking though I will admit one didn't last the washing machine.... not surprised though. It was also old so that may have contributed to the seal leaking. I scrape off the label and write my own. Compact and very durable.

After being pulled over for speeding, the son of a client was arrested, prosecuted, fined, and is on three years probation because he was found with pills in a bottle whose label was worn off. This was considered a separate offense.

It that turned out the pills were the last of an expired painkiller prescription. Possession of these was considered a second and separate offense.

The county prosecuted under federal drug laws that the U.S. Attorney for the jurisdiction declined to prosecute.

Even getting the doctor to verify the original prescription and to write a new, current prescription was considered by the court to be no defense.

I do not want to be arrested pending a report from the lab on what kind of pills I am carrying. Original packages and labels in all my FAKs. Only current prescription meds in original containers with legible labels.

It's the same where I live. If it's not OTC then you better have it in it's original bottle with legible label, if not, then they arrest you and carry you to jail and give you the line " explain it to the judge".


I've carried spare batteries and loose change in those little plastic bags when I go hiking/camping and have for years. Never had any luck carrying meds because they get squashed or rub together and make a chalky mess in the bag. Eventually the bottom of the bag will split open and the contents released. Even the hard cases and capsules will allow meds to loosely bump around, so make sure you pack a little cotton in whatever you use.

I put all my OTC meds in a small zip-lock pill baggie I got in bulk from the drug store. EDC I carry 12 Ibuprofen, 12 Acetaminophen, 12 Loperamide and 8 Diphen. I always carry my FAK in an outside pocket of my bag or pack for quick access, where it isn't likely to get crushed.

Last week I got this idea for identification: I placed one of each pill on the scanner of my all-in-one printer, numbers facing down, and scanned into the computer. I inserted the scan into MS-Word, cropped and scaled it to fit, and typed in the name and dose instructions next to each pill. Then I printed this, trimmed the paper and inserted into the bag with the pills. I've only done this with my camping FAK so far but plan to do the others soon. I'll post a photo later Here's a photo:



I'm going to do the same thing for my prescription meds. My understanding is you can carry a limited supply of Rx meds "for current use" in other than original packaging. At least I hope this is true, because my health insurance makes me get a 90-day supply from a mail order pharmacy, and those bottles can get huge.