I'm a fan of first aid kits, but tend to see the same mistakes again and again -

1. Too big. I have one thats fatter than a hardcover book - and its for backpacking! Think small.

2. No universal precautions. At a minimum, gloves.

3. Lack of some very basic tools. Tiny flashlight, mirror, tweezers, scissors, pencil

4. Disorganized. If a stranger flips open your FAK, can she immediately find what she needs? Collect like items together and label.

5. Not clear from the container what it is.I like red containers with a cross on them.

6. Not packaged in plastic. Most should be dustproof, if not waterproof.

7. No instructions. With relevant phone numbers.

Teacher

To get the best bang for the buck, you may have to go big. For a small kit, you have to pay a lot or buy one that is cheap in quality or is lacking.

As for tools, you are buying a first aid kit, not a survival kit.

Jeanette Isabelle

No flashlights in FAKs is a personal pet peeve of mine, and it never ceases to amaze me that I'm forever advised to remove them whenever I share the contents of my FAKs. A headlamp is best, IMO, but an LED at minimum is in all of mine. Doing first aid in poor light is terrible to impossible, not to mention that it can be helpful in assessing head injuries, and drug-induced reactions.

I think that a FAK should be able to stand alone , apart from a PSK or other gear, not for survival, but for casualty assessment and care. A little light, water, blanket... all essentials to a good kit, IMO, unless it's just a boo boo kit.

It's hard to get those essentials in a pocket sized kit, and frankly, I'd rather go with something more comprehensive when I'm looking at being in a self reliant situation for any amount of time.

I am interested in your thoughts as it applies to the first aid kits I build; it would be best to address that in the thread I started. Thank you.

Jeanette Isabelle

You got it, Jeanette Isabelle!

I mostly just read your thread on wilderness FAKs because we've got so many more experienced people here. I'm learning a tonne from y'all. Thanks!

Is there a good source for one page of First Aid instructions?

can you post a link?

I heartily agree with you that a flashlight, preferably a headlamp, is a very important article when treating a victim,but I don't usually stash one in my kits;I routinely have one as EDC nearly all the time. I prefer to think of a "FAK" as the sum total of the knowledge, skills and items that a responder or bystander will bring to bear on the situation.

For starters, I always carry four or five band aids in my wallet and a reasonably clean red bandanna in my left hip pocket. On my key ring in my right front pocket is a good dependable light (Fenix LD01). When I need to go beyond the band aid, I do have a formal FAK with Ace bandages, gauze pads, etc - about 8"x3"x5, weighing about 10 oz. And then there are ancillary items that can be used in a FA context - the aluminum stays in my backpack with predrilled holes that can serve as splints, for example, or the samll headlamp that I usually carry. This would include the stove and cook set I would typically be packing. Most importantly, I try and keep current in my training - I recertified in CPR for the umpteenth time a couple of months ago Fortunately I have a fair amount of treatment experience as a result of SAR activities - that is worth a whole lot of equipment.

More often than not when you are faced with a serious situation, you will be forced to improvise or adapt. Nurture that ability.

I don't understand FAKs without some basic tools like tweezers, light, cutting implement, and a magnifier of some sort.

Most of the FAKs I see have a lot of things of dubious value in them like a bunch of small adhesive bandages so they can increase the item count. 50 1/2 inch wide bandages really is not worth much in the real world. better to have five bigger ones that can do the job of the smaller ones. The smaller ones can't do the job of the bigger ones.

I am not a huge fan of things like triple antibiotic ointment either. way too many people are allergic to it and it really does not serve much purpose. a small tube of vasoline serves more purposes, costs a lot less, and has no risk of allergic reaction.

a lot of people include things like pencils in their FAKs but nothing suitable to write on. I am not completely convinced that you need writing material in your FAK, but if you do, some water proof paper is probably a good idea.

the problem is that you can end up with a lot of stuff in a FAK this way, and that encourages one to start skimping. maybe best to rely on having the needed stuff available, but not all in the FAK pouch. I have gravitated that way over the years.

I don't worry about big bandages anymore. I do carry at least one clean hanky in my pack and a microfiber towel that will make adequate bandages if necessary, and can also serve other purposes. and take up a lot less room.

I think most are too big - often the size ( and weight) of a hardcover book. I want something carry able and packable...unless some specific situation calls for it, pocket sized