DS's Boy Scout troop will be assembling their personal First Aid Kits soon. A local bank donated a decent starter kit in a nice little plastic case that is about 5.5 inches by 4 inches by 1.5 inches. There are a few key items that need to be added, one of which is a pair of scissors. I am looking at these but DW says folding scissors aren't very good. I'm thinking the folding scissors should be fine as they will only be used to cut moleskin, tape, and maybe gauze. What do you all think? I am definitely open to any suggestions for alternatives. I know First Aid supplies are not really a place one should skimp on quality, but as we are a new troop with limited funds right now, cost conscious suggestions would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance for any replies/help.

Mark,

I don't know about these, I have seen good ones and usless ones. Gauze is often a real test for scissors. Many good ones are not tight enough to cut it. I prefer a bandage scissor in my FAK like these I bought from Survival Resources:

http://www.survivalresources.com/store/product.php?productid=17733&page=1

They also have folding scissors, but they are even more expensive (5.95 vs 2.95 vs 1.00 for the ones you are looking at). Since they seem to have a good return policy, it might be worth trying.


No association except as a happy customer.


Respectfully,

Jerry

Small EMT Shears should fit:

Small EMT Shears

I have used them much as I do large ones.

I like the idea of the small EMT shears, but if those aren't small enough, try Coghlans folding scissors. I have a set and they work quite well on small stuff. They fold up so that all the sharps are contained, no worries about things being inadvertently damaged.

For heavier applications the EMT shears will probably serve you better.

How many scouts will EDC something likr s SAK Classic or a PS4? I find the scissors on either of those quite good for cutting tape (actually teach them how to rip tape) an similar. It would not be routine, but sometimes you will want to cut clothing, and you can't beat EMT shears for that....

I should probably mention that their patrol and troop first aid kits will have more and better tools in them for larger emergencies, such as the emt shears for cutting clothing. This is for their personal first aid kits, which includes tape, moleskin, and gauze pads so pretty sure they only intended for the scissors to be able to cut those types of materials.

That said, i'm thinking it may not hurt for them to have a pair of those emt shears in their personal kits as well.

Sadly most of the boys are at an age where they are easily influenced by what I call "eye candy" knives. They want a large-bladed tactical-type knife, and often times with a tanto-type point. I've tried to steer them towards the Swiss- army-type knives with not much success so far. I think it might be easier to convince them if they have a camp-out where they forget to pack a can-opener lol

I've had good luck with the Fiskars 4 inch travel scissors. Not cheap, but Fiskars has a good reputation. Link to Amazon.

The scissors on Wenger brand SAK's are seratted and work VERY well on first aid type stuff.There is also Leatherman Micra's that are a multi tool scissors that also has tweezers....

BOATMAN
John

Send the boys to learn knife fighting -- if they're old enough to understand the legal and ethical implications of self-defense. Soon they'll discover knight fighting really sucks, and most "combat" knives suck for fighting.

I like the little EMT shears from PhysiciansCare. They're titanium coated. I doubt that's much of a selling point to Rambo knife lovers.

Set it up so the can opener gets discretely removed from the kitchen box on the next trip. To really get the point across, let the scouts who do carry Swiss type knives in on it and have them remember them after you've made the point.

How about Fiskars manicure scissors? 10cm long.

http://www.fiskars.eu/Kitchen-Household/...nicure-scissors

That's when the macho kids figure our you can open a can with their combat knives: stab, pry, stabprystabprystabpry…

Been there, done that. Not proud of it.

Though I love EMT Shears and have lots of them of various sizes, I find that many of them (even high quality ones) don't cut gauze very well. The same is true of many folding shears. The problem here seems to be finding the tool that will work at a good price.

Respectfully,

Jerry

Yes Jerry that is exactly the problem, a good tool at a good price. No matter which ones I go with, I'm pretty sure they only need to be really effective on the moleskin and tape.

There have been several good suggestions so far, thanks to all who have chimed in so far.

Small budget and a growing number of scouts is really making this difficult (not that I expected it to be easy).

I wouldn't let it go that far. Too much of a risk of knife or can slipping.

I've been to the local flea market and gotten surgical shears for $4...tempered all steel with the finger rest. Can't beat em. Also have picked up dental instruments and the like, wife takes them into her office into the autoclave, and I'm all good to go. That might be an option, then sterilize them at home.