Hello all, I have been browsing this site for a while now but this is my first post. Just wanted to see if you guys could offer any pertinant advise on the following:

I currently keep in my car a decent sized first aid / medical kit which I use both for any incidents at home and when I am out and about at work or doing some other activity (I keep it in the car rather than a cupboard at home because then I know I always have it with me) . I put together the kit myself and I keep it in a medium sized bag and have things divided inside using zip-lock bags It also contains a smaller first aid kit which I can pull out and take with me when I go travelling and so on (specifically a Pyramid Global First Aid Kit see http://www.bluedome.co.uk/trailwalk/trailwalk2.cfm?subcat=20&mascat=22 if you want the details of the three modules or you can just look below). Currently the kit contains of the following:

Main Compartment:

1 British Army Webbing Belt with Knife Sheath and EMT pouch attached

1 Knife Sheath
Contains:
1 UZI Defender Work Knife

1 EMT Pouch
Contains
3 Bandage Pins
1 Pair Disposable Latex Gloves
1 Vent Aid CPR Face Shield
1 Pen Light
1 Pen
1 Hemostat
1 Pair Mosquito Tweezers
1 Pair Blunt Sharp Scissors
1 Pair Bandage Scissors
1 Pair EMT Shears
1 Stethoscope

1 Emergency Reflective Vest
1 Large D Cell Mag-Light
2 Chemical Snap Lights
1 Ambu Head Wedge - Cervical Immobilization Device
1 Adjustable Extrication Collar
1 SAM Splint
1 Life systems camping towel Jumbo size
2 Pair Sterile Surgical Gloves
9 Vent Aid CPR Face Shield in plastic bag

1 Basic First Aid Kit
Contains:
Global Module:
4 Interpose
2 Adhesive Wound Dressing
1 Sterile Finger Dressing
2 25ml Saline Irrigation Solution
2 Thermometer (Disposable)
1 Tweezers (Disposable)
1 Scissors
Assorted Safety Pins
1 Pair Surgical Gloves (Disposable)
1 Extra Large Field Dressing
1 Large Field Dressing
1 Medium Field Dressing
Sterile Pack of Gauze Swabs
20 Adhesive Plaster astd. sizes
1 Adhesive Tape
1 Crepe Bandage 1 X 7.5 cm
1 Crepe Bandage 1 X 5 cm
1 Gauze Strip
4 Antiseptic Moist Cleansing Wipes
Large Polybag
Sterile Module:
2 5ml sterile syringes
2 2ml sterile syringes
2 25g (orange) needles
2 21g (green) needles
2 19g (cream) needles
1 Sterile Needle for Dental Cartridge
1 Blood finger pricker
1 Winged Infusion Set
1 I.V. Cannula
1 Non absorbable suture kit
Steristrips
4 Antiseptic Moist Cleansing Wipes
Dental Module:
Cotton Buds
1 Temporary Filling (Cavit)
Gum Swabs
1 Spatula
1 Clove Oil
1 Examination Mirror

1 Medication Box
Contains:
2 Sets Ear Plugs
American Currency
European Currency
British Currency
3 Tourniquets (I find them useful to tie things up with)
Assorted Safety Pins
16 Paracetamol Tablets (500mg)
16 Asprin Tablets (300mg)
48 Ibuprofen Tablets (200mg)
24 Nurofen Plus Tablets (Ibuprofen 200mg and Codeine Phosphate 12.8mg)
6 Piriteze (Cettirizine Dihydrochloride 10mg) Tablets
12 Diareze (Loperamide Hydrochloride 2mg) Tablets
24 Sudafed (Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 60mg) Tablets
24 Benadryl Plus (Acrivastine 8mg and Pseudoephedrine Hydrochloride 60mg)
24 Renee Antacid Tablets
24 Strepsils (Cherry Flavor)
1 Bottle TCP Liquid Antiseptic
1 Elastoplast Burn Relief Spray
1 Radian B Sport Stop Bleed Spray
1 Germolene Bites and Stings Spray
1 Germolene Antiseptic Cream
1 Bottle Mijex Mosquito and Midge Repellant (50% DEET)
1 Lypsal (Cherry Flavored)

1 Serious Bleeding Kit
Contains:
1 Military Field Dressing 10 X 19 cm
1 Military Field Dressing 20 X 19 cm
1 Military Field Dressing 30 X 30 cm
1 Hemorrhage Control Compression Bandage
1 Pack QuickClot Absorbent Hemostatic Agent

1 Artificial Airway Bag
Contains:
1 Set of 6 Artificial Airways (sizes 1-6)
1 Mucus Extractor

1 Muscle Injury Bag
Contains:
1 Instant Ice Pack
1 Heat Spay
1 Deep Freeze Spray

1 Irrigation Bag
Contains:
10 Sodium Chloride Topical Irrigation Solution

1 Dressing Bag
Contains:
1 No 1 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 2 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 3 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 4 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 7 Ambulance Dressing (Finger Dressing)
2 No 8 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 9 Ambulance Dressing
1 No 16 Ambulance Dressing (Eye Pad)
1 Sterile Dressing Strip

1 Bandage Bag
Contains:
3 7.5 cm X 4.5 m Crepe Bandage
1 5 cm X 4.5 m Crepe Bandage
1 7.5 cm X 4 m Stretch Bandage
1 7.5 cm X 5 m Open Wove Bandage

1 Assorted Bag No 1
Contains:
3 Packs of Absorbent Cotton Wool
1 Pack 5 Non Woven Swabs
1 Pack 5 Sterile Gauze Swabs
2 5 X 5 cm Sterile Dressing Pads
1 Pack Steri-Strips (Butterfly Stitches) 3 X 75 mm
1 Pack Steri-Strips (Butterfly Stitches) 6 X 75 mm
2 Triangular Bandages 90 X 127 cm

1 Assorted Bag No 2
Contains:
1 Spot Check Re-useable Thermometer
1 Roll Adhesive Bandage Tape
1 Roll Zinc Oxide Plaster Tape
1 SAM Finger Splint
1 Bottle Burnshield Hydrogel
1 Tubigrip Support Bandage Size E
1 Tubigrip Support Bandage Size B
1 Size 10 Sterile Scalpel
1 Size 11 Sterile Scalpel
1 Size 15 Sterile Scalpel


Plaster Box, Green (Doubles as Torch)
Contains:
1 Swiss Army Knife
1 Pair Scissors
1 Pair Tweezers
1 Savlon Antiseptic Cream
2 Antiseptic Wipes
1 7.5cm X 4m Conforming Bandage
1 Disposable Examination Gloves
1 Complete Wound Healing Dressing
Assorted Plasters (around 100)
1 Pack 5 Scholl Blister Clear Gel Plasters
1 First Aid Guidance Card

Front Right Pocket
1 Packet 100 disposable Non-Latex Gloves

Front Center Pocket
1 Drugs List and notebook
2 Packets Waterproof Matches
3 Candles
1 Set of Spare Batteries for Mag-light
2 Pen
1 Emergency Survival Bag (Space Brand)
8 Tie on labels

Front Left Pocket
1 Knife Sharpener (Diamond)
1 Copy BMA Concise Guide To Medicines and Drugs


Also in Glove Compartment I have a small LED head torch and pocket knife.

If people have any advice on items that are either not needed, or additional items that would be required it would be most appreciated. Liekwise any advice at all regarding this sort of kit would be appreciated. Its been used primarily for the occasional sporting injury and the usual cuts and scrapes arround the house, but I wanted it to be capable of being useful in the even of anything more serious (car crash or injuries such as falling off cliffs (which I've previously had to deal with)).

As an additional point I'm looking to create a smaller kit that I can use for camping and other such outdoor activities, so advice on that would be helpful as well.

If it helps I live in the UK, and have done courses in first aid, lifeguarding and sports physio.

WHy this?

2 5ml sterile syringes
2 2ml sterile syringes
2 25g (orange) needles
2 21g (green) needles
2 19g (cream) needles
1 Sterile Needle for Dental Cartridge (I dont even know what this is)
1 Blood finger pricker

I didn't see any meds adminsitered IV or IM or Glucose meter...

Its standard equpiment for if you travel abroad to anywhere where the sterile properties of local equipment is in question. Hence why its in my small kit (the one that goes with me whenever I go abroad but perminantly lives in my car's main kit). You just use them if your abroad and tehre is an emergency rather than trusting your health to potentially infectious material.

Mighty extensive kit you've got there! Sounds like a bug-out hospital, lol

I guess the most important thing is knowing how and when to use the items.

Modular kits have advantages and disadvantages... for instance, if you have family that is less well trained in first aid, it's great to open a kit and see "Bleeding Module" or something, and be able to pick it up with everything they need for bleeding in it already. On the other hand, that means you'll often have redundant items (although that's not a big deal unless it's an on person kit)

You might consider replacing the maglight with a surefure. They make a compact waterproof holder to carry a spare lamp and batteries too, and the combo would still weigh less and take up less room.

Also, depending on your climate, I'd check to make sure none of the stuff is heat/freeze sensitive since it's going to be in your car.

As for other medical supplies, I'm not experienced enough to say what else you need... but you might consider
-Asherman Chest Seals
-Abdominal Wound Dressing
-Israeli Dressings (you can apply them with one hand, which is good if you have to treat yourself)
-Some sort of neck immobilization brace. I forget what the more compact ones are called, but if you come across a car accident it might prove useful.

I know you're only asking advice on the medical aspect, but I imagine you have the general road emergency items covered as well? Like
-Emergency poncho (usually comes in a small, flat package like an emergency space blanket)
-1 Change of clothes (handy if you spill something on your shirt at work!)
-Mylar emergency water packets? (depending on climate)
-Fire Extinguisher, handheld
-More robust "survival" kit
-Road emergency kit (can of run-flat, flares, etc)

At last, I've finally found someone who carries more stuff than me! If I ever have an accident I hope the next passer by is you.

Seriously. But you were looking for advice so...

There are lots of things that could be excess weight and that could be cut back on but .... and its a big but. I carry my FAK as EDC in my daypack with a smaller kit in my jacket pocket - I do not drive (but have a motorbike) that means I have to watch for bulk and weight. Since your kit is in the car then obviously that isnt an issue so by all means take the lot.

Ibuprofen - you carry a lot of doses but I would suggest 400 mg tablets not 200 mg but thats just my preference there are arguements both ways.

Consider an epipen for anaphalactic shock - but only if you know how to use it or are carrying it for someone else who can but has left theirs at home - I see that some of the stuff you carry is in this category anyway such as sutures (note that I have chosen not to carry this as I am not confident enough in its use although one of my friends has severe nut alergy and always carries one - I made the conscious choice only to carry what I can use myself)

Consider transfering some meds to your always carried travelling kit, specifically analgesics, anti-inflamitories and antihistamine. I dose of each (or 2 ) is very useful.

Consider stronger analgesics for personal use in your travelling kit I would recomend 30/500 cocodamol or 50 mg tramadol (both prescription only), the cocodamol is probably more useful and generic. and has the advantage that it wont clash with an anti-inflamitory (tramadol is a NSAID)

Again personal preference but my FAK also gets used on my dogs. Dont know whether you have considered use on animals, the last road accident victim I helped as a passer-by was a dog. Irrigation of a wound in the field is very difficult through fur so I carry a spray can of povidone/iodine dry powder spray. That way I can cover a wound with antiseptic and deal with it better at home (or at the vets).

Also think about removing the tweezers and scissors from your small personal kit that way you can have it on your person while flying and not have to put it in checked in luggage

Yep it is pretty big, but as its living in my car its plenty managable at the moment, you can move it by hand no problem to wherever you need it but I probably wouldn't want to carry it any great distance. I'm thinking of creating a smaller "medium" sized kit as a sort of in between measure (one that is more easily portable)

The main reason I stick to the small doses of Ibuprofen is just adabtability as it just gives you a few more potions for dealing with small children. But your right the bigger dose are often a lot more conveniant (and its often annoying having to swallow a virtual pile of pills rather than just one).

I think I'm definetly going to add some basic meds to my travel kit (probably stuff like Ibuprofen and an anti-histomine as they are always useful). Previously, if I remember, I take them with me, but there is always the chance I am goiing to forget so I agree sticking some permanntly in the small kit so I can just grab it and go would be a good idea.

My only experience with an epipen has been training to know what to do with people who are carrying them when you are treating them, and generally the technique is make a note of it and find someone (generally someone who knows them or a Dr) who knows what they are doing with them. I would probably be reluctant to use one on someone who I didn't know their medical history, as they can do really bad things to you, so would probably not carry one for that reason.

My current favourate travel pain-killer is Nurofen-Plus. Which is tablets of contains Ibuprofen 200mg and Codeine Phosphate 12.8mg and is about the strongest non perscription pain relief I've found (2 is the standard dose but 3 or even 4 are often given as a perscription, and that amount is really quite strong). I generally don't like getting perscription medicines unless I have a specific use for them (although thats mainly due to the over use of antibiotics so analgesics aren't so much of an issue), but next time I travel I might see about getting hold of something stronger.

Never considered the possible treatment of animals. Good point. I don't have much experience with dealing with that sort of thing so good tip with the spray, I'll have to get me one of those.

Also good idea about removing the tweezers and scissors. Previously I've always put it in the hold and hadn't really thought about it that way, which is probably a bit short sighted. Actually the simplest method would be to put the tweezers and scissors in the sterile syringe module (which detaches from the main module), and place that module in the hold and then I can keep the rest with me. Thanks for the idea!

I agree modular kits have things for and against them, when your trying to get a small kit they do cause a lot of wasted space, but its great when you can just open it up and grab the nice colour coded easily labeled pouch for whatever has just come up.

Whats the score with the Surefires? I've seen them a few times and heard various positives and negatives about them. The big negative I've heard is that they drain batteries really quick and as such aren't great for if your stuck by the roadside or something where you need light for a long time. But then again I've never actually owned one.

I keep my car in a garage and the temperature doesn't fluctuate too much where I live, but I'll have a double check over everything and make sure nothing is going to be too at risk.

Good ideas for additions. I actually have a neck immobilization brace already (its down as "1 Adjustable Extrication Collar" but thats probably not too clear. Its a pretty good one with 16 different size settings and it stores flat which is most useful). What are Israeli Dressings? Not come accross them before, I'll have to go look them up.

Oh and I do have some other equipment in my car. Including a fire extinguisher, an umbrella, a good pair of binoculars, change of clothes, waterproof jacket, and a few tools. MIght be worth putting in a "proper" survival kit as well, good point.

If you know how to use an IV cannula, then you should also know that you often need more than one of them, and in various gauges. I've seen topnotch paramedics require multiple attempts to land a patent IV.

BTW Polak187/Matt: I got my NREMT-I cert and recently hired on part time w/ my county's EMS unit. Fun will be had by all!

GlockA-Roo,

Congrads on the passage of your NREMT-I <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />. Pete

Congrats brother!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!

I EDC (on my person + in my car) both a Surefire (either a 6P or a G2, same sturdiness, a bit cheaper) and a LED light (not a Surefire but SF do have LED lights) :
- with the SF I have a small handheld projector, giving a very high intensity beam, useful in some conditions (long distance or in smoke, fog ....) ; a set of two CR123 batteries will be enough for 1 hour (with the P61 lamp assy = 65 lumens) ; I have a spare set along. And a spare bulb.
- with the LED flashlight, I have a less intense light for several hours (depends on the light I carry).

If you don't need the prefocused, hi-powered, plain and perfectly regular beam of a SF, a Streamlight Scorpion could be the answer : a powerful beam, but adjustable (by enlarging the beam, you "decrease" somewhat its intensity and you can use it to light an area near you without blinking). The Scorpion also include a spare bulb. About 1 hour on a set of two CR123 batteries.

The only problem I ever had with my SFs lights :
- bulbs are fragile (one died after using it for 10minutes and dropping the 6P from about 4 cm (less than 2 inches) !
- the rechargable batteries used in some models are not great and do not hold their supposed capacity. Anyway, rechargable models are OK only if you really use your light very often. If not, the battery will always be discharged when you will need it. For intermittent use, lithium batteries are best, IMHO.

And I guess you could choose a SF bulb model (for hi-intensity jobs) and add a LED conversion head (for long duration jobs)....

Unless used as a defensive weapon or a short duration flood light I do not consider SF lights to be anywhere near a survival light.

Batteries don't last and are of an odd size and hard to get.

Think common easily obtainable batteries and bulbs.

Flip

Agreed. SF are great for a gun-mounted light or a light for a complete pacifist to use as a means of completely non-violent defense, however for EDC and/or survival purposes I much prefer a longer lasting light and having common, easily obtainable batteries is an added bonus.

So true. As much as people rag on them I keep a few plain old mag lites in my truck and a a half dozen spare batteries. Those lights may not be the best but they work. They aren't the cheapest imported stuff that fail out of the package but they aren't overly priced to where I can't afford to have one in my pocket, one in the glove box and a couple in the BOB. The one in the glove box even matches the color of my truck <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Yes, surefires have advantages and disadvantages. It's a tradeoff like everything else. Personally, I like having the power of a D cell maglight in a package that fits in my pocket- 90 minutes is plenty. Batteries aren't hard to find and they're not expensive (a little over a dollar each, comparable to D cells), and for the same space and weight of a D cell flashlight with spares, I can have a surefire and a waterproof spares container with 6 batteries and an extra lamp. On top of that, I can have it WITH me at all times, not just in the vehicle. A surefire in the pocket beats a big maglight that you left in the car, just like a .22 in the pocket beats a .45 at home. (except in this case, a more accurate descrption would be "a low cap .45 in the pocket beats a high cap .45 at home")

Kept in the car for roadside emergencies is fine, I'm not dogging the maglight. I'm just saying, with the tremendous amount of gear you got there that a smaller, lighter flashlight that throws a comparable amount of light would be advantageous when it comes to weight and packing. Granted, weight isn't so much a concern when it's stored in the car, and obviously packing isn't since it's already packed, it was just a suggestion for a lighter alternative. To be honest, this is the first time where I've heard almost unanimous votes against surefires and it's pretty surprising to me.

As for "survival" I do carry other lights. I'm picking up an AA keychain LED, and have a couple of smaller LED's like photons that I'll carry on my person as well. They will sustain me for when I need a little light with a lot of duration.

As for defense, I wouldn't use my surefire as a defensive weapon unless I had nothing else. They market it as such, but only one version comes with an impact bezel, and the whole "stun them with the light!" sounds like a marketing scheme to me. Any bright light will do the same, it doesn't have to be a surefire.

In fact, the maglight D cell would make a better defensive weapon. it's like a freakin iron pipe <img src="/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> You bean someone over the head with that bad boy and they'll feel it when they wake up!

It may or may not be your slice of pie, and that's cool. Whatever works for you-

(yes, I carry a zippo too. "But burn, it's useless in the long term because it needs fuel!".... well, I do carry bics and other firestarters on my person and PSK too, so it's not like I'll have nothing once it runs out of gas. While it works though, I perfer it to the others.)

Currently the most useful torch I own is a small LED head torch made by petzl called the Zipka Plus:

http://www.altrec.com/shop/detail/15935/0

http://www.backcountrystore.com/store/PTZ0053/Petzl-Zipka-Plus-Headlamp.html

Its incredably small so you can take it with you anywhere you like (the first time I saw one was actually when a friend of mine pulled one out of her purse) and its incredably versatile with its self retracting strap. You can hold it as normal or you can strap it onto your wrist or head (with zero things to adjust) for hands free use. The batteries last a hell of a long time on it (80 hours on max brightness and 150 hours on low brightness, and low brightness is perfectly fine for doing most stuff when your camping and the like), absolutely brilliant for anykind of up close work on the car if you get in a fix. The only downside to it is that while it gives good brightness close up, the beam doesn't travel a great distance so its not as good as some torches if you want to project the beam a long way. But as something for use when camping or when stuck by the roadside its great. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

"The main reason I stick to the small doses of Ibuprofen is just adabtability as it just gives you a few more potions for dealing with small children. But your right the bigger dose are often a lot more conveniant (and its often annoying having to swallow a virtual pile of pills rather than just one)."

Good point on the childrens dose, I would just break the tablet in two but thats not always possible (I carry caplets not round tablets for this reason - each manufacturer of generic drugs tends to use their own shape so I choose based on the shape I want). Another answer would be to consider carrying some of each dose - I assume from the numbers of doses you carry that you are just adding the whole box to your kit. Consider adding one blister pack of each dose size rather than 2 the same. Gives more flexibility.

"Never considered the possible treatment of animals. Good point. I don't have much experience with dealing with that sort of thing so good tip with the spray, I'll have to get me one of those."

I noticed you have a spray can of powder to help clotting. This is also a good way to go on fur as adhesion of dressings can be a problem.

Which reminds me that you should consider adding either mastisol or tincture of benzoin as an adhesive to help site dressings on wet skin. Plus some cotton buds to apply.

You also put down lots of safety pins. Very useful. If you havent already though add some nappy pins (no idea what they would be called in the USA before anyone asks) very useful to have a guard over the point when you have a safety pin in an awkward dressing espicially when very cold and you dont feel the jab.

I think nappy pins ARE safety pins in the US. What are "safety pins" over there?

That's where my only real problem with the surfire lies is right there. For me, 90 minutes is not enough, even just for roadside emergencies. For roadside emergencies I DO actually use a D-Cell Maglite <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />



I couldn't agree more, which is why I said it would only be useful for the complete pacifist. My most devout buddhist aquaintences come to mind. These are people that would rather die than risk the possibility of harming someone else, even in self defense. This is the type of person I think of when I refer to a SF being the best defensive option for a complete pacifist. Trust me you won't find me (or my wife) defending myself with a light unless it is a D-cell maglite. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Now having said all of that let me clarify that I am not knocking the SF in general, but rather just for certain uses (as I have explained). I will readily admit that I had a SureFire light mounted to a Wilson 1911 for several years and it was the best light on the market (at least at that time) for that purpose and it served me very very well even with the very frequent battery changes that were required. I actually trained with this system regularly, otherwise I'm sure I would have gotten more out of my batteries.

Ah, two cultures seperated by a common language. This could be difficult to explain without pics but here goes. A safety pin is just a bent length of metal wire with a loop at one end to act as a spring and a catch at the other with a fixed end and a sharpened end which can be released. Same both sides of the Atlantic. What I was refering to as a nappy pin tends to be larger and has a white (at least any I've seen are white) plastic sleve which can be moved over the catch (a sort of press fit ) to stop the catch being released. The pin cannot be opened without moving the white catch out of the way. Used for nappies so that when the baby is crawling about on the floor the catch will not disengage and stick the baby with the pin.

Hope that made sense without pics. I have seen the term blanket pin used on a forum (not sure if it was this one) with someone from the US saying they had safety pins and a couple of blanket pins in their PSK. Is this the same thing?

I've always thought of all versions like that as just safety pins. What you call "nappy pins" are what I think of as safety pins, usually with a metal head, but there are also plastic head versions. I don't know what the version made entirely out of bent wire is called, maybe that's the "blanket pin". Those have a bit of pin sticking out, so they are less safe really.

Eugene, I thought I was the only one who did that! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Greg

Its difficult to explain without pics unfortunately but the things I was trying to desribe have the metal head but have an additional head over the top of the metal one made of plastic which clicks on and off working as a sort of lock to stop the pin being opened.

Whatever they are called they can be quite usefull

99% of all "Safety Pins" I've ever seen looked like this:



They are used on diapers, which you call "nappies", so the could be "Nappy Pins" also.

I think this is what he is talking about when reffering to Nappy pins. I know what he means. They are essentially the same as regular safety pins but with the addition of a plastic bit at the end which clips on and off, that stops the pin accidentally coming undone. We use them for nappies over here in the UK but I don't know if there is an equivalent in the US or not...

You keep this in your car! Hells teeth there's more kit here than in my squadron ambulance. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> How do you fit a trip to Tesco's in LOL. If your properly trained and confident enough to use this kit in the UK then all the best mate. It is however a very well thought out kit. Just one question though, has Quick-Clot been cleared for use over here?

Johno

All this "bright light" as a defensive weapon talk reminds me of my 5 years as a maintenance mechanic at the City of Milwaukee housing authority.

Officially, and on the record <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />, I never carried a firearm while working even nights in the low income housing complexes (No Brian, my nose is not touching the monitor (Six feet away.).) I did carry some fairly solid knives necessary for my work and a trunchon style of black pipe with a 90 degree piece attached to a tee in case I ever had to replace a lead-in pipe with water trap for a gas furnace. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I carried a permanent flash assembly from my 35MM camera on a cord around my neck for blinding the opposition if necessary, but was fortunate enough to never need to use it for defensive purposes.

I was lucky that I did not work in the water department as I would not have been able to carry the pipe, knives, or even my (2) "D" cell Maglite.

Bountyhunter

Gee, guys, this isn't so hard, especially if you've raised kids:

"nappie" = "diaper" in the U.S.A. Diaper pins are exactly the same here as what you term nappie pins. Big safety pins may be used in lieu of diaper pins, of course - and they do indeed sometimes pop open and jab the baby. Diaper pins are safer, and your suggestion to include some is a good idea.

IME, diaper pins are also more robust than ordinary safety pins of equivalent size and are more suitable for pinning together thick layers than safety pins.

Blanket pins are altogether different than either of the above. We have a number of them around here somewhere in various sizes... but imagine my surprise when I went looking for a picture to embed here - there are vastly different styles of clasps/pins termed "blanket pin" - nothing like each other in form, and even some of different function. Mind boggling; I had no idea. Re-enactors probably have a totally different mental image of blanket pins than I do.

HTH,

Tom

Have to say I don't know what the actual score is. However I did buy it over here (in the UK) from a major supplier (spservices they have a website http://www.spservices.co.uk/ ) So I am assuming they have cleared it now.

Sounds like a pretty comprehensive kit. We'd love to see some pics if you have them. Good point about veterinary use also. I'd say I've used my first aid kit on my dogs as much or more than on humans.

I would only suggest that you know how to use, or better, be certified to use every item in your kit. Also be aware of the legalites regarding possession and/or use of those items with respect to your level of training. (ie: needles, airways, meds, etc.)

For instance: in my comprehensive kit I have one of those "field surgery" kits. I know not to go trying to do roadside open heart surgery. I do occasionally use it to dig out a splinter or two. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Cheers!