The Pocket Medical Kit is mainly for bleeding, IMO. Everything is either handled with ducttape and a convient branch or two, or by the shelter building materials. Not much else that can go wrong that these guys are big enough to handle.


The tin is sealed with red(!) electicians tape, and a single ranger band. It is also marked with a red cross on the cover, so that even if they can't read the label, someone can figure out what this is for.

contents (by layer):
pair nitrile gloves, packed in a zipper bag
pair ear plugs
~24" red electricans tape
5x 3x1" fabric bandaids
2x steri-strips
3x 2x2" gauze pads
2x knuckle bandaids

How it looks when it is first opened:


And when everything is unpacked:


I've got a little bit of space left in here. I'm thinking of adding another dose or two of Tylenol Allergy. I have a wicked reaction to birch and pine pollen, and guess what two genuses (genusi?) half the trees in my area fit into. The other option is to add a pair of small scissors, either from a Swisscard or by cutting apart of Wenger Esquire (I like Vics better, but Wenger makes a stronger scissor), and maybe a pair of very small tweezers.

I will get the AMK's Pocket Medic® and according to the Mountain Equipment Coop website here, there's a pair of folding scissors included. But maybe the scissors from the Swisscard® or the Wenger is better quality.

Frankie

Add first-aid instructions, tweezers,scalpel blade and one or two tampons. Transfer the meds from your PSK and Auxillary kit into your PMK. Also add some sort of antiseptic (Povidone-Iodine)

BTW: where are the ear-plugs for? For not hearing the schreaming of your patients? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The Mountain Eq. Coop description is incorrect. It does not come with Scissors, only tweezers. (That is unless the Canadians are getting a better assortment. The one I have was purchased at a local REI.)

After having bought a Pocket Medic, I've discovered I can piece together a much better FAK. The pouch it comes in is good, but thats all I can say about it.

IMO The Pocket Medic is a good compromise, but no commercial-prepared kit will ever have all the items that you want. So you should make your own personal additions and changes. The pouch provides extra space for that, I think.

That's what I was suspecting because they are not listed on the AMK's official website. I was planning on checking the pocket in the store and I am slowly building my own first aid and medical supplies anyway. But the point is that folding scissors seem a good idea. Apparently Slip-N-Snip® scissors are the originals:



Slip-N-Snip webpage

I don't really know how small they are. They don't have rounded tips for cutting through clothing but I guess you can round them yourself. Maybe the Leatherman Micra is a better solution if the folding scissors are too big.

Frankie

IMHO a LM micra would be much better than any other folding scissors. They take up just a little more space with much more virsitillity(sp?).

Versatility. It's from a french word which is from the latin word versatilis. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I use a Micra in my FAK. I've sharpened the blade on the knife so it really cuts. Scalpel blades are a no no in my mind, I've seen too many accidentally cut themselves by mistake..

Not to quibble or derail but versatile comes into English directly from Latin according to every source I can find.

I got it from Webster online: "Etymology: French or Latin; French, from Latin versatilis turning easily, from versare to turn, frequentative of vertere"

Anyway, the point is that in french, the way we pronounce this word, you can't spell it wrong...

Frankie

Do you want your life-saving, emergency bleeding-stoppers (tampon or other) sealed in a container with tape that will have to be cut first to get to it? I don't.

It's electrican's tape, and I fold a tab back on the end of it. Pull tab, open.

I know I should add a bulk item to this, just haven't found any that fit well enough for this little kit. My bigger med kits, I have them, even it means stuffing a hole with a crevat.

Not a bad idea, to add a scalple or x-acto blade to this. I have enough of them and various other sharps in other kits, but not here. If someone else has to use this, they might not know that. And since I'm making a shopping run tommorrow morning, and on the list is more spiderwire, xacto blades and a few needls should be in there by days end.

I'm not sure there is anything here that NEEDS directions. :P This is a minor trauma kit, that's all. I'm not sure it can be anything more, given the limited number of cubes in this tin.

The ear plugs are in there becuase I've found them amazingly useful in the past under the oddest circumstances. And often circumstances when I need to pull the gloves out of a bigger kit or my bag of tricks. So, they tagged along.

To quote one of the great masters of science fiction:

English is the result of Norman men at arms trying to get dates with Saxon barmaids and is as legitimate as the other results.

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

Actually I made a mistake in thinking from a backpacking perspective. I forget this is for carrying around town and such. My mistake. Nice kit.

I don't know if they're the originals or not, but I've got a pair. They're about an inch long, folded, and are VERY handy <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. Best two bucks I ever spent for scissers <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.

Troy

I have included a couple of feet of flat pack duct tape in all of my FAK's after a recent incident.

I had a pallet fall against my shin at my job, I had on shorts, and peel a 1"x12" strip of skin off of it.
The first aid tape that I had in the FAK lasted about 3 seconds on my sweaty skin. But the duct tape I had in my bag, stayed put for hours. Long enough for me to finish my deliveries and get back to the depot.

When I got home my wife just rolled her eyes.

Lesson learned: You can never have enough duct tape.

Actually, it's a back up to my bag of tricks, which is what I carry every day.

bag of tricks here I should warn you, a few things have changed since this was posted. :P

I'm a Newbie, and I was always taught that the only stupid question, was the one that was never asked.......so here's a Newbie's question.......A Tampon for a Blood Stopper? I have never heard of this, but I am willing to listen to anyone who can explain this or anything related.......Thank's.....Krell

A tampon by its very nature is designed to absorb blood, while not sterile, they are clean enough for bleeding control. They also provide a mesh or substrate by which a blood clot can form, as well providing more directed pressure control. They are readily available (along with sanitary napkins) and of course can be used for their intended purpose.

Pete

They also make decent tinder. Any time you can get multiple uses out of an item you're doing good for space/utility ratio. You get a minimum 3 for 1 use!

And just think of how much of a hero you'll be when your wife freaks out that she forgot her lady products and you whip one out. That trumps going to the store and buying them anyday. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Ok, I got the AMK's Pocket Medic from MEC in Montréal. It does come with folding scissors. The scissors come folded in a small red plastic box about 2" x 1" x 1/4" and it's written "made in China" on the scissors. They are pretty cute. Funny enough it doesn't come with the Motrin® but with 3x After Cuts & Scrapes (antiseptic towelette with aloe vera)...

Here's the content:

2x butterfly closures;
4x adhesive bandages;
2x knuckle bandages;
2x 2x2 sterile dressing (I got only one gauze in my package);
3x antiseptic towelettes (with aloe vera);
moleskin;
x2 safety pins;
splinter picker forceps;
folding scissors.

I guess your right, there's a Canadian version because on the sterile gauze package it's written for A.R. Medicom, Montréal, Québec, Richmond BC and Buffalo, N.Y.

Frankie

Years ago when I moved into an apartment on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, the only thing left behind by the former tenant was a box of Kotex. Being a resourceful chap, I use them up shining my shoes.

Buying them is a sign of being a REAL man. You don't care what anyone else thinks. If you can look people straight in the eye and stand tall, not much will intimidate you any more unless it is immediately life threatening. :P

That mini-first aid tin is pretty neat for everyday cuts and scrapes. The one other thing I might reccomend is a few benadryl pills. If someone gets stung by a bee and has a reaction or any other allergic reaction comes up, getting them some anti-Histamine quickly might be enough to keep them alive and breathing until you can get them some professional medical attention.