I know, I already posted this in the DIY section, but then this one was added, and it just seemed like the perfect place! I guess this is more about the bag than what’s in it (after all, everything in here isn’t much different from everyone elses’ bag). After tackling a couple small projects, I decided to go all-out (sorta) and build a trauma bag to replace the BLS kit in my truck. That bag was a knock-off of the S.O. Tech Go-Bag, it’s now going to be just general purpose truck bag. In any case, coming up with a design on paper plates and actually making it is tougher than it looks. I wanted a bag that would hold my BLS gear and then some, and have two D-rings for shoulder straps so I could wear it like a backpack if needed. I made her out of locally-purchased stuff (looks like some sort of coated 1000D Cordura) and did everything in about a week of time here & there, on an old Singer Featherweight (model 221K) my mother gave me. I used spine board straps for the webbing (we have new ones on the rig, you never know where the used ones have been) and scrap plastic to stiffen the lid where the elastic loops are. I didn’t make a frame (figured that out after I had sewn everything up), so I threw in a ladder splint fastened to the sides with hook & loop to keep the shape. More hook & loop to hold a spare strap and my ears, and the parallel zippers are joined by an old (but clean) endotracheal tube (size 7.5 if you have to know).

That’s what she holds. Seriously. The tri-color desert bag is from something else, holds an IV start set and a liter bag. There’s also a 500cc bottle of saline, a BVM, ladder splint, trauma dressings, needle decompression kit and Asherman’s chest seal, hot/cold packs, 10cc syringe, regular band-aids, Tylenol, Benadryl, & ASA, airways, hemostats, my spare ears, and even lidocaine jelly for bugs/sunburns. Most of the dressings are vacuum-packed in individual kits; a 14G 2″ cath, 4×4’s, and gauze roll for needle decompression, or some 4×4’s, betadine, and gauze roll for abrasions, etc. In regards to the IV set, my old man has cardiac history, my mother is borderline diabetic, and some nights I can’t even hold water down after drinking– other than that, anyone else is “out of scope and therefore out of luck” unless I’m 110% certain they won’t sue and it really is life-or-death; and if someone’s life is depending on fluids that badly, they probably need an ER/OR more than my bag of tricks. Didn’t weigh it yet, but it’s comfortable, even if the shoulder straps are only 1.25″ wide.

^^^ Everything as packed inside…

… and on me. There’s red binding tape on the ends of the hook & loop tape that keeps my ears & spare strap in place; the stuff is made by Velcro, and called fashion trim or something like that. It’s not as grippy as regular H & L, but it will hold very well, and makes less noise. The top and left sides have handles made from the 2″ nylon straps. I kept the webbing 2″ wide on the R side since it’s more for holding my equipment, not MOLLE/PALS-compatible pouches.

Questions, criticisms?