Anyone have a ‘casual’ first aid kit in their bag?

[admin]

UST makes a couple of really basic booboo kits in a hard plastic, o-ring-sealed case. The 1.0 is basically just some bandages, a little gauze, and some tape, while the 2.0 adds burn cream, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, acetaminophen, and some other things. They’re both dirt cheap and can be found at box stores like WalMart. I think the 1.0 is around $5. Never seen the 2.0 kit in stores but it runs about $12 on Amazon, and honestly I think it’s probably the easiest inexpensive way to equip a person who does not otherwise have a first aid kit.

I acquired a similar container and built my own booboo kit with bandages of various sizes, a few gauze pads, a pair of nitrile gloves, a few antiseptic wipes, tube of anitbiotic cream and some q-tips. It’s not much but it covers basic issues and it’s in a waterproof container so I never worry about the bandages getting wet. The qtips came in handy after a trip to a waterpark one summer with my brother and nephews and they didn’t think to bring any.

The UST containers aren’t particularly durable though. While the container I built my kit in is not from UST it’s clearly from the same Chinese factory, and when I got it out while making this post I see the case is all cracked up; this thing just sits in my EDC pack under no real pressure but apparently that was enough to crack it. So that’s something to consider, and now I’m in the market for a more durable container. But that’s okay, the kit needed revising anyway.

For a basic booboo kit I’d say the following are good things to have, in whatever quantity makes you feel comfortable.

large 2″ bandages for large scrapes
3/4″ and 1/2″ bandages for minor scrapes, cuts, & burns
knuckle bandages
gauze, either in 2×2 or 4×4 pads, or rolls
medical tape (to hold down gauze, and sometimes bandages need a little help)
antiseptic wipes (either alcohol, iodine or BZK)
antibiotic cream
burn gel
Qtips
finger cots (for waterproofing a bandaged finger in a wet environment)
nitrile gloves (because safety)
good tweezers (if you dont carry them elsewhere)
good medical scissors (if you dont carry them or a knife elsewhere)

I dont include any meds in my first aid kit because I carry them separately: your mileage may vary.

I think that’s enough to cover most of the minor issues one would consider a ‘booboo.’ If this kit wont take care of the problem then odds are you need your trauma kit anyway. And I do have a bigger trauma kit in my truck, built inside a Condor Rip Away EMT pouch. The big 8″x8″ one. I’ve got quite a bit of stuff in there as it serves as both a trauma kit and primary booboo kit when I’m camping.

Truthfully though, from my experience, you should find a premade kit that covers most of what you’re looking for and then just add to it. After building my trauma kit I found I could have bought a similar kit, in the same pouch, for less than what I had in it. Of course, doing it my way means I have a whole hall closet full of medical supplies to restock my kit with, so there’s that.

Lastly, whether building your own kit or adding to a premade, I’ve found that the single-use packages of medications are better than trying to pack bottles and tubes. You can get stuff like that here.

[admin]

I used to make them but I got lazy. I carry one of the small premade kits off Amazon. Pretty complete and comes in a red zippered fabric pouch. Cheaper than buying the pocket organizer I was considering making into one. Added a couple upgrades like a sharp SAK classic and I’m good to go. around 14 dollars. 100 items even includes safety pins.

Grizz

[admin]

gdwtvb said: ↑
I used to make them but I got lazy. I carry one of the small premade kits off Amazon. Pretty complete and comes in a red zippered fabric pouch. Cheaper than buying the pocket organizer I was considering making into one. Added a couple upgrades like a sharp SAK classic and I’m good to go. around 14 dollars. 100 items even includes safety pins.

Grizz
Click to expand…
This.
I have a couple of these inexpensive FAK in various day bags but keep a larger, more complete kit in a truck bag.
These cheapies won’t cover every situation but are hard to beat for the money and have been handy to have.

[admin]

Knifestyle said: ↑
Looking for thoughts or examples on the simple ‘boo-boo’ kits people have, not for trauma or heavy wilderness care. We’re talking for around the office or out and about, minor ouch moments or nice things to have in case of an itch or scratch. Looking for nice things to keep on hand, ideal soft containers that keep things organized, and ideally in a bright color that doesn’t scream trauma or emergency?
Click to expand…
I keep a couple of BandAids in my wallet, and I keep ibuprofen and various other pills in bottles pretty much everywhere (vehicle, office, bedroom, bathroom).

In my “EDC bag,” I have a small IFAK, but my “boo boo kit” is an Altoids tin with other portable tablets, bandaids, some various creams and ointments in the individual foil packets. There’s some 2×2″ gauze, some Cutips, and a small WaterJel packet in there.

[admin]

twin63 said: ↑
I carry a Helikon-Tex pocket med insert in addition to a small trauma kit. I like the organization and size (roughly 4.5 x 5.5 inches). Ideal for carrying band aids, moleskin, single use ointments, etc.
Click to expand…
As a follow-up to your post, now I have one too 🙂 It IS a nifty bit of kit, and fits perfectly in the thigh pocket of my 5.11 Tac Lite trousers 🙂 Many thanks indeed for the heads up 😀

[admin]

This is my minimalist FAK for small cuts & Ibuprofin that fits is a small Lok-Sak.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[admin]

ballistic said: ↑
This is my minimalist FAK for small cuts & Ibuprofin that fits is a small Lok-Sak.
Click to expand…
I like the idea of the Grease Monkey Wipes; pity we can’t get ’em here. Even Grime Boss have stopped doing individual wipes, it seems. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for similar kit. Having used Grime Boss wipes (in larger packs, not individual sachets), I can appreciate the need for a larger, industrial cleaning wipe, before an antiseptic wipe is deployed 🙂

[admin]

RogerStenning said: ↑
I like the idea of the Grease Monkey Wipes; pity we can’t get ’em here. Even Grime Boss have stopped doing individual wipes, it seems. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for similar kit. Having used Grime Boss wipes (in larger packs, not individual sachets), I can appreciate the need for a larger, industrial cleaning wipe, before an antiseptic wipe is deployed 🙂
Click to expand…
They come in handy too if you’re a cyclist and need to change a rear flat ;).

[admin]

[?IMG]IMG_20200719_220857797[/url] by Tom johnston, on Flickr[/IMG]

[admin]

I carry a small ‘boo-boo’ kit seperate from my IFAK, to make things easier to find especially if I’m rooting through my IFAK in a hurry.

This is the kit I carry in my EDC bag.
IMG_20200719_220857797 by Tom johnston, on Flickr

The case is possibly a bit larger that I need, but it does the job well and I have the space.

IMG_20200719_220908981 by Tom johnston, on Flickr

IMG_20200719_221009168 by Tom johnston, on Flickr

-Various band-aids, including hydrocolloid ones
-Wound cleaning wipes (Saline, alcohol and iodine)
-Iodine swab sticks
-Styptic swabs (Stops bleeding well on small, stubborn cuts)
-Antiseptic cream
-Tape (micropore and athletic)
-Bandage
-Saline

I could probably take the saline out. The safety pins I don’t typically use with the bandage since I don’t find it works very well and tying a knot in the bandage works much better IMO. They are used for popping blisters though.

[​IMG]IMG_20200719_221104857 by Tom johnston, on Flickr

– Non sterile gauze (for mopping up)
– Dressings, including hydrocolloid and vaseline soaked
– Steri strips
– Scissors
– Tweezers
– Tongue depressors for makeshift splints

This kit works pretty well for the smaller stuff and covers most situations I run across.

For meds, I store them seperately for ease.

IMG_20200719_221311593 by Tom johnston, on Flickr

In an old pill bottle I keep
-Paracetamol/acetaminofen
-Ibuprofen
-Buscopan
-Loratadine
-Cold and flu relief
-Glycerin suppository
-Bisacodyl Suppositery
-Caffeine
-Travel sickness
-Electrolytes
-Aspirin

I also have a smaller kit for when I don’t have my bag. It fits into a jacket/trouser pocket

[​IMG]IMG_20200719_221605622 by Tom johnston, on Flickr

IMG_20200719_221645416 by Tom johnston, on Flickr

-Dressings
-Steri strips
-Band-aids
-Tape
-Cleaning wipes
-Burn gel

Having multiple kits makes it easier to grab the right one for the job

[admin]

This is what I carry in my work bag. Use my old SwissTech tin. Not much in the way of first aid, but I find myself actually needing the medicines more often anyway, and I’m rarely far from a legit FAK. The burn ointment and sting wipes have come in handy too.

[admin]

I have to go very light weight. I carry in my work bag: Tylenol, a few 3/4in. x 3in. bandages, and a few cleaning towelettes.

[admin]

Well, I’m not sure if this counts as a casual FAK … at least it has found its place in my setup.

There has been a gap between my true EDC kit (link) and my “traveling & visit-large-cities” trauma kit (Israeli pressure bandage, TQ, chest seals, trauma sheers, z-folded gauze) – for those outdoor / sport activities occasions that require more than a band-aid and less than an Israeli/TQ.

I have addressed this gap with a €3,- ($3.50) kit from Lidl (a German-based discounter), that seems to be sold once a year in May/June, called “Kalff Sensiplast Erste Hilfe Kit 38-teilig”. It contains all what one would “normally” need, for a fantastic price point.

Update: there is also a YT review of it.

I added a pair of Nitril gloves (in addition to the included Vinyl ones), a triangle bandage, a tick remover card, some 4″x4″ band-aid, eyewash, tweezers, burn gel and adhesive skin closures.

This FAK (14cmx9cmx7cm/232g ~ 5.5″x3.5″x2.8″/8.2oz) goes into my pack for any outdoor/sports activity (besides my EDC, and a small trauma kit w/SWAT-T TQ & mylar blanket). As this is layman-proof (no trauma stuff, no medicine) I would not hesitate to lend it to someone i meet on the trail or while bike trekking.

[admin]

I keep a first aid kit in my vehicles and one in each of my hiking packs (two large day packs, two small lumbar packs), and a couple of Band-Aids and generic Neosporin packets in my wallet (habit formed when my boys were kids). I also keep a couple Aleve and Benadryl in a little tiny pill capsule on my keychain.

[admin]

I keep a small boo-boo kit in my bag all the time. I found this Youtube channel early on in EDC days and this particular video caught my attention…

The kit I carry is built off a small $0.99 Bandaid brand first aid kit that I added to (purchased at Wally World). Overall, the kit is pretty packed but the box still closes and shuts.

I will add that when I add any OTC medication to a kit I always use a small pack of pre-packaged medication. I do this so if I am giving the medication to someone else they can see that it is in a sealed package with an expiration date. I usually purchase these from local gas stations and stock them in my boo-boo kits or first aid kits.

[Author]

Posts