There’s no screwing around when it comes to life-saving equipment, you need the best, it can be a matter of life and death. I’ve been lucky enough that since I started carrying a trauma kit several years ago I’ve never had to use it, but I still carry one in my EDC bag every day. Better to have it and not need it than, need it and not have it.
Best Trauma Kit
My favorite trauma kit is the Tactical Response Ventilated Operator Kit (VOK) (click here to check it out on Amazon)
The VOK treats the 3 main causes of death from trauma; Critical Blood Loss, Obstructed Airway, and Tension Pneumothorax. This is an excellent kit with all the essentials and is a great kit that includes:
- (1) Cinch tight compression “H” bandage
- (1) TK-4 Tourni-Kwik (Tourniquet)
- (1) Primed gauze
- (1) Nasal airway (30FR)
- (1) Three-gram tube of Surgilube
- (1) Sterile decompression tool
- (1) Alcohol prep pad
- (2) 2″ Safety pins
- (1) Duct tape 2”x100” roll
- (1) Nitrile gloves
Tourniquet
As you can see the kit is pretty solid but there is one thing that I don’t really care for, the TK-4 tourniquet. I swap this out with a SOFTT-W Tourniquet (check it out on Amazon) or a Combat Application Tourniquet. I prefer the SOFTT-W design and feel it’s a much better option, especially for EDC because you can “flat pack” it for easy carry. I still keep the TK-4 around but it’s not my first choice.
Additions
To round out the kit I like to add a couple of things that really increase to the overall effectiveness of
The second, thing I add is a compression bandage like the Israeli Bandage (check it out here) These are great for applying over a packed wound.
Lastly, I like to have a pair of medical shears to make accessing wounds easier. Click here to check out the Ronson Medical scissors on Amazon, a premium pair that won’t break the bank.
Rip-away EMT Pouch
Once you have assembled your trauma kit, you will want a convenient pouch to hold all of this equipment. The Condor Tactical Rip-Away EMT LITE Pouch is the perfect size to fit all of this, with a little room to add your own extras.
Bug Out Bag – First Aid Kit
When you are considering gear for your Bug Out Bag you always need to be thinking about the weight of each item and if it’s worth having. A good first aid kit should be near the top of the list of items that you shouldn’t compromise on too much.
A Bug Out Bag first aid kit requires some special items that are not usually included in most small first aid kits. If you have a Bug Out Bag you understand that you may have to walk a distance with that bag.
The Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight (.9) first aid kit (click here to check it out on Amazon) is perfect for a Bug Out Bag or glove box. This kit has the basic items you would expect to see in a first aid kit plus it comes with
Moleskin to treat blisters, which is a must for any Bug Out Bag.
Comprehensive – First Aid Kit
The Adventure Medical Kits – Mountain Series Comprehensive Kit (click here to check it out on Amazon) has everything you need to treat the most common medical emergencies. If you don’t have access to professional medical care this kit will be invaluable.
This kit is perfect as a home or vehicle kit but is a little too big and heavy for a bug out bag, weighing in at over 3 pounds.
This kit includes items need to treat the following:
- CPR
- Bandage Materials
- Bleeding
- Dental
- Blisters / Burns
- Fracture / Sprain
- Instruments / Tools
- Medication
- Suture / Syringe
- Wound Care
Plus the Complete Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine book is included. A reference and informational book on how to use your kit.