Recommend a medic bag?

[blasto9000]

Brought my dad out for some rifle shooting out in the desert on Father's Day (yes, a few weeks ago). I usually bring a complete medic kit with us in case of the freak ricochet, but the kit wasn't looking so hot for our last trip out. I basically pulled out the flattened, abused bag, blew the dust off, dad and I looked at each other skeptically, and I threw it back in the garage. Just too many miles and uses on it. It's well past due for an update and refit.

Soooo I made a packing list for a new kit and have been acquiring the items over the past few weeks. First on the list was a bag to put it all in, but I haven't been able to find one that I like. Right now I'm using one of those tri-fold military-style M3 medic bags but it's awkwardly shaped and not big enough for the level of supplies I like to have out in the sticks.

About 90% of the bulk is bandages... all kinds of bandages, and big ones at that. The rest is small stuff... saline irrigation (8 ounces), a small roll for the splinter-picking tools, a few pills and so on. I've selected the contents based on past experiences (scrapes, cuts, splinters), but I still keep preps to stop bleeding on penetrating injuries. I'm not qualified for needles or airway work.

Amazon has quite a few bags that I have my eye on, but I'd hate to drop 20-30 bucks on a bag and get something flimsy. I'm okay spending more on something rugged.

If anyone experienced in this arena has a recommendation for something sturdy I'd really appreciate it!

Some items I have my eye on:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H713A2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000B7OZB2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AYGFNQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VUAXMY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[BrokewrenchLS1]

If you're not set on a bag, a .30 or .50 ammo can would work great - waterproof, bombproof, cheap, easy to carry, and you could paint it bright red as a visual indicator that it's the medical supplies box.

For an actual bag, I'd go something Maxpedition - a Fatboy Versipack, maybe, or a Remora. LAPG's 5.11 range bags are surprisingly decent for the price - I've used two, one as a cleaning supplies bag and one as a pistol ammo/mags bag for a couple years, and they're holding up well.

 

[PAPERMAKER]

Thomas Pack
http://www.thomasems.com/aeromed-advanced.html

Stat Pack
http://www.statpacks.com/

Maxpedition

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/Maxpedition-Famous-Jumbo-Collection-c65.htm

These are top of the line, I used the Thomas and Stat packs for years on the ground and in the air. Any bag will work but one thing to remember is if you need it in an emergency the better organized, like the color coded modules, the faster you can get to what you need.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have a buddy who is a volunteer firefighter and he swears by Gall's.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have a couple of made up first aid kits. One is in a shoebox sized plastic box, and another (larger) is in a Plano plastic tool/tackle box with a couple of drawers and the top storage for larger stuff.

The ammo cans are a good idea, if some what heavy, so a lighter solution could be the plastic copies they make.

 

[dledinger]

I'm rather partial to North American Rescue products.

 

[ffemtdisp]

http://www.larescue.com/O2.html

"O2 To Go Pro Plus"

I researched bags three years ago for my Ambulance Service, and these are what I purchased. For a BLS ambulance, one bag handles it all. Room, pouches, space for an Oxygen tank. (or water bottles)

Maybe too much for a week-ender bag, but it has ROOOOM!!!!!!

 

[5lima30]

+1 on the Maxpedition bags! They are VERY well made! They are not cheap though. After you handle one you will see why they cost more.

 

[kidney]

Thomas Pack
http://www.thomasems.com/aeromed-advanced.html

Stat Pack
http://www.statpacks.com/

Maxpedition

http://www.maxpedition.com/store/pc/Maxpedition-Famous-Jumbo-Collection-c65.htm

These are top of the line, I used the Thomas and Stat packs for years on the ground and in the air. Any bag will work but one thing to remember is if you need it in an emergency the better organized, like the color coded modules, the faster you can get to what you need.

I'll second the Maxpedition bags.

That said, my medical bag is fairly small. I carry everything I need in this type of pouch. I'm not an EMT, so I don't have a whole lot of stuff.

Most of my stuff is bandaids/wound cleanser and things for comfort (moleskin, asprin, bug bite treatment). I do keep some stuff specifically to stop serious bleeding, but even then it's more of a "keeps you from bleeding out before someone who knows what they are doing gets here" kind of deal.

I do keep a larger bag at home that I replenish my pouch with and, if need be, I can just grab the big bag in an emergency.

There are some really great sites out there for buying single use supplies.

 

[Regnar]

I know everyone recommends Maxpedition bags and dont get me wrong they are nice, but I will offer you another one. Tatical Tailor makes some great bags. I have one of their 3 Day Assualt Packs for 11 years now and it is still kicking strong. It has seen 5 years of Army field use and has been used daily for 6 years going back and forth to work in the Coast Guard.

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/packs_bags/bags/first-responder-bag

http://www.tacticaltailor.com/packs_bags/packs/m5-medic-pack

I have not affiliation with this company other than I love their products.

 

[zuk123]

I'm no pro, but for my hurricane kit I got this bag as a base:

http://www.northernsafety.com/Product/21994/First-Aid-Only-First-Responder-First-Aid-Kit

Added a few things like quick clot and super glue, NIOSH 95% masks, gloves, suture kit...

Used this bag:

http://www.northernsafety.com/Product/25012/Ergodyne-Arsenal-Fillable-Small-Trauma-Bag

for all the comfort and OTC stuff like cans of wound wash, isopropal alcohol, peroxide, soap, bandages, ice pack, etc.

I added a bait organizer like this one for OTC drugs, one package of each type with the dosage panel from the box in the sleeve with the meds:

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Tackle_Logic_1098_Worm_Wrap/descpage-TLWWR.html it lives in my blue bag.

I 'shop' from my bag when I need to replace something in the medicine cabinet, and then refill the bag with fresh.

It's a pretty comprehensive kit.

BTW I keep the pediatric first aid and wilderness medicine books in the bags too. then there is no looking for the reference when you need it.

zuk