Custom Gear Report

There is a new concept in outdoor equipment, a survival kit that is both personalized and commercialized.  GearPods offer the ability to purchase pre-assembled kits, or components to construct your own kit.

A few weeks ago James Davies, the inventor of GearPods, asked me to assemble an Advanced First aid Kit. Here is my opinion of a custom med kit in a very new commercial case.

When I assembled the kit I tried to look at things that had multiple uses and catered the kit to someone in the healthcare field.

I started on the outside pouch with a small pair of shears (mini shears from www.minishears.com).

The Pods are in a specific order:

Small Pod:
4 pairs of nitrite gloves
2 Asprin tablets (325 mg ea) (placed here for quick access in case of chest pain)

Large pod:
1 SWAT-T
(6) 4” x 4” gauze pads
Roll of 1” tape
10 band-aids

Medium Pod:
(1) 3” x 9” Vaseline Gauze
(1) 3” Mosquito Hemostats
1 Ammonia inhalant
2 Vionex hand cleaners
10 Alcohol prep pads

Medium Pod:
2 Aspirin, 325 mg Tablet
6 Acetaminophen, 325 mg Tablet
8 Ibuprofen, 200 mg Tablet
4 Diphenhydramine, 25 mg Capsule
4 Diamode, 2 mg Tablet
4 Diotame Tablet
6 Alamag Tablet
6 Triple Antibiotic Ointment
4 Hydrocortisone Cream 1%
2 sting relief pad

The order of the pods was designed so that the gloves and aspirin were easy to get to. Next most common things used would probably be the meds so I put them on the other end. If you need to get the trauma or CPR items, then you are just going to have to open the whole kit up (gloves, trauma items, pain meds, antibiotic cream, gauze pads, tape, etc.)

All in all, I think this is a pretty inclusive kit. There is still room for to add other meds and supplies.  It covers what you need, but isn’t huge. The case is very rugged and waterproof.  There are MOLLE attachment points on one side of the optional sleeve to hold the tube.

This kit is not currently available fully stocked, however, is one use of the components purchased individually. Check out www.gearpods.com for more information.

Ken Dood

The SWAT-Tourniquet is a fairly new piece of medical equipment and would make a great addition to an IFAK or larger sized First Aid Kit.  The best way to describe it is a very large I.V. tourniquet.  The name comes from directions for use; ‘Stretch-Wrap-And-Tuck Tourniquet’.  It measures about 3”x4”x1” in the package and unrolls to 4”x57.  Each SWAT-T comes with a pair of black Nitrile gloves and directions printed on the package as well as the actual bandage.

There are diamonds and ovals printed on the tourniquet that will distort to squares and circles if the band is stretched far/tight enough to serve as a tourniquet.  The secondary function of the bandage is as a pressure dressing if wrapped over gauze.  The SWAT-T can also be used as a sling or to immobilize a joint, much like you would use an ace wrap.

The SWAT-T is simple to use and, like the CAT, and can be applied one handed.  It has many advantages over the CAT, the biggest of which is the fact that the SWAT-T can be used to treat so many other injuries.  It is also much lighter than the CAT and, at under $10 for the tourniquet and about $20 for the MOLLE or belt carry, SWAT-T holder and tourniquet combo, it is much more economical.  The holder is available in most of the standard colors (Black, OD, ACU, Desert Tan and, Multicam).

The SWAT-T is available from a number of sources www.swattourniquet.com lists several links to dealers.

Ken Dood