If you have the best possible trauma kit in the world, it does you zero good if you don’t have it with you.
I believe that I have as many trauma kits as any other person. Every load bearing vest has a trauma kit. The range bag has a trauma kit, my get-out-of-Doge-expeditiously (GOODE) bag has trauma kits.
My car has multiple kits in it.
What I was missing was something that I had on me every time I went out. I decided to buy an ankle trauma kit to try.
I have been 100% consistent since getting it; if I have a firearm on me, then I have the kit on me.
First things first, it is comfortable. I was expecting it to cause issues or to print in horrible ways. It doesn’t print, and it is comfortable. When wrapped around my sock, it is noticeable for about 3 minutes, then I forget it is there.
What I purchased I expected to be good enough. I’ve decided it isn’t. What it comes with is a SOFT-T tourniquet, a 4″ combat bandage, and a pair of nitrile gloves.
What is it missing?
A mini-Sharpie, mini-bandage shears, and z-fold gauze for wound packing. That’s it. If really pressed, a pair of mini-hyfin chest patches, for sucking chest wounds.
I could upgrade my ankle kit with another pouch, but I’ve not found one that I like. I want to have a QuickClot Z-Fold bandage, and that is a slightly larger package than simple gauze.
If you don’t have an ankle kit, look into it. I think you will be surprised at what you can get that will meet your needs and still be extremely comfortable.
Be safe out there. Keep your head on a swivel. Stay out of stupid places at stupid times. Stay away from stupid people.
I am a former NREMT-P and prior military. Each of my vehicles has multiple IFAK of different sizes. From a boo-boo kit in the door pocket, to an IFAK hanging inside the rear driver’s side door, to a tri-fold medic bag behind the back seat, to an OH SH*T! multi car accident kit in the trunk. I have a mini-IFAK/gunshot pouch on my gun belt that I wear at the range, or when shooting in USPSA. I still have my major trauma kit/ CPR kit at home; it travels with us when we take the travel trailer on vacation. Part of my training, over the years, was to improvise with what is at hand, because in a MCI you ARE going to RUN OUT of your normal medical supplies. When you need EMS in seconds or minutes they are only minutes or hours away, and it is up to you, as the 1st responder, to carry on until relieved by higher authority, with whatever is available to use.
Take a Red Cross Basic or Advanced First Aid course or take a EMT-Basic course. Something to give you the BASIC knowlege to save a life.