First Aid Kit Container - Soft vs. Hard

[Pseudonym]

How to you pack your first aid kit? I need a better version for a large group sized first aid kit. I want a small, cylindrical, hard container, with a wide opening, that isn't too heavy and contains 8-10 liters.

So I'm packing for a camping trip with my boys. I grabbed my ready-to-go first aid kit that I use for group canoe trips. It's pretty extensive and even contains a wilderness first aid manual, which also served as a guide for its contents. I keep the kit in a dry bag, specifically a sea-to-summit 13L Well, I just crammed it into a remaining void in my trunk, pushing it past a few hard edged containers, and BOOM, next thing I knew the entire car smelled like nail polish. Turns out I had crushed a vial of liquid bandage inside the kit and a major clean-up process ensued.

This is probably the third time I've had some liquid or cream inside the first aid kit explode or leak and foul other contents. Even today, I discovered that within another Ziplock bag therein, an oral painkiller leaked out of its container and stripped the printed label right off an adjacent tube of Lotrimin.

I don't like bulky, square pelican cases, because they don't pack easily into a canoe, or portage pack, but I can't keep using soft dry bags.

 

[Pseudonym]

Something like a bear vault that isn't quite so heavy would be great.

 

[VA paddler]

Maybe something like a CostCo-size canister/ container of pretzels? 8-10L seems like a lot of space, though. I’ve got one of those bigger adventure medical kits & have hardly ever needed even a kit that big. But better to have & not need…

 

[Alan Gage]

I use a Nalgene Silo bottle (48 ounce) for my personal kit. Too small for what you're looking for but maybe they, or someone else, makes something similar but larger.

US Plastics is a fun place to look around:

Laboratory Bottles & Jars Category | Laboratory Bottles | Wash Bottles, Nalgene™ Bottles & Lab Jars | U.S. Plastic Corp.

U.S. Plastic Corp.® carries an extensive line of laboratory bottles from brands like Thermo-Scientific™ Nalgene™ and Kartell, who bring you wash, sampling, and graduated bottles.

www.usplastic.com

This is the first thing I came across:

https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=133201&catid=1372

 

[Boatman53]

Maybe a smaller container as Alan suggested for the things that can burst and that goes in the dry bag with the other things.
Jim

 

[Pseudonym]

US Plastics is a fun place to look around:

Good idea. I already learned that nalgene makes containers of different sizes:

32 oz. Nalgene® Sustain Wide Mouth Round Outdoor Storage Jar | U.S. Plastic Corp.

Need to keep something clean, dry, and protected? Then put it in one of these Nalgene® Outdoor Storage containers. Straight sides make f...

www.usplastic.com

When I get back from this trip, I'll lay out my first aid kit and explain the contents.

 

[recped]

Maybe something like a CostCo-size canister/ container of pretzels?

That would work but these days most of those food container stuff are much thinner than they were years ago. Along the same line I have a couple of containers that were originally used for supplements, the ones I have only have the weight of the contents but I would guess they are 3 - 4 liters, heavy duty plastic with better screw lids as they are intended to to keep the contents dry for an extended period.

Of course in my mind they are good because they can be free if you know anyone that uses that type of stuff.

They would not be of the quality of the US plastics or Nalgene containers but they don't cost $40 either and would do the job especially as you would be transporting in a dry bag anyway.

 

[dutchlennart]

CurTec

CurTec designs, manufactures and distributes plastic screw top drums, pails and jars for high value material industries. CurTec is a GMP certified packaging company.

www.curtec.com

Not many dutch canoeist have none of these in their kit.
Pelicases (or copies) or ammoniniotn cases are also used. Personally I use a drybag of palm. I am mostly paddling with small adult groups in a very civilized surroundings on flatwater.
the first aid kit lives in a bigger drybag with a boothie bag, spare clothes and a number of other usefull items.

 

[scoutergriz]

what I use is a waterproof (both inside and outside layers) padded cordura case where all the closed cell foam inserts can be removed and used as splint padding or soft splints, giving me a 3x24x1/2" stiff foam pad, 2 8x8 pads or splints , and an thinner folded 6x8 by 1/4" pad, as well as 4- 1/2 x 1-1/2x 8" finger or wrist splints.
all crushables are in those cheap soap containers while bandages etc. are in those foldable pocket packs some assorted bandages come in.
The lid has a vinyl pouch velcroed to it that can be removed and used as a self- sealing cover for penetrating chest wounds. It also has both a carry handle and d-rings to carry it or attach it to your pack, and has survived over a quarter century of abuse by both adults and teens on an almost weekly basis.
Unfortunately it's looking a little ragged and is more pink than red after all that time, and the manufacturer's tag is long gone...
Edit- this kit looks like it may be the one, but it doesn't mention if the padding is removeable or if the kit is waterproof- https://sja.ca/en/product/home-play-kit?v=2686

 

[Black_Fly]

Hard containers cause packing problems. I use a dry bag, although I think it’s not-so-dry anymore. I’ll try a heavier one next, with room for my skin stapler!

 

[Keeled Over]

Empty peanut butter jars. I use three different sizes for first aid kit, personal care, grapes and M&M's, etc. Never broke one, and as consumables are consumed make great trash containers in the barrel.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

When I want small items to absolutely not leak or get leaked into....

https://www.locknlock.com/eng/product/container/food-storage/classic-plus

I know there are cheaper versions that probably work just as well.

 

[soloskip]

I used to use a peanut m&m container (about $12 at store… but you need to get rid of the peanut m&m’s).They’re easy to fill and access with the wide mouth. I’ve since switched to a roll-top bag that I keep in my food/blue barrel. I still use the m&m containers for putting my wallet and cell phone and various tools and ‘oh $hit’ type things in when on a trip, even on day trips around home.

 

[Seeker]

My general first aid philosophy is to have educated myself with a first aid course and only carry stuff I actually know how to use (like bandaids and OTC meds.) I sometimes use a SAM Splint as an ultralight backpack stiffener, and I know how to splint simple fractures. No tourniquets, sutures, finger splints, prescription meds, large bandages, tapes, or rolls of gauze. All my trips are less than a week long. I know some medicinal plants (willow, plaintain), and my normal response to a scratch is to smear some balsam sap on it. I've done a personal risk assessment, and the most common dangers are stove/campfire/hot water burns and scalds, falls/sprained ankles, stick in the eye, and small cuts (hatchet, saw, knife). All are mitigated with care, but can still occur. Things I am not really prepared to treat are also least likely to occur: broken bones, gunshot. Things I can't treat no matter what involve personal health issues (I'm 62) like a stroke or heart attack.

That said, I guess FAKs are really a matter of size... I solo trip, almost always, and if not, it's with someone similarly equipped, knowledgable, and self-sufficient. For larger groups, I'd probably go with a soft kit based around a waterproof stuff sack, but I'd have to know a lot more First Aid to do that.

My most-commonly carried FAK is in an old Mentos container (1.25 x .75 x 3, ish?)... couple Bandaids, tick key, tweezers, q-tips, dental putty, Neosporin packet, and I think that's it for 'gear', and the rest is minimal quantities of meds, which are far harder to improvise; Motrin, Pepto, Benadryl, and Immodium. This always goes on a day hike.

I have a slightly larger kit that's based in a pill container about 3 x 4 x .75 (8" when open) that folds in half and has 6 covered compartments, 2 over 3 on one side, 1 on the other... this makes it easier to hold a few more Bandaids and the 'tools', some smaller 1.5x2.5" ones, and a larger quantity of the same meds above. This kit is more for a canoe trip.

I've got larger kits but never use them anymore.
If I were an ultralight backpacker, I'd repackage my first kit into a ziplock.

Fwiw, both of my kits go in my junk drawer's waterproof bag, though the Mentos container is pretty water resistant on its own.