Pocket First Aid Kit

Intro: Pocket First Aid Kit

Out hiking or just for a walk and don't want to carry a bulky kit? This will fit into your pocket no trouble!

The ever so versatile Altoids Tin becomes a First Aid Kit to carry with you. Just add stuff from the following steps (or similar).

STEP 1: Stuff to Stuff In

I've addded a few thing sI might find handy, things not everyone will have around.
A suture kit (mine isn't sterile, the package got ripped)
Bands Aids (6 large, 6 small)
Moist Towelettes (optional)
Rubber Bands
Tape
Aspirin
Swabs
Paper Towel (or gauze if you have it)
Razor Blades
Super Glue
Betadine
Isopropyl Alcohol

STEP 2: Box Prep

On the back side of the box I put 4 layers of tape. A good storage area and easy to get to.

On the front I trimmed down my Red Cross sticker to fit.

STEP 3: Inside Cover

Here I taped the 2 Razor blades and the Aspirin. Easier to get to then digging though the box.

STEP 4: 1st Layer

I added the bulky/big things here first. The bottles are must small enough to fit and the suture kit lays nice and flat on the bottom. Be sure to sterilize the suture before use with the Betadine or alcohol.

STEP 5: Layer 2

Swabs (ends in little bags) and small band aids fit in here.

STEP 6: Layer 3

I added a few small pads of paper towel above the small band aids. If you have gauze use that instead.

STEP 7: Layer 4

I folded over the edges of the towelettes to help them fit, these are optional as you have gauze(paper towels) and alcohol.

STEP 8: Last Layer

The big old band aids sit on top, make sure you can close up the tin after this step. Rearrange if need be.

STEP 9: Final Prep

Close tight and wrap the rubber bands around the case. These can be used for tourniquets or to hold things in place where tape doesn't work.

STEP 10: Pocket and Go

All done, now put it in your pocket and go.

Any suggestions are appreciated!

Comments

[LanceL16]

Since the time when you wrote this, first aid has come a long way. Staying with your Altoids box format, I would suggest replacing both alcohol & betadine (or hydrogen peroxide & others) with a better product called *Benzalkonium Chloride (BZK). This will also free up some space in the box for other aids. BZK comes in wipe form. This antiseptic causes less damage to tissue than traditional products and assists in more rapid healing. For flushing a wound, any clean water is considered fine. Sterile water, while best, isn’t necessary. Fresh bottled water beats one that has been opened and partially consumed but any will do in a pinch. Finally, plain old tap water.
I wrap my bandage tape around a cut-down popsicle stick. I don’t know if that preserves the adhesive better than your method or not. I may try yours. There is also a lot to be said about using duct tape instead.
I would add:
• Triple antibiotic wipes (or micro tube). A must for small injuries.
• Disinfectant wipes (for hands). Replace the towelettes with these is space is needed.
• To your gauze pads add some Mole Skin. A life saver if a blister develops.
• To your pills I would add/change:
- A couple of Benadryl for allergic reaction.
- 3 Imodium tablets. Eating something that brings about the runs WILL cause dehydration & that is serious.
- Exchange aspirin for Tylenol. Aspirin is a blood thinner. Not good if your already bleeding. Also more caustic on your gut.
If space permits and you’re going for a scouting first aid badge, consider
• 1+ Bug bite wipe (analgesic).
• Sting ease packet. Bee stings can be very distracting. Nice compliment to the Benedryl.
• Burn cream packet.
• Finally, a pair of tweezers. Taking home a splinter is not a good souvenir.
To round out your personal protection array for a day of adventuring, in addition to this first aid kit include:
• plenty of water
• electrolyte supplement
• 1 protein bar.
• sun screen SPF 50
• 1 or more bandanas. (exposure protection, additional bandaging, tourniquet, a fashion statement)
• hat & sun glasses.

[porcupinemamma]

BTW tourniquets are a Big No NO. You risk losing a limb

[LanceL16]

No longer a no-no. There is a big push in multiple casualty or mass trauma events to use a tourniquet to stop bleeding if needed. Training should be gotten and is readily available.

[WereCheetah]

They have a time and a place. To reduce the risk of losing a limb though you should open them up every 15 minutes.

[SashasDoc]

I would say that only applies if you have the advanced medical training to manage such a patient, which means the capability to do a field amputation if you fail to bring the bleeding under control after releasing and then retightening the tourniquet. For the layman, once applied, the tourniquet should remain tight and in place, with the time it was applied annotated on the victim's forehead in marker or blood (if a marker is unavailable).

[SashasDoc]

It's life over limb. If you cannot stop the bleeding with direct pressure and pressure points, a properly applied tourniquet will save their life at the cost of a limb. You should assume the limb will be lost when you apply the tourniquet.

Rubber bands aren't the best choice though. Narrow items like rubber bands and shoelaces damage the underlying tissues and should the limb be salvageable once the victim receives medical care, using narrow items as tourniquets can result in permanent nerve and vascular damage. Ideally, the item used for a tourniquet should be about 1" wide, but--that said--applying it when needed to preserve life is more important that the other considerations.

[oawv803]

I think that for the small space of an altoids can, you did a pretty good job fitting in all the essentials. I was wondering however, where did you get the suture kit? there's only so much butterfly closures can do.

[SashasDoc]

They're available on Amazon nowadays (13-years after your comment ;-) ). The superglue in the kit can also be used to close a laceration. Although you should not close a laceration if it hasn't been irrigated with sterile solution to remove any contaminants. Granted, if you're in a survival situation, the bleeding will get you before the infection, but only close them if you think you can't get to professional help within a day or so.

[nnygamer]

My brother used to be in the rescue squad, the suture kit was expired and he gave it to me.

[buggvin]

Thanks for sharing this... When I was a Boy Scout, we used to make these out of portable sewing kits, made of plastic and they would break easily. Now that my kids are starting Scouts, I wanted to recreate the little first aid kit, and using the Altoid tin is a great twist. We also made a "Get Lost" kit in a 35 mm film canister... wish I could remember that one as well.

[SashasDoc]

Old Boy Scout here too. I recall that our version of the "Get Lost" kit had a few quarters in the bottom to call for help from a pay phone (good luck using THAT today! ;-) ) along with some fishing line, lead shot, and a hook for fishing, some waterproof matches for starting a fire, and maybe some thread, a sewing needle, and a button or two to fix gear on the go.

[MakerCL]

You should add some allergy meds and tylenol so that you can treet even more things

[SashasDoc]

I was thinking that Tylenol, Benadryl, Motrin, etc all come in their own individual dose packs now (available at the supermarket for traveling) that are about the same size as the aspirin in this kit and could just as easily be taped up inside the lid. Or, just use the same method to add more--should probably label the clear bags though with a small label identifying the drug, dose (mg/tablet), and expiration date.

Great solution nnygamer! Love the whole thing!

[Slamjam]

Great idea. Can't seem to find any containers small enough to put alcohol or betadine in though. Also I am confused by the first slide. I see what appears to be gauze on the bottom (outside) of the tin.

On the back side of the box I put 4 layers of tape. A good storage area and easy to get to.

Is the tape under the gauze? Why is the gauze on the outside and not on the inside?

[SashasDoc]

What appears to be gauze is actually the cloth tape widely used in medicine. A clever solution to get more items in/on the tin. It comes in a variety of widths with 1"-3" being common. Might want to add a small "courtesy tab" to one end to make the tape easier to remove--to do so, just fold over the edge of one end of the tape back onto itself (adhesive-to-adhesive) to make a tab.

[sarah209]

Sephora has teeny sample vials that would be perfect. Maybe include a sample of sunblock since you are hanging out at Sephora bumming vials, anyway.

[MicheleF]

try eye drops bottles for your alcohol and betadine

[candogoods]

If someone decides to lose a finger put it in a bag and then PUT THE BAG in the ice water or ice. Don't expose the flesh to the ice or water.

[cowtipper97]

This is cool. I have been looking for an Instructable on one of these for a long time. Right now I can think of 3 thing to add to it, finger/toenail clippers, small scissor that are made for cutting of loose flesh off wounds are good for cutting into limbs to get something out, and needles (also are good in a small surgery to remove something)

[nnygamer]

I think a few needles and thread can be thrown in, they don't take up much room. As for scissors, that's why I put in 2 razor blades. Much smaller and sharper. Nail clippers would help, but I'm out of room! Tweezers too, but no room.
Maybe adding a second tin to put more stuff in would work and still keep it pocket size.