The Pocket Pal Aka a Gals Other Pocket Pal

Intro: The Pocket Pal Aka a Gals Other Pocket Pal

For those of us who suffer from the daily grind, and a health disaster strikes when your away from your medicine cabinet.
Perfect for the workplace, workers commute, and travel to and fro for those lucky enough to need it or earn it.

STEP 1: The Gather

To start with - The Gather List:

- The Container:
Recycle an empty gum container
*for aesthetics
A stick of glue
Scissors
A pattern on paper
A roll of clear packing tape *tape not shown

-The Fillers:
Headache Pills
Nausea/Travel pills
Allergy Pills
Roll of antacids

STEP 2: Compile the Container

Make sure its clean & dry inside. If you want to skip the decorating the tube, go ahead.

Cut the patterned paper you want to decorate your tube with to the right size.
Apply glue to the back and then wrap and roll it around the tube of the container.
Let it dry about 5 minutes.
Then wrap the clear tape over it to protect the pattern from your pants, sweaty palms and whatnot.

STEP 3: Fill It!

Now to stuff the tube with goodies.

First, goes in the antacids roll.

Next, take the scissors and trim the tablets of the Allergy Remedy and the Nausea Relief. You only need them in a single dose anyways.
Once they're trimmed to easily fit into the mouth of the container, pop them all in. I go with one entire panel-pack, so I don't have to keep refilling it.

Then it's a matter of topping the rest of the container off with headache pills.
Personally, I endorse Entrophen. Super Extra Strength -arthritis relief. It's 650mg of ASA(aspirin).
Per tablet. My headaches are long-lasting neverending cycles. Plus, at that level, you don't feel the other aches and pains.
I also worked at a Call Center for years, and my immune system isn't up to snuff anymore. I get laryngitis everytime I get a sinus cold or a sore throat. And can well recognize the signs, so I carry Cold & Sinus tablets too.

Once your done filling up, close the cap.

STEP 4: Finished!

And we're done.

This fits comfortably into most jean pockets, the useless cellphone holder spots in your purse that can never hold a cellphone to begin with, compact enough to throw in your carry-on, your gym bag, the dashboard stash, or the empty drink holder in your car.

It also works for your medication if your just going out for a late day.

Comments

[sokamiwohali]

I understand that this is for JUST the person putting it together, BUT I would HIGHLY suggest the following:

1) seal the medicine in a piece of ziplock bag to make a small packet. (like some projects show, they heat seal 3 sides, insert an object, and then heat seal the last side)

2) Get onto Microsoft word, or some other word processor, and tinker around with the font settings. Create TINY labels that fit on the sealed packets you just made, detailing the type of medicine it is. If there is room, put generic usage instructions.

3) Using crystal clear tape...OR a sticker making machine, stick the newly made label onto the packet, and THEN put it into this tube.

4) If you ALWAYS use the same medicines, then take the labels off their containers, remove the sticky part, and insert the labels with the medicine packets, that way, unknowing individuals can associate the packet with the label. It is an ADDED PLUS if the label shows what the individual pills look like too. The less people have to wonder, the less you have to worry about being carted off to jail on possession charges, and waiting for them to confirm the contents of the tube, just to let you go.

In addition to those suggestions, PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT'S HOLY!! KEEP YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN THEIR ORIGINAL CONTAINERS!!! I have YET to go through a state or country in which your prescription drugs are NOT required to be in the original container. Do it for your own protection. Otherwise, this is a GREAT instrucable for OTC drugs.

[m1sterb0b]

Now, I took first aid, and my brother works in a hospital and all the time he and I have been taught to NEVER mix multiple drugs in the same container, no matter what they are. If you take a container and put pills in it, whatever label was on it before must be covered completely and a new label, whether its sharpy or something more sophisticated, needs to be affixed to it to tell whats inside. That might just be something taught in my state, and I know that pills have a certain number on them or a certain color, but it was taught to us that its generally not a good idea to mix them together. Just FYI. However, It was a nice instructable. Maybe have multiple ones for different kinds of pills, or maybe smaller ones for different kinds. I do like the thought of using it for rollaids or tums, those things can get messy and mess up your pocket, and if dust or dirt gets on them, their nasty.

[mkslocomb]

Additional suggestion for labeling... PDR type pic and description of all included pills.

[randomhat]

I only put 'naked' pills of ASA and cold and sinus tablets, because after working in a call center for years, my immune system is practically shot to hell when it comes to colds, especially throat infections. It's the point where I can identify a problem 3 days before a doctor would. And the allergy and nausea tablets are still in blister packs, cut down ones, but still in blisters. Prescription Medication is an entirely different story. And that's what the weekday cases are for. This case is really for your over the counter aides that just simply get lost in your purse or bag all the time.

[EviLNinJa]

if it is for that days uses then u are fine..

[=SMART=]

nice, i only take hay-fever tablets and a vitamin one so id probably use a smaller container, an old film canister maybe? thats waterproof too. :D nice pattern

[hammer9876]

Ha ha! My first thought was, "Film canister? I haven't seen one in year!" But I do have a couple stashed away. They are such a great size for stuff. That's what we need - Instructables for film canisters!

[hammer9876]

Ha ha! My first thought was, "Film canister? I haven't seen one in years!" But I do have a couple stashed away. They are such a great size for stuff. That's what we need - Instructables for film canisters!

[watergrrl]

As a safety precaution, this should probably only be used by the person who prepared it. You should probably note the ingredients on a sticker with the info on how much you can take. Also, keep in mind if you wanted to help a friend out and give them one of those pills, if they are allergic to any of the other pills in there, they could have an allergic reaction just due to the pills touching.

[Chaytanka]

cute idea. However, if the police stop you and search your vehicle or person and discover a pretty bottle of pretty (unmarked, unpackaged) pills. They may suspect you are transporting illegal drugs. In our jurisdiction, any "pills" (prescription and over-the-counter) must be in their original container. And before everyone jumps all over my behind, I'm not saying you will be CONVICTED, I'm saying the police may "Suspect" and if the police find you in possession of this pretty container with unmarked pills. Well, it would probably be sufficient "probable cause" for further action on the part of the police. Now there is a real headache, being detained by the police as you are on your way to work. I suggest only using pills which are still in their individual travel packaging and then trimming the packaging to fit inside the container. BTW, there is another great Instructable on what to do when stopped by the police.

[Bitsi]

I don't think that the Justice League cares about your drugs anymore. Just don't try to smuggle in a bottle of water. :-)

[randomhat]

It's not actually for prescription anything, just over the counter things. And except for the aspirin tablets, everything else is still in marked blister packs. But where I live and travel by car, your lucky to see a bird, let alone another human. If I travel by airplane, all the original packaging is in my carry-on and this is simply meant for quick access(which is good, because I don't get nausea from the flight, take off or landing, but the taxi process -pilots can't drive).

[Bitsi]

You can put a slip of paper with your ICE (in case of emergency) information in here too. Mine has my prescriptions and my drug allergies on it as well.

[biggirlssweets]

yay! I love the 'entirely optional deco' - it's everso nice to be nice to your travel accoutrements and make 'em purdy-like. I do something similar, myself. The mini m&m tubes are awesome, and you can use them in a colour-coded system. I put all my daily vitamins in the green one and the emergency (migraine/allergy etc) in the red or pink one. Good Luck with the comp!

[shamanwhitewolf]

That's pretty neat. I travel a lot and use an Altoids box. Meds are almost always marked, so officials will know what they are. For any prescriptions I have to carry, I just add the papers to my travel docs. I guess I should use a plastic container instead so it doesn't set off the detectors or get too much notice passing through the security x-ray scanner. Maybe it's because I'm a guy, but I never even thought about sprucing up the box!

[SlothOnSpeed]

Stop at a pharmacy counter and ask for one of those packets that says "do not eat" on it. They soak up moisture nicely and take up almost no room. The price is right, too. I like this idea for over the counter meds, but if you take anything that is prescription-only and stronger than aspirin, you'll need to carry the tablets in the original prescription container, in case you are stopped by the police, or have to go through customs while traveling. Some countries are very strict about this, and I didn't want to take any chances. I also didn't want to carry around a whole bunch of huge bottles. So, I asked the pharmacist to break up my prescription into the normal sized bottle and a second bottle that holds a week's worth of medication. I now carry the tiny bottle with me when traveling, and only refill it from the larger one when necessary. I ask for new small bottles occasionally in case someone wonders why I am carrying around three year old asthma medication. Great instructable!

[mickeypop]

Actually that is partially wrong with respect to the USA. In October 1975 a Federal Law was passed allowing you to carry 3 days or 3 doses (which ever is greater) in ANY CONTAINER OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING. You should however have a prescription or photocopy of the label just in case. I should know, I was falsely charged in November the same year for not being in the standard container and beat it.

[stib]

I'm guessing you're not a parent, because the idea of putting medications in a lolly container just trips the big NONONONONONONO! switch in my brain. Covering up the label probably helps, but for kids who can't read, the nice pretty colours and lingering minty smell will just spell "eat me". And I just hate it when my kids eat all my meds before I can get to them.

[ninja_liz]

I made something similar to this once. Unfortunately I forgot which pills were which. The upside was that the work day flew by and I felt great.

[blaine1996]

lol