The SABFAK, a comprehensive first-aid kit in a sandwich bag
By P.J. Beaumont, co-creator of Tactical Pajamas. Click here for discount code!
My goal here is to put together a practical first aid kit, one you are likely to use and need on a regular basis, which can also deal with problems that go well beyond the common and ordinary. It is also modular and scalable, so when you can carry more you will have more.
Armed with just a very few critical items and a bit of knowledge, it’s possible to save a life— or several lives. Sometimes it doesn’t take much. In this article, I’ll introduce a kit that fits in a sandwich bag can deal with emergencies ranging from minor to major.
First aid kit contents will vary depending on where you are going, what possible problems you expect to encounter, and how much it is practical for you to carry. For everyday use in a purse, briefcase, or computer bag, the SAndwich Bag First Aid Kit (SABFAK) will enable you to take care of injuries up to and including gunshot wounds, knife wounds, amputations, or serious animal attacks. Kits that are to be carried in vehicles can be larger and even more comprehensive.
The vast majority of problems that most civilian medical kits are used for will be minor. While this first aid kit is capable of dealing with serious injuries and some medical conditions, it also has supplies for taking care of common cuts and burns, along with minor digestive issues.
Future posts will cover first-aid basics and how to use the SABFAK and the larger kits of which the SABFAK forms the core.
Here’s the list:
-Band Aids, regular and large
-Gauze pads, 2” and 4”
-QuikClot pads or powder
-Occlusive dressings (will act like chest seals for smaller wounds)
-Painkillers— Use Tylenol if bleeding is an issue, I also keep ibuprofen in mine.
-Aspirin— can help heart attack victims.
-Antiseptic ointment— Get a single tube of the triple-acting stuff or individual packets.
-Povidone/iodine pads
-Medical grade super-glue (Vet Bond or Dermabond)
-Phala tape, does triple-duty for blisters, bandage tape, and wound closure
-Tweezers
-Blood lancets (for pulling out splinters)
-Rubber gloves
-Butterfly bandages or other stitch substitutes
-Steri-Strips (get that brand, not generic)
-Wound wash (saline solution), can also be used to flush eyes
-Alcohol wipes
-Mastisol or Benzoin (increases the adhesion of butterfly bandages and steri-strips, etc.)
-Anti-diarrhea pills.
-Sugar packets or glucose tablets/gel (for treating diabetic shock)
-Salt tablets/Medi-Lyte (for treating people with electrolyte imbalance)
-Antihistamine tablets
-Burn cream
-Cortisone
-12’ of micro paracord, preferably made out of Dyneema, can make tournaquet or secure objects
-4” EMT shears or other appropriate small, blunt-nose scissors
-Tiny flashlight
-Triangular bandage/handkerchief
-Baking soda (for acid splashes, dissolve in water bottle if available)
-Ear plugs
-Safety pins
OPTIONAL
-Potable Aqua tablets (definitely carry in kit if you live in an area prone to natural disasters, like Southern California)
-Razor blade/scalpel
-Styptic pencil
-Chest seal
-Upgraded case/bag
-Pen
-Carabiners
The author, P.J. Beaumont, is a former volunteer EMT, as well as a former whitewater kayaking instructor, professional whitewater guide, and experienced backpacker. He has been a competition pistol shooter, bicycle racer, and master mechanic. In a career that has spanned several decades, he has worked as a photographer, videographer, and reporter for every major news outlet in the Washington, DC area. His work has also been featured in national publications such as National Geographic World, Time, Newsweek, American Heritage, and Life Magazine’s The Year In Pictures. He has covered the White House and many Washington DC institutions and events for international publications. He is the co-creator of Tactical Pajamas.