Packing with a purpose

[rosscrazyelk]

Was listening to a podcast and the guy was talking about packing your pack with a purpose.
The one thing that I never thought about was he said most people put their first aid kit in their pack but it gets buried. I never really thought about it. I have one but it gets buried.
He was saying it should be easy to get to,In hands reach.  Because you never know what happens that maybe you are in a situation you can't get your pack off or etc.
Which would lead me to believe a belt pocket .
If I was to put it in my belt pouch. I would need to shrink the size of what I carry. So what would you say is absolutely imperative to have in case of that first aid emergency,
That would fit in a pocket on my pack belt?

[swanny]

What about stashing it in a side water bottle pocket? Easy enough access still. Or you could keep some basic necessities in the waist belt pocket.

Everyone's first aid will vary depending on their knowledge of what to do and how to use the contents. For the most part, many of us would probably do gauze, some sort of medical grade tape, a few asprin, and a bandage or two.

In reality, probably the only thin you would need quickly though I imagine for first aid would be your belt to apply pressure to stop bleeding. Anything else seems to severe for what a waist belt first aid kit could provide I would think.

[GHETTO GUIDE]

Not a bad idea at first.  Then i thought about it. What kind of injuries might we encounter? Cuts, scrapes, sprains , strains are the most common.  Falls and fractures less common.  Complete hemorrhage not likely unless your taking fire. Unless you fall off a cliff i cant think of a time where you couldnt get your pack off.

Treatment as mentioned earlier would most likely be simple bandages.  In the event of an arterial lac quick pressure and tourniquet. Both of these would not be in my kit for first line treatment.  Meaning my kit would come second.  One handed opps possibly but still manageable. 

Fractures and bone stabilization would be done with a combination of items not in my   Tape, paracord etc..

Summary. The kit is important to me as well but not enough to pack it on my belt. Frontal pouch possibly. 

Have a treatment  plan on some different scenarios... thats the best plan.

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[WAcoyotehunter]

I keep mine in a specific pocket in my pack and that never changes, I haven't used it much but it's reassuring knowing exactly where it is all the time.  I cant think of too many situations that I couldn't get to my pack to grab it.  My belt pockets are usually where I keep a knife and my calls.

[garrett89]

Always was at the top or side belt of the pack. Usually super glue, a few different pills, tape

[blackpowderhunter]

I keep my small first aid kit in the lid of my exo.
Lid is reserved for small light items I might need often, or dont want to get lost in the main pack like my first aid kit, head lamp, snacks, small tools.
Main compartment has the things like extra clothes, kill kit, etc.

[NW SURVEYOR]

Someone's watching to much T.V.
Maybe we should all practice opening the asparin bottle in the dark.

[jackelope]

Someone's watching to much T.V.
Maybe we should all practice opening the asparin bottle in the dark.

Because they smartly pack their gear?
Wow.

[SilkOnTheDrySide]

Packing with a purpose is fine, but you shouldn't pack for your fears.

It's a great thought though for other reasons. I keep my lunch and snacks in a waist belt pocket so that I can snack without taking my pack off. Same with headlamp and cell phone (gps and camera).

But as far as a lightweight first aid kit. IMO Leukotape, IBP, Benadryl, Epi (if needed), and a small pack of quick clot is as extensive as I would go.

Sometimes some Claritin or Tylenol PM, but just pills.


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[kentrek]

Mines buried but in the event of an emergency I cant imagine having that slow me down...undo lid...dump pack...grab what I need  and if that takes too long I'm probably a goner any how

We can't plan for all the what if situations out there, just gotta get comfortable with that....

[garrett89]

Mines buried but in the event of an emergency I cant imagine having that slow me down...undo lid...dump pack...grab what I need  and if that takes too long I'm probably a goner any how

We can't plan for all the what if situations out there, just gotta get comfortable with that....

That's how I used to think before I did a lot of ruck hikes. I started to pack smarter and tighter and it made things easier. The negatives with dumping your pack like that is you have to pack it all back up, if the ground is wet, your stuff is wet now. Besides being a goner. I would hate to have wet gear.

[jackelope]

It's easy enough to pack smartly. I'd rather pack logically and have the stuff I need regularly or in the event of an emergency readily available. Kind of like packing your lunch at the bottom of your pack. You'd have to empty your pack to get to it, and it would be squished.
 

[Jonathan_S]

My first aid kit is at the bottom of my pack and will stay there. Now my Pack has a zipper on the main bag down there if needed. However, like @Kentrek said, if that 10 seconds is the difference between life and death, my SABC is not going to be adequate to save my life or anybody else.

[j_h_nimrod]

I'm not overly paranoid or worried about an injury, but I still keep my small first aid kit convenient in one of my outside pockets. The few times I have needed it (moleskin, Aleve, tape for a leak) it would have been a pain to unpack everything, keeping it handy makes much more sense to me. I don't need to keep it on my hip belt, but keeping it in the bottom of my pack seems the same as keeping my extra ammo in the same place and I've needed my extra ammo about as much as my first aid kit.

[kentrek]

Maybe I'm alone on this but the last thing on my mind in an emergency situation that's life or death, and seconds matter, is if some of my gear gets wet....and I'm a anti wet nazi.....my main bag is a 35 litter dry sack....in side I keep my "possibles" inside another 2 liter dry sack thats bright red....then my clothes inside a sea to summit water proof compression sack that's blue.....then food&water gos into the guide lid along with small knife,headlight or cell..knives/game bags/rope all in the very bottom of the main bag

Ive found color coding very helpful


Who knows maybe when i actually do some ruck hikes il change my ways.....but I doubt it

[KFhunter]

My first aid kit is at the bottom of my pack and will stay there. Now my Pack has a zipper on the main bag down there if needed. However, like @kentrek said, if that 10 seconds is the difference between life and death, my SABC is not going to be adequate to save my life or anybody else.

I'd only beg to differ if someone had epipens, but then those people would know better than bury it at the bottom of a bag 

[j_h_nimrod]

My first aid kit is at the bottom of my pack and will stay there. Now my Pack has a zipper on the main bag down there if needed. However, like @kentrek said, if that 10 seconds is the difference between life and death, my SABC is not going to be adequate to save my life or anybody else.

I'd only beg to differ if someone had epipens, but then those people would know better than bury it at the bottom of a bag 

True, if I had a need for an Epi I would probably keep it in a very accessible spot!

[Jonathan_S]

My first aid kit is at the bottom of my pack and will stay there. Now my Pack has a zipper on the main bag down there if needed. However, like @kentrek said, if that 10 seconds is the difference between life and death, my SABC is not going to be adequate to save my life or anybody else.

I'd only beg to differ if someone had epipens, but then those people would know better than bury it at the bottom of a bag 

Yeah epinephrine is a little bit different! I'd keep that in my chest pocket I think 

[Firedogg]

Vaccuum pack it and then in a bag clipped to the outside of pack with a carabiner or zip tie.

[Branden]

I don't really pack a first aid kit. I carry some Aleve, which is with my extra batteries, headlamp, fire starter, etc. It's all readily accessible, so if I was to add gauze or something it would be accessible also. Nothing wrong with having items accessible but if I can't get into my main bag or a back pocket I doubt having a little bit of gauze and tape in a belt pouch going to help me much.

[kentrek]

Vaccuum pack it and then in a bag clipped to the outside of pack with a carabiner or zip tie.

Wouldn't the act of un doing the carabiner and vacuum packaging take more time then simply unzipping a zipper??

If hunting with someone who might have special circumstances such as bee allergies or heart issue....definitely keeping the eppi pen or nitro in its own handy pocket on my pack lid

[trophyhunt]

About the only first aid I carry is a roll electrical tape, and that's to tape the tag to the antlers.  The one thing I keep in my front pocket for quick access, my wind checker.  I know it's probably not smart to not have first aid, just being honest.

[Firedogg]

Vaccuum pack it and then in a bag clipped to the outside of pack with a carabiner or zip tie.

Wouldn't the act of un doing the carabiner and vacuum packaging take more time then simply unzipping a zipper??

If hunting with someone who might have special circumstances such as bee allergies or heart issue....definitely keeping the eppi pen or nitro in its own handy pocket on my pack lid

Not really, if it's in the pack you have to dig around for it, my option keeps it readily available and not buried. At the least an Israeli Pressure dressing would be the one item I would want the most readily available to stop hemmoraging that needs the fastest attention, anything else beyond an epi kit if it applies to you you do not need in such a hurry.

[Branden]

About the only first aid I carry is a roll electrical tape, and that's to tape the tag to the antlers.  The one thing I keep in my front pocket for quick access, my wind checker.  I know it's probably not smart to not have first aid, just being honest.

I'm the same. I pack Aleve for the occasional head ache. Thats it.

[NW SURVEYOR]

This discussion started with regards to Branden listening to a Podcast.

I am not oblivious to the concept of Packing with a Purpose as I also carry a (very) few first aid and emergency items in my daypack.
My apologies to anyone who thinks I am being overly sarcastic.
My comment about people watching to much T.V, is this...
Writers, Bloggers, Podcast people and salesmen all get paid to hawk a product.
In many cases, some of the subjects are embellished (Filler)  for length.
We have all sat and watched some survival or endurance type show where things are really drawn out.
While some of this MAY come in handy, it's T.V., Podcast, U-Tube, whatever.
The speaker needs to take up an hour with only 40 minutes of material.
Spending 5 minutes talking about Purposeful Packing is manushia.

With regards to Packing with a purpose, sure, compartmentalize your gear, who doesn't?
But for me, I'm hunting, I have the stuff in my pack as support.
The only emergency injury I concern myself about is a broken leg.
Other than that, I can walk out.

Is it really that much of a hassle to take off the day pack and find what you need.
If we are carrying that much stuff to rummage through, perhaps we should pare down.

For me, I pack a few asparin and Aleve,
If I need a tournequet (sp) or splint, I have a a spare pair of sox.
Any serious emergency will require that I take my pack off anyway.
If I need to make an emergency shelter, off comes that pack, no hassle.

The most interesting thing to me is the fact that I regularly go through my pack trying to lighten the load.
I then put literally everythin back in and add something.
Individualy nothing ways very much, but collectively I've got 15 pounds of stuff.
Without water!!!

Just my opinion.
Rob.

Just my thoughts.
Rob.



 

[Jpmiller]

I I've got those rubberized twist tie things from home depot and tied my first aid kit to the outside of my pack. I've never used the first aid kit but having the twist tie is handy lol.

[Jonathan_S]

Killing is the reason we enjoy hunting more than scouting

[T-Dozzer]

Tough crowd. I agree with the OP.
Work in EMS long enough you see injuries made worse by being unprepared. An Israli bandage or hemostaic agent weighs ounces and will stop a bad cut or puncture sending you into shock. Cheap insurance when time matters in my humble opinion.

[HawkCreek]

My first aid kit is pretty small, usually it stays in the top lid of my pack and I try to let others I'm with know where it's at. It's the only red bag in all my stuff so it stands out against the others when it does end up in the main compartment.
I learned in the Marines a long time ago to find a packing "system" that works for me and to stick with it. Seasons and weather may change a little of what I carry but the basics are always in the same place wherever that may be in the pack. I can almost always dig out whatever I need without even looking in my pack. Was a necessity back then, now days it's just a habit.