This review started because I needed a band aid the other day and rather than dribble through the house, I went to the first aid kit in the minivan. I was surprised at the amount of empty space in the plastic case, but there were the necessary items to handle the cut. I used a benzo conium wipe (still wet) and a Band-Aid (still sticky) and then started quality checking the kit.
I looked at the contents label and it was printed in 1996 and looking further, the remaining dose of Imodium in the kit had a use by date of 1999 .
The kit is a Johnson & Johnson Camping First Aid Kit and for the products to still be viable after all that time, it was obviously a quality kit. It appears this particular kit is no longer available under the same name. Considering its age, I decided to look at the remaining contents and how serviceable they were.
I opened an alcohol wipe and it was still wet; of the Band-Aids left in the kit, I took a sampling of each size and stuck them on my arm to see how they stick. As a control, I stuck a band-aid that was about 2 years old (printed Box date) next to them as a control. Initially, the new one felt about twice as “sticky”.
The missing Imodium doses in the kit were used to get home from a business trip that ended with severe intestinal upset. That was about ten years ago. The remaining one I opened out of curiosity. It wasn’t chalky, did not smell, and when placed on my tongue had the taste of a fresh one . I wouldn’t want to depend on it, but in an emergency, maybe.
There was a missing ice pack I remember using on daughters twisted ankle at a music festival. (twenty years ago)
There was missing burn ointment on the list that was used when a branding iron got loose and also when I leaned my arm against a hot mower muffler. In both cases, I covered the damaged area with the ointment, a gauze pad to protect the area and taped it in place. As an aside, if the heat source is hot enough, without carbonizing from an open flame, you don’t feel pain as the nerves die too quickly to report the hot. The pain comes later. The burns healed normally.
There are antiseptic vials (2) that have not been used and are still fluid, probably still effective.
There is a small roll of 1” adhesive tape. It still has a lot of sticky, the only thing indicating age is the exterior of the tape is light brown instead of white until you get about two wraps down.
The next day I removed the test Band-Aids from my arm. I believe the older units had about 40% of the sticky compared to the newer Band-Aid. One come off overnight, the others were attached but the edges were loose. The newer test band aid left an imprint on the skin when it was removed. Considering the age of the items, not bad.
Reviewing this first aid kit moved me to evaluate the rest of the ‘stuff’ in the car. At one time I used to work on computers from Havre to Plentywood Montana, as far south as Douglas, Wyoming and as far East as Rapid City, South Dakota. This wasn’t continuous, but often enough I carried a lot of gear.
The next oldest kit (which changed with each vehicle) that I carried was a milk crate of automotive gear: Antifreeze (in the appropriate color), motor oil, brake fluid, baling wire and duct tape. Two large and two small heater clamps. This kit bailed me out of two different unpleasant problems: a failed exhaust pipe hanger allowed the pipe to bang on the ground as I drove and an intake manifold that was sucking the crankcase dry of oil. The kit was also responsible for selling two of my vehicles at a higher price when the prospective buyers saw it. I did have to leave the kit with each car.
Right next to the first aid kit is a “stop the bleed” kit. Several years ago, there was a course put on by the emergency room staff called “stop the bleed” about handling traumatic injuries where controlling the bleeding is critical. We got to handle and apply tourniquets, roll gauze, and the Israeli emergency bandage. One bit of information from the ER squad: Expedient tourniquets typically fail. They have seen belts, ties, even suspenders used and fail. The one that came close was heavy wire, and it caused so much additional tissue damage that it was worse than the original injury. Their message was: use a real tourniquet. Please! I built the kit and it is unused in a soft sided tool bag. All the items are still sealed in original packaging and in zip locked bags. It contains a box of 6 roll gauze, two tourniquets, a package of six 3×3 gauze pads, an Israeli battle dressing and a SAM splint. There are also two rolls of athletic, 3” tape wrap. I checked the wrap and the elastic is still good. I haven’t used this kit and that’s OK.
Next item I checked is a mid-weight sleeping bag. When weather was bad, I used to throw a sleeping bag and heavy coat in the car and go. Then, I found a mid-weight sleeping bag at an estate sale. It looked like it had never been used, was made with man-made insulation (Hollofil). Ten dollars for the bag and 5 dollars for cleaning. I’ve used it twice, sleeping at a customer site overnight when I didn’t have a motel. And once at a family picnic when I spread it under tree for the kids and my mother. The youngest took a nap on it. The extended time in a stuff sack does not appear to pack/break down the insulation, or leave empty voids or spots.
In addition to the bag, I have two wool blend blankets in a large zip lock bag. The girls used them when they got out of the lake after a swim. It was a warm day, the lake was cold and the breeze was also cold. The blankets were very welcome.
The blankets and sleeping bag, if needed at a wreck or emergency are expendable by intent. Use it and loose it.
The next item on my list was what I called my “necessities bag”. In later years people called it a bugout or get home bag.
I used a day pack to hold an aluminized Mylar blanket and a fiber reinforced thermal blanket. The blankets show the creases but don’t appear to be breaking on the creases. An Esbit stove with additional refills in original packaging. One of the Esbit tablets in the refill package is yellowish, another is also discolored but they both burn fairly well. There is a very mild smell associated. I should have placed these in a Ziploc bag when they were new but they still appear to be quite functional.
The next item are the two Bic style lighters. One works normally, the other the striker wheel is frozen solid. It’s fuel valve works normally and you get a flame when you apply an external spark; It proves the old “Two is one” mantra. Along this same line of getting flame is a small Nalgene bottle with boxes of strike anywhere matches in it. I recently found that the matches in the center of the bottle appear normal with white tops and they work normally. But the matches on the outside edges have a yellow top, instead of white, and they crumble instead of flaming. It is time to replace them!
I have a nested stainless steel mess kit with spoon and fork bent to fit inside. I also included a small salt and pepper shaker in the middle of the center bowl. One item that is missing is a ‘cute’ stainless three cup coffee pot that I loaded with coffee, tea bags and sugar. I just can’t find it.
The Leatherman almost gets lost in the bottom of the bag so I placed it in small zippered pocket up front.
For a while I carried a Lifestraw for water needs and then switched to a Sweetwater filter as it seemed more adaptable to my possible needs.
Along with a hank of 550 paracord, I also threw in a couple of small carabiners to use for ease of attachment to handholds, branches, or other knobs. They also work well with the grommets in the thermal blanket. These are not heavy duty, but they hold a surprising weight.
A pair of heavy leather gloves have seem several uses through the years: tire changes, stringing wire and using a snow shovel.
There are two small flashlights, one a Duracell Durabeam and the other a no name led light. They have stood up to years of being ignored and still light up when needed/ tested. The durabeam I liked because it fit in a shirt pocket and when placed on a flat surface, didn’t roll away. These are light weight and disposable if needed. For serious work I have a club like 1300 Lumen C cell light in the front console.
For a while I had a couple bags of jerky and some energy bars in the bag. The jerky when I tested it after a couple of years would snap like a cracker and probably had the same food value. The energy bars were likewise very brittle and tasted like sweet cardboard so I will change my food plan to something less caveman like. That’s it for the daypack.
Last on my list of necessary stuff for the back of the car is a full sized spare tire and a real jack. I really don’t like the donut spare or the run flat tires. When you are looking at 50 or sixty miles or more to get to a tire shop during bad weather, they just don’t cut it. I followed a car for 75 miles at 40 mph in the black of night because the nearest tire shop was that far. The young lady driving that car reminded me of my daughter, so I kept following her till she made it. The tire shop closed an hour after we got there; they stayed late.
One other item I carry is a medium weight coat that is large enough that I can wear it over a suit. It is rain resistant, stored in a plastic bag, and it also is expendable If I have to get under the car or it gets torn.
Getting to the bottom of the list of ‘stuff’; there are 20 dollars in quarters and fifty cent pieces in rolls in the glove box. Hard currency is always good and automated tolls sometimes prefer/require change.
I almost overlooked this last item: a 55 gallon plastic drum liner. I have used it to cover the seats when the passengers appeared to have rolled in the mud, a ground sheet for a sleeping bag, picked up empty aluminum cans during a street party cleanup, and expedient rain coat. I have used several of these over the years and they are cheap, durable, and disposable. Most have been black, but at least one was orange. I Think they are 6 or 8mil and are pretty tough. It is a very useful inexpensive item that sits there quietly until needed.
Much of what I carry, I haven’t used and I don’t regret it at all. The few times I have needed an emergency solution to a problem, the ‘stuff’ usually saved me time, convenience, and money. It is also a warm fuzzy knowing the ‘stuff’ is available if needed even though I no longer drive those miles.
Part of the materials are the result of deliberate planning over thirty years, other parts are me thinking “That might be useful”. There were also suggestions from friends that I followed. I’m still open to adding items. None of the items named were provided by manufacturers, they’re just what worked for me.