S.T.O.M.P. II Medical Pack, by Pat Cascio

It may not look like it when you walk into my home office. It looks messy, but I know where everything is. I like to be organized, and with the Blackhawk Products new S.T.O.M.P. II Medical Pack, it makes it easy to find all the medical supplies one might need in an emergency. We’re taking a close look at the SEAL team Medic-inspired medical backpack today.

Ambulance Boxes Back In the Day

Back in the day, and we’re talking way back in the day when I worked on an ambulance, we had all of our medical gear stored inside of hard plastic boxes, similar to what an angler might have when they are out fishing. These boxes had lots of compartments, and it was easy to get to everything. However, a couple drawbacks were encountered, one being that hard plastic boxes would often break if dropped. Also, if dropped, a lot of your medical gear got out of place. Still, this setup was better than nothing, at that time.

Our Combat Medic Daughter Used Blackhawk Medic Bag

When our oldest daughter joined the US Army about six or seven years back, she became a combat medic. She liked it, too. However, when assigned to her first unit, the combat medics didn’t have anything to carry their medical gear in, other than cardboard boxes. This was totally unacceptable. We obtained a Blackhawk Products medic bag for her, and in short order some of the other combat medics purchased the same or similar medical bags from Blackhawk Products for their own use. For the life of me, I didn’t understand, and still don’t, how the US Army wasn’t supplying our medical personnel with anything other than cardboard boxes to haul their gear and supplies in. Our daughter used that older version, which is still in production, for her four-year enlistment. When she returned home, she gifted that medical backpack to me, fully stocked for our medical prepper supplies. It has served me well, and it still can.

New Blackhawk Products S.T.O.M.P. II Medical Backpack

When I received the new Blackhawk Products S.T.O.M.P. II medical backpack, I was more than a bit overwhelmed with the larger size of it, as compared to the bag I was using. With all the room it had inside for all your medical supplies and needs, it is about one-third bigger than the original medic backpack. This newer version was designed to US Navy SEAL team medic specifications. So, I knew it was going to be of the highest quality.

Specs

A few specs are worth noting. This backpack is equipped with adjustable shoulder straps, a sternum strap, and even a web belt, all provided for comfortable carry, even under a full load. With it, you can carry just about everything you’ll need on a combat mission in this backpack. From the Blackhawk website, here are some more specs:

  • Constructed of 1000 denier nylon with reinforced stitching,
  • Breathable closed cell foam padding,
  • Accommodates two 100-oz hydration reservoirs – sold separately,
  • High-quality YKK zippers with easy grip pull tabs,
  • Webbing on the underside for accessory packs or medic/sleeping rolls,
  • Two robust grab handles,
  • Adjustable external compression straps accommodate various loadouts
  • Metal grommet at bottom of pack for drainage
  • Internal elastic stays and keepers
  • External hook and loop strip
  • Multiple small and medium pockets
  • Drop pouches with rigging for jumps
  • Several flat netted zipper pockets
  • Includes S.T.O.M.P. Medical accessory pouches with red handles and S.T.O.M.P. Medical pack accessory pouch with blue handle for storing medical supplies.
  • Dimensions 20”L x 13” wide x 6”D = 2470 cu in. However, the pack expands and can carry a lot more than you think it does.

My Pack

One thing I really love about this medical bag is that, it can lay flat, and that makes it much easier to get to the supplies you need in a trauma situation. This is time saving. As stated, this is a heavy duty medical backpack, and it weighs about 9 lbs empty, so when you are packing it with your medical supplies, you’ll want to take this empty weight into consideration. My pack is slightly more than 35 lbs when fully loaded.

Spent Days to Get It Packed With Supplies Where I Wanted

At the onset, I said I like to be organized, and this is especially true when it comes to medical supplies. It took me two days to get everything packed inside this bag just where I wanted everything to go. Yep, you read that right; it took two days to get it packed. I packed, unpacked, moved supplies around, and repacked it a number of times. And, I’m still not entirely happy with where some of the supplies are packed. Then, I did a little more unpacking. Now, repacking is in order one of these days.

Don’t Want Medical Gear Getting Wet

Just about everything in my pack is stored in ***Ziploc waterproof plastic bags***amazon.com/Becko-Plastic-necklet-accessories-Waterproof/dp/B07144WQWQ. You sure don’t want your medical gear and supplies getting wet. If that happens, it’s of no use to you or to the person you are trying to help.

Bartering My Medical Training

To be sure, I don’t go out playing doctor. This medical backpack is for survival purposes when the SHTF, and I plan on bartering my medical training for whatever we might need. Still, I wouldn’t turn an injured person away if they didn’t have anything to barter with.

I should also mention that I worked for my family doctor for a full year as his assistant– a physician’s assistant, if you will– long before there was such a thing or title. I got a full medical school education working for this man, and I replaced three nurses he was using. They couldn’t keep up with him. On average he would put in a 20-hour day and quite often longer days than that. He was a workaholic. After a year, I decided I couldn’t keep up with him either.

I owned my own medical clinic and had several doctors working for me there. So I had lots of hands-on experience in various medical emergencies.

More on the S.T.O.M.P. II Medical Backpack

The S.T.O.M.P. II medical backpack has several compression straps, for pulling everything high and tight when you close it up, as well as the various zippers. One thing it doesn’t have are MOLLE straps on the outside, like my older medic backpack. At first, I was a little disappointed, but I wasn’t about to second guess any Navy SEAL team who had a hand in designing this new pack. I don’t need any MOLLE straps on the outside of the bag. There is plenty of room on the inside for everything I might need.

Overwhelming To See All of the Storage Space Inside

It is a bit overwhelming, when you first open up this pack and see all the various storage space you have inside of it. We are talking elastic straps, lot of ‘em, and lots of pockets of various sizes. This is an ER in a bag. I’ve visited lots of ERs in my life, professionally and as a patient, and I’m here to tell you that when properly supplied this pack is better equipped than many small hospital ERs.

Jump Proof Padded Pouches

The two S.T.O.M.P. medical pack accessory pouches are great for storing injectable medications. They are padded, making them jump proof. One word of advice is that you should take your medical backpack out at least once a month and go through it. If you don’t, you’ll forget when you packed some medical supplies.

Second Medic Backpack

So, what did I do with my old medic backpack that my youngest daughter gave to me? I’m in the process of restocking it with medical supplies. We’ll have a second medic backpack for another trained first responder or even a doctor to use.

Have Medical Training

If you are a prepper, I certainly hope and pray that you have some kind of medical training. A basic Red Cross first aid course is a good start, and then obtain other training. At the very least, you can get EMT certified. No matter how well planned you are, sooner or later someone in your group or family will need some type of medical care. You need the training and to have the right equipment and gear to tend to injured people in your group. Just look at recent hurricanes we’ve had the past couple of years. Hospitals were without medical supplies or had limited access to medical supplies. That’s not a good thing to happen. Some hospitals simply closed their doors because they didn’t have the means to treat injured people. You want to at least be able to render medical help to those in your group, if need be. The Blackhawk S.T.O.M.P. II Medical bag is a great way to store all your medical gear and equipment.

Retail Purchase

The full retail purchase price on this bag from Blackhawk is $349.99. Yep, that’s a lot of money, but this is the best medic bag on the market, if you ask me, and you can supply it with whatever you think you’ll need. Check out the Blackhawk website. You’ll see this bag comes in three different colors, too.




14 Comments

  1. After you’re repacked it the next time, how about posting a follow-up article showing an inventory of your pack
    There are many lists out there, but with your experience and “intended use”, that list would be very helpful

  2. Back in the olden days we had our M3 and M5 bags. M5 held the medications, peroxide, IV stuff, suture equipment and extra dressings. M3 was the tri-fold shoulder bag that went with the medic to the wounded.

    Before I left the army I picked up an EMT certificate and got a job as same with an ambulance outfit in my home town. I sort of liberated an old M3 bag that was lying around the hospital I worked in when I left. I kept it in my van along with most of the tools I owned. To make a long story short the van was broken into and the tools and bag stolen. I was insured by the good hands folks.

    They denied covering the bag as they considered it tools of the trade and were going to give me reduced value on the tools as they were “used”. I looked at the agent and said the ambulance has it’s own equipment. That bag was what I carried in case I came upon you bleeding out on the side of the road. Then I told them every tool was by Craftsman (owned at the time by the same outfit that owned the good hands people), and that Dad always told me that Craftsman tools never lose their value cause if they break you take it back and they give you a brand new one. They paid full value.

    Glad to see that the opened up combat medic to the ladies. Back in the day they could only work in hospitals. Tell your daughter thanks for her service from me.

  3. Yes let’s see your list of medical tool and medication, etc?
    I would rather see great list the bags contents
    You need to over lap for many situations.
    Thanks
    Mike

  4. Pat I do realize you did give a short list but since you have extensive experience
    how about you giving a list of recommendations? be a good artical.
    Thanks
    Mike

  5. Pat a list would be helpful- I have been medic since 1977 wow used many tackle boxes (747 if I remember) in KY and Ohio the squad I worked on in Ohio still uses the boxes and they break several…also used several dynamed boxes too. I was in a reserve unit for 24 yrs and bought several bags myself so I’d have several options 1-IV, 1-trauma, 1-airway, 1-drugs and yes usually had to carry several bags and may have the wrong one they were color coded so anyone could bring them to me. when I trained in ky they required approx 3,000 hrs where Ohio only required 100 but DOT changed that. KY had state boards but not ohio and now everyone has them..

  6. At the time I posted this – 4 “a list would be helpful” posts.

    Make this 5.

    My suggestion, List, pictures etc. I for one will not argue the why or where you place them. I may have follow questions but the would be asking more behind info behind the why.

  7. This is a product I read about in Nov/Dec 2018 Concealed Carry magazine, page 112. ZipStitch wound closure kits. I ordered 4, and they look like a quality product. I have not tested it. https://zipstitch.us/
    I used steri-strips for years, hoping to use this instead of sutures in the field.
    Here is a list that was packed in a Blackhawk STOMP, not sure how they got the folding stretcher in, might be they used the molle on the outside of the pack. Not sure where this list came from, could be Survivalblog, I know there are a lot of lists (including my own) posted here. But here is the STOMP one:
    Trauma
    Celox Plunger
    Celox Powder
    Quick Clot Sponge
    CAT Tourniquet X2
    6” Israeli Dressing x2
    4” Israeli Dressing
    Z-Pak Dressing x5
    Kerlix Gauze 4.5” x3
    Kerlix Gauze 2.25” x2
    H&H Compressed Gauze x4
    Airway
    Asthma Spray (albuterol HFA)
    Pocket BVM
    Ambu Rescue Pump
    Ambu Rescue Pump Spare tubing
    Oral Airway Kit, Various Sizes
    Magill Forceps
    Decompression Needle x2
    Hyfin Chest Seal Twin Pack
    Boylin Chest Seal
    Occlusive Dressing x2
    Nasopharyngeal 34 Fr w/ lube
    Nasopharyngeal 30 Fr w/ lube
    Triangle Bandages x3
    Fractures/Sprains
    SAM Splint 36” x2
    SAM Splint Finger x2
    Cohesive Wrap x2
    Elastic Wrap 4” x2
    Elastic Wrap 3”
    Mentholated Pain Relief x2
    Body Warmer Pad x2
    Sutures
    Steri Strip 1/2″ x 4” x6
    Steri Strip 1/4″ x 3” x3
    Steri Strip 1/8” x 3” x5
    Benzoin Tincture x3
    2”x2” Gauze x3
    3”x3” Gauze x3
    Sterile Sponge
    Shaving Razor
    Scissors
    Forceps x3
    Needle Probe
    Holder
    Scalpel Handel
    Scalpel Blades #10
    Scalpel Blades #11
    Disposable Scalpel Blade #10
    Disposable Scalpel Blade #11
    3-0 Suture x2
    4-0 Suture x2
    Suture Removal Kit
    Skin Stapler
    Skin Stapler Removal Kit
    Diagnostic
    Thermometer
    Protective Gear
    Gloves Pair x10
    CPR Sheild
    N95 Mask
    Ear Plugs x2
    References
    Combat Casualty Card
    Casualty Response Card
    Maxwell Quick Reference Guide
    SAM Splint Guide
    Triage Kit
    Where there is No Doctor, Book
    North American Plant Guide, Book
    Extraction
    Extraction Strap w/ 2 Carabineers
    Disposable Stretcher
    Pain Management
    Ibuprofen
    Aspirin
    Acetaminophen
    Cough Medicine (Dextromethorphan)
    Allergy Medicine (Diphenhydramine)
    Blisters/Burns
    Mole Skin 9”x12”
    Blist-o-Ban x4
    Aloe Vera Lotion
    Sunscreen
    Water-Jel 4”x4
    Water-Jel 2”x6”
    Water-Jel Bottle
    Ointments
    Vaseline
    Neosporin
    Hydrocortisone Cream
    Benadryl Itch Relief
    Lip Balm
    Insect repellent
    Anti-Fungal Cream (Clotrimazole)
    First Aid
    Large Band Aid x5
    Medium Band Aid x10
    Small Band Aid x10
    Finger Band Aid x10
    Knuckle Band Aid x10
    Tegaderm Film x4
    Non-Stick Pads x2
    Band Aid Tape
    2”X 2” Gauze x5
    Disinfectants
    Sterile First Aid Wash 7oz
    Sterile First Aid Wash 3oz
    Bleach Wipes x5
    Betadine Bottle
    Cotton Tipped Applicator x9
    Chloraprep Swabs x3
    Betadine Swabs x8
    Vionex Antiseptic Towlets x8
    Hand Sanitizer x2
    Dental/Ear/Vision
    Sterile Eye Wash
    Tooth Ache Kit w/ Temporary Fillings
    Aluminum Eye Shield
    Dental Pick
    Dental Mirror
    Dental Scalar
    Tooth Brush x2
    Floss
    Ear Drops
    Benzocaine Tooth Medicine
    Allergy Eye Drops
    Hypothermia
    Emergency Blanket
    Hand Warmer x4
    Poison/Radiation/Hydration
    Vitalyte Electrolyte x2
    Ceralyte Electrolyte x2
    Oral Rehydration Salts x2
    Water Purification Tablets
    Multi-Vitamin
    Activated Charcoal (poisoning)
    Potassium Iodide (radiation)
    Hygiene
    Nail Clippers
    Toe Nail Clippers
    Tweezers
    Tools
    Head Lamp
    Chem Light x4
    Small Light
    190 Lumen Flash Light
    Flash Light Red Lenses
    Flash Light Diffuser
    Pen Light
    AA Batteries x4
    AAA Batteries x4
    Battery Case x2
    Lighter
    Rite-n-Rain 3”x5” Notepad
    Black Pen
    Red Pen
    Dual Tip Sharpie
    Trauma Shears
    Leatherman Multi-tool
    Folding Knife
    P30 Can Opener
    Medical Cloth Tape x2
    Durapore Tape x2
    Transpore Tape x2
    Transpore White Tape x2
    550 Cord 25’
    VS17 Panel
    Signal Mirror
    Misc
    Caffeine Gum

    These contents are packed in the Blackhawk S.T.O.M.P

  8. Here is another list with pictures: Not sure where it is from, might be from this website:
    Medical Ruck Contents:
    Ruck Packing List: (Roughly in order of use per TCCC)

    Hemorrhage kit:

    • Compressed Gauze x4
    • Combat Gauze x3 (would prefer Celox Rapid)
    • Elastic wraps (Ace wraps) x2
    • Pressure Dressing x1 (preferably the Olaes 6″)

    Airway and Respiratory:

    • Cric Kit x1
    • NPA x2
    • 4″x4″ gauze x3
    • Chest seal x4 packs
    • Hydrogel x1
    • Decompression Needle x3 (14g x 3.25″)
    • Chest Tube kit x1
    • Suction
    • Bag Value Mask (BVM)
    Circulatory:

    • Sodium Chloride 0.9% (NS) 500mL
    • 6% Hetastarch 500mL
    • IV Administration Kit x2
    • IO gun and 3 needles
    • Basic Blood Transfusion Kit
    • Sharps Shuttle
    Hypothermia:

    • Helos Hypothermia Kit x 2
    • Fleece Beanie
    Diagnostic:

    • Blood Pressure Cuff
    • Pulse Ox
    • Thermometer
    • Stethoscope
    • Note book w/Marker
    • 4″x4″ gauze (for going pt to pt)
    Wound care and Closure:

    • Skin Stapler
    • Alcohol/Providone Iodine Swabs
    • 2″x2″ Gauze
    • 4″x4″ Gauze
    • Durmabond
    • 0.0 silk x2
    • Steri-strips
    • Assorted Band-aids
    • Dental Repair kit
    Splinting:

    • Elastic wrap 6″ x1
    • Sam Splint
    • Finger splint x2
    Miscellaneous:
    • Sunsceen
    • Eye cover
    • Bio Freeze
    • Batteries (AA, AAA, 123)
    • Duct Tape
    • Trauma Sheers
    • Hand Sanitizer
    Anaphylaxis Kit:

    • Epi-pen x2
    • Benadryl (50mg vital x2)

    Medications:

    • Ibuprofen
    • Mobic
    • Tramadol
    • Prednisone
    • Cipro
    • Azithromycin
    • Cyclobenzaprine
    • Cough Drops
    • Pepto Bismuth
    • Loperimide (Imodium)
    • Mucinex
    • Ondansetron (Zofran)
    • Benadryl
    • Antacids
    • Caffeine
    • Meclizine
    • Tylenol Cold and Allergy
    • Hydrocortisone (topical)
    • Cefazolin
    • DiazepamMorphine x2
    • Invanz (ertapenem)
    • Marcaine
    • Promethazine x2
    • Diphenhydramine
    • Ketorolac x2
    • Naloxone (Narcan)
    • Ketamine
    • Lidocaine
    • Midazolam
    Extensive Video of ruck setup coming soon as well as permission med-checklist:

    Doesn’t look like the pictures came through.
    Obviously a medic’s kit, a lot of RX drugs in this kit.

  9. Pat-
    I’m not sure where your daughter was stationed or why her unit didn’t have the bags already.
    I went through my 91W course in Dec 2004 and was awarded the STOMP bag for being Jomor Grad. When I hit the ground in Iraq a month later the bags were standard issue. I left the Oregon Atmy National Guard in 2009 and the bags were being replaced by STOMP II.
    I suspect your daughter had not received the bag because they were already being phased out for London Bridge products and some other competitors.
    My only complaint (and caution) about the Blackhawk bags is the zippers will deteriorate and in fact crumble if they are lubed with anything other than beeswax. Blackhawk will not replace the zipper or the bag even though the metal zipper pulls suck.
    Still, I have three STOMP and II bags full and ready to (barter).

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