FAK contest

[Rotte]

I was rooting through some of my gear and realized that I have assembled quite a few first aid kits. I can't say I always have a FAK with me, but the times I don't are fairly rare, even if it is a bare bones (no pun intended) kit. I sometimes debate whether a kit is worth the space and weight, but the first time you go without one, damn if you don't need a little something.

The red kit is bulky, but I like the way it unrolls and opens to give you access to the contents. The brown kit is ALICE compatible and set up for combat wounds, it can be popped open easily and all the kit (TK, Asherman, Needles, combat gauze, etc....) is accessible.

The kit I carry the most, part of my EDC really, is the pocket-sized orange and clear zip-top job with some small essentials in it.

After sorting through the kits, I was inspired to do another contest, so here goes....

The Contest

1. Post a picture of the FAK you carry the most, FAK contents, and why you have included the item you have (assuming you thought about the contents...).
2. If you have multiple FAK's, you may make multiple entries, but each must be unique.
3. The contest winner will be chosen by random drawing from the list of successful entries (see post #2 below).
4. The winner of the contest must be 18 and legally able to own the prize or have permission from a legal guardian to own the prize.
5. The contest will run from right now until 24 December 2012, sometime in the morning, MST. This gives you time to assemble a kit and snap a picture.

The Prize

A Fehrman Last Chance. See the pictures above. The knife has been carried a few times, but I can't recall ever using it. In addition to the leather sheath, I think I have a Kydex sheath for it. It is an awesome knife, but I don't carry it much and don't think I've used it. It needs an owner who will beat the snot out of it ('cus I'm sure it will come back for more).

The Secret Contest

If, in addition to the standard entry, a contest participant also includes a story of how he or she used their FAK to good purpose and result, that contestant will be entered into a secret contest. It's secret because I haven't figured out what the prize will be. The stories must be true, but feel free to embellish the details and amount of blood spilled. Pictures of X-rays, wounds, and ER bills will probably get you bonus points and may influence what the secret prize will be.


Good luck. Game on!

p.s. Pitdog, you so need this knife. You had better enter!

 

[Rotte]

Successful Entries:

1. 6shooter
2. OREGON FAL'ER
3. fmajor007
4. OwenM
5. rinos
6. Tyson Norris
7. lobodelanoche
8. lobodelanoche
9. ---
10. n8swag
11. Pitdog
12. Pitdog
13. KuRUpTD
14. grunt soldier
15. ghostguy6
16. ghostguy6
17. Sufler
18. Sufler
19. OREGON FAL'ER
20. Sufler
21. Stewey1
22. tek77
23. Sufler
24. Sufler
25. CellerDrummer
26. Halberdier
27. Halberdier

 

[Rotte]

Here is the FAK I carry the most:

It is small enough to be easily carried in a pants cargo pocket, fishing vest, or bicycle jersey pocket and slips unnoticed into a briefcase or backpack. I've carried it--through airports--from California to Scotland to Afghanistan and places in between. It has accompanied me on every motorcycle trip I've taken and rides in the cargo pocket of my riding pants or tank bag. Don't leave home without it!

Contents include:

1. Assorted Band-aids -- I'm a knife guy and cut myself at regular, if somewhat unpredictable intervals
2. Butterfly strips -- to close larger cuts and lacerations
3. Antibiotic ointment -- available online, great for small cuts or even burns or abrasions...for when the ER is several hours away.
4. Tweezers -- most used part of the kit, for splinters and metal slivers. A must.
5. Pain relievers -- 'cuz I'm a wimp and I like to take the edge off an ouchy or boo boo
6. Water purification. When Montezuma takes his revenge, rehydrate with disinfected water
7. Super glue (wrapped in green tape to prevent leaking) -- closes small wounds. In cold weather my fingers sometimes crack. Super glue is perfect for healing these cracks.
8. Iodine wipes -- clean wounds and abrassions
9. Chap stick -- second most used item in the kit, no explanation needed
10. Eye drops -- I live in a dusty environment. Eye drops can make a huge difference.
11. Benadryl -- in case of allergic reaction, could be a life saver
12. Nail clippers -- many uses, but can make a big difference if a nail gets torn or ripped. Very useful item for an EDC kit.
13* Steri-strips (not pictured) -- I usually have some steri-strips in the kit as well, must have used the last set I had in there when I stabbed myself with my SAK....

This FAK is by no means complete, but it comes in handy often enough that I make sure to have it with me on a daily basis.

 

[6shooter]

Fantastic give away, thanks Rotte!

In an effort to make my loadout lighter, my FAK got cut back big time. I used to carry one that weighed over 2lbs, with enough stuff to last longer than any trip I've ever taken, and with a lot of stuff I'd never come close to needing.

This is what I've had lately. Weight is 69 grams.

-various bandaids
-non-stick 2x3" pads
-two sizes steri strips
-duct tape
-Benadryl
-roll of gauze
-Sak classic (scissors, tweezers)
-packed in doubled up ziploc baggies

This should take care of most cuts, scrapes, and common stuff. Not necessarily finished, but I've never needed anything beyond what's in this kit while out in the bush.

 

[pitdog]

Holy smokes buddy, giving a Fehrman away, did you have a bang on the head......maybe you need the FAK right now !!!

I'm in on this for sure, will get a post done on my days off !:thumbup:

 

[FAL'ER]

I carry this one everyday, it goes where I go, except into work and there are multiple kits in there. The 1st aid kit is biggest bulkiest item in that maxpedition bag. I use it enough though to warrant the space.


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Kit contents
1) 4 starbucks honey packets - I keep these for diabetics who need a quick shot of sugar, I've used them on 2 occaisions
2) 1 5x9 gauze pad - wound/blood management, I've gotten the opportunity to use these a few times on knife cuts in the woods
3) 3 3x3 gauze pad - same as above but I can't recollect ever using them
4) 1 roller gauze - wound/ blood management I like them for the ability to tie them tighter for pressure
5) 1 iodine swab - To prep the skin for a bandage, cleans it up and helps the bandage stick better, seems to anyway.
6) 1 Tampon - never used it, but conceptually it could be put into a puncture wound to slow the bleeding.
7) 2 eyewash - To squirt random junk out of your eye. I've had a chunk wood shoot right into my eye when chopping, that was before I carried eyewash.
8) 2 pair of nitrile gloves - more for my protection
9) 3 butterfly bandages - I have used these to temp suture a wound closed ish, like a poor mans steri strip
10) 3 antiseptic toweletes - general cleaning, mostly get used for hygiene
11) 1 roll of medical tape - to tape bandages and ob pads onto an arm or what not, used it recently.
12) 2 small packets of burn cream - campfire or auto, burns of any kind. never have used it.
13) 1 packet of celox blood coagulant - for an arterial bleed, never used it.
14) 1 pack of acetominophin - pain relief
15) 2 packets of dayquil - left over from when I was sick,
16) 1 packet of Ibuprofin - To reduce swelling, pain. i use it for headaches.
17) 2 packets of triple antibiotic ointment
18) 5 regular bandaids, I use these a bunch on my kids, the hard part is remembering to replace them.
19) 1 knuckle bandage, never use them,they take up so little space I figure why not.
20) 1 Israeli Battle dressing, Used them in training and one recently on a guy who cut himself pretty bad with my machaxe.
21) 1 large adhesive bandage

Story- I was doing one of Ethan Becker's monthly challenges back a couple years ago (Trap & Snare) and of course I had to go 30 miles east of anykind of town.
I was fine tuning this,


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And the knife slipped and filleted my finger open pretty good, this is the only picture I took,


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so my first aid kit was used on me by my friend dan, good kit though, he used my gloves and wrapped it up pretty tight. I'm more careful now.

 

[fmajor007]

WOW!!! A Fehrman Giv-A-Way? That is sooo very generous. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

OK, here's my FAK and fire-kit next to it, though i always have both with me.

1) Nitrile (i think?) gloves x2
2) sterile gauze x3
3) betadine/iodine (rotated/discarded at proper intervals)
4) fabric "medical" tape
5) tri-____ medical ointment
6) Cortaid anti-itch
7) stretch-wrap bandages (Ace bandages)
8) 2"x2" fabric/sterile bandaides x5
9) "space" (mylar?) 'blanket'/covering
10) SPF 15 lip balm
11) alcohol prep pads
12) hemostats
13) tweezers

Plus the various fire-starting supplies on hand.

EDIT: "Secret Prize" story addition.

Urban incident - an older woman fell down a flight of stone stairs outside a shopping center and hit her head on the edge of a stone stair. This happened in Bosnia and I was not yet fluent so i could not speak with her nor ask for help. Thankfully i had my kit with me and had the appropriate means to apply pressure to the wound on her head until a proper ambulance crew arrived.

Wilderness incident - while rock climbing, a friend took a pretty good whipper - not quite a half-pitch - and ripped a serious flap loose from his finger. Blood was everywhere, but some strong fabric medical tape over a gauze wrap kept the day on track.

 

[Rotte]

Outstanding.

 

[OwenM]

I have three. The one pictured is the one that I carry while backpacking/dayhiking, and is different because the others only have 2x2s, tape, and ACE bandages. It rotates between one of my Osprey Exos packs, and the Osprey Manta 25 that I use for dayhiking and sometimes while riding my bike. This stuff just came out of the toplid of my Exos 46...
-One of the other two lives in a Mystery Ranch flat bag in the lid of the MR Dragonslayer that I use to carry climbing and rappel gear-mainly in case I fall on a downclimb, scrambling up a break in the cliff line, or get stupid on a rappel and misjudge the distance to the ground while doing my "fitness course" that involves a quick rappel, dash along the base, then back up the cliff to rappel again, over and over. My gear and backups make it almost impossible to take a fall of more than inches while actually solo toproping, but I weight the free end of the rope with zippered bags that have extra webbing and carabiners, plus one with the first aid kit. That way I can just pull the bag up to me rather than transitioning from climbing to rappel to get down if I somehow break or tear up a finger, or whatever.
-The third is in a drybag that carries all my pocket stuff and snacks while kayaking, in case I take a fall messing around on wet rocks, etc.

1qt freezer bag with:
-2xACE bandage
-1 roll elastic gauze
-1 roll athletic tape
-2 2x2" bandages
-2 2x3" bandages
-2 anti-diarrheals
-2 1/32oz Neosporin
-1 tube Lanacane anti-chafing gel
-1 spare chapstick
-tube container with muscle relaxers(because I have back problems)
-knee support(because I have knee problems)
-ankle support(because I have ankle problems)
The other stuff isn't for first aid.

It's no SECRET that I love ACE bandages, and always carry them in the event of sprains or breaks.
March 2011, Red Rock National Conservation Area, Icebox Canyon. Fortunately <1.5 miles from the parking lot(and fortunately the last day of my vacation!). I came off the boulder on the left, pushing off with my trekking pole, planning to land weight forward and use momentum to get up on the boulder on the right. The trekking pole skidded off the rock. And my foot slipped...
I fell onto the rocks at the bottom below that bush on one foot, apparently tearing up a bunch of ligaments. No breaks on x-ray, but it was 4 months before I could really hike. Hurt really bad, but was bearable after wrapping the ankle, and I was able to "walk" out using my trekking poles like crutches to keep weight off that foot.
Went back and took a pic of the scene of the accident in November 2011. And, yes, I do sometimes have a tendency to take pics of everything

What it looked like 4 days later:

Where it happened:

 

[Cougar Allen]

My minimum first aid kit is a clean bandana. I never leave the house without one. It has many other uses, too, such as gripping a pot handle that's too hot to hold barehanded.

I've used it to bandage minor cuts many times. One time I was working on my car and cut my finger pretty bad. I managed to tie a bandana around it well enough to drive to the ER and get stitched up. (A band-aid would not have been enough that time.)

I didn't have a picture of a bandana handy but I was planning to go sit by the river and have some tea this afternoon anyway. With one thing and another by the time I got there it was 4:00 and already getting dark.

 

[rinos]

complete setup for multiday hike,right top,first aid kit

and contents

--space blanket 150 cm × 200 cm
-disposable gloves x2
-sterile gauze x3
-triangular bandage x2 100 cm × 100 cm × 140 cm (that's why scouts wear neckerchief)
-adhesive tape (and duct tape)
-propolis (replaces antibiotic ointment)
-water purifier
-bandages -x3 10 cm × 5 m (two missing )
-various sterile band aide 15pcs (butterfly,small,large etc)
-soap leaves
-alcohol vipe x2
-hemostats
-tick remover
-Wenger nail clip(scissors,small blade, tweezers)
-safety pin
-spectra string
-burn ointment gauze
-container for optical lenses (aspirin and analgesic )
-superglue

 

[Rotte]

Cougar, improvising a FAK is a crucial skill to have, but the improvised use of the mandatory bandana will not count as far as the contest goes. The story of how you used the bandana to staunch a wound, and the excellent reminder to use what is at hand, will, however, get you into the secret contest.

 

[Tyson Norris]

Hey guys, below is my basic wilderness first aid kit. It’s pretty minimal but it’s seen its fair share of use on my remote kayaking/canoe trips. There are some things that need to be restocked before my next big outing this upcoming summer (bandages, needle and thread, etc.) but this is 99% of it. It doesn't have a fancy bag or nothin' but its worked for me!

Space blanket
SAK Hiker
Mirror
Prescription contacts
Firekit; matches, lighter, pjcb & firesteel
Various bandages, clean towlettes, antiseptic wipes/solutions,
Electric tape
Notepad and pencil
Vitamins, antihistamine (benadryl), antibiotics, anti-inflammatory (ibuprofin), iodine tablets (water purification),
Whistle
Strong wire
Basic first aid tip sheet
Small length of 550 cord

Thank you for the wonderful opportunity, it was nice to break my FAK open (it's been a long time now ) it reminded that I needed to pick some supplies up. If lucky I'm looking forward to doing a comprehensive review of the Fehrman and putting it head to head against my F1.

 

[lobodelanoche]

Here is my EDC FAK i carry in my backpack all the time, people always laugh till they need something, oh well It was a pre-made kit that over the years ive kinda remade into a cutsom kit.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/68939_3468736377585_2137983385_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/523897_3468736617591_407236944_n.jpg
I have 4 packs of standard size Band aids, alond with 4 1 by 2 size.
1 steri strip
1 battle dressing
1 pad of moleskin
6 alcohol pads
4 4x4 gauze pads
2 bedodine swabs
30 each of claritn, benedryl, ibebrofen,
10 tums
4 anti diarial
dacron and underwrap
2 halfed rolls of tape
blister dressing
6 pack of razors
taped tube of neosporin
i also added 2 pairs of non latex exam gloves
Here's my back pack, a 2010 model Kelty shrike 32, great pack but i absolutely hate Kelty's bottle holders, but here's how that FAK fits.

My secret entry is i was patinaing a blade in a potato and trying to get the knife thru the potato, i had miss judged the size of the knife (a case CV trapper in yellow delrin) and it went thru the potato and cut my index finger deep enough to cutthrough the vien and nerve. I dont konw how but i missed the tendon. I grabbed my FAK and took some tefla non stick dressings and gause and wrapped up my finger and called my brother over to drive me to the Quick care in town. I ended up with 2 syringes of lidocaine and i still felt the 4 stitch's go in because they had to go almost to the bone. Im sure i would have been fine if i had just gone until i saw the kitchen and table covered in blood. I would have lived but it would have been a lot messier if i hadn't had a FAK nearby

 

[lobodelanoche]

I also keep a more blood loss oriented FAK in my car. My mom gave me this kit when i got my first car i i love the case except its a heavy mother so it stays in the car.
2 battle dressings
1 starnderd issue eye dressing kit
1 triangle dressing
1 civilian wrap dressing
1 4x4 gauze
2 petroleum dressings
2 tefla dressing
1 roll of dakron
1 roll of medi tape
1 bottle of bedodine
4 packs of standers size bandaids
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/227441_3468735497563_1968254817_n.jpg
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/531833_3468735737569_148051108_n.jpg
http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/67050_3468735777570_152518348_n.jpg

 

[Rotte]

Lobo,

What is the stuff in your EDC kit?

 

[lobodelanoche]

offtopic

 

[crktm1612m]

I EDC 2 first aid kits:

1: More serious kit:
-3 pairs exam gloves
-3M Ace bandage (3" wide)
-4" Israeli bandage
-gauze roll
-1"x5' duct tape wrapped around half an expired card
-QuikClot "first responder"
-4x4" dressing

2: Boo-boo, blister, etc kit:
-1 pair exam gloves
-Flexible fabric Band-Aid brand bandages - between 10 and 15, various sizes
-antiseptic alcohol wipes
-small tube with pills: Walgreens' fake claritin (allergy), acetaminophen
-moleskin 1"x3'
-a few Nexcare blister bandages
-Colgate Orobase single use packets- canker sore/pain treatment
-Triple Antibiotic ointment - Walgreen's brand

Both kits are kept in zip-lock bags and are always EDC'd. I use a medium Mountain Hardware pack with an internal frame and just leave them in the empty hydration bladder pouch along with a Leatherman Wave, a plastic drop cloth (shelter, etc), some paracord, a bandana, and my IRPG (incident response pocket guide) from a basic wildland firefighting course- full of great info.

This setup has served me well from mundane daily life to local wildlife refuges to Yellowstone and the backcountry of Glacier National Park, MT. Worst trouble so far: hatchet to shin at Newport State Beach, Door County WI.

I'll get some photos up tomorrow if anyone cares to see...

 

[n8swag]

Here's my light fak that goes with me every day. I usually carry it in my ACU backpack. It's basically some Anti-allergic reaction meds, sog multitool, some lighters, emergency whistle, some self sticking gauze, sterile bandages, Chapstick, sak, paracord bracelet, Velcro strap for a tourniquet or other uses, and some other stuff not in the picture.

My story:
I was hiking with some friends up on a Mtn and on the way back one of the girls sprained her ankle and couldn't walk on it. We were still about 3 miles up. After she sprained it and we made sure it wasn't broken or anything I tore apart my paracord bracelet, cut two sticks and made a stretcher for her. We
Carried her the majority of the way down on the stretcher. Always have paracord with you! Thanks guys.

 

[Rotte]

I EDC 2 first aid kits:

...

I'll get some photos up tomorrow if anyone cares to see...

Photos, or it didn't happen. :sneakiness: