After wearing the kit I discussed in the post two weeks ago for almost three weeks now, I have done what Jonathan Sullivan mentioned in his Home Hardening blog (to which I linked that week): I stepped up to a larger phone holder, the Maxpedition PLP iPhone 6s Plus Pouch
Jonathan Sullivan mentions the benefits of stepping up from the PHP to the PLP:
“In retrospect, I probably should have gone with the PLP — it’s half an inch larger in every direction[sic] — but the PHP works just fine, and is low profile, both literally and figuratively. Also, this should fit fairly easily in most cargo pockets, if you don’t like belt carry.”
 |
| https://amzn.to/2EQRD5K |
From the Amazon Maxpedition page:
- The overall size is 4 (L) x 1 (W) x 7.5 (H) inches. Custom Positive Grip zipper pulls make opening the pouch faster and easier;
- The phone pouch is sized to fit the iPhone 6s Plus;
- Lightly padded, felt loop-lined case.
We'll come back to the felt loop-lined case in a bit.
Current Kit Items
The basic items previously listed:
What’s New
With the new, slightly larger PLP case, I’m now carrying an actual bandage to hold down my clotting sponge!
From the Amazon listing for the H&H Mini Compression Bandage:
Current Kit Items
The basic items previously listed:
With the new, slightly larger PLP case, I’m now carrying an actual bandage to hold down my clotting sponge!
 |
| https://amzn.to/2XExWp0 |
From the Amazon listing for the H&H Mini Compression Bandage:
- A fast, effective tool for many types of trauma and injury
- Flat folded to create a small tight package
- Less than a half of an inch thick!
This bandage is designed to cover a wound by itself or to hold down another pad, such as a clotting sponge.
From the H & H Medical webpage:
From the H & H Medical webpage:
“Designed to be our smallest and thinnest trauma compression bandage, the H&H Mini Compression Bandage provides the same emergency trauma capabilities as our Thin H bandage in a smaller, more versatile package. Manufactured with a 4”x6” ABD pad, it’s vacuum sealed and flat folded to be small enough to fit in a shirt vest or pant pocket. With our 4-foot proprietary elastic strap (stretched), the Mini Compression Bandage is strong enough to provide compression to wounds on any location.
“Perfect for use in all situations, especially on children and elderly with thin limbs, the Mini Compression Bandage provides a fast, effective tool for many kinds of traumas and injuries (particularly those involving arterial bleeding in extremities). The H&H Mini Compression Bandage comes in a sterile, vacuum-sealed 5 mil barrier bag, flat folded to create a small tight package that’s less than an inch thick!”I wanted to have something other than duct tape in my kit to hold down a dressing or pad, and the Maxpedition PHP just didn’t have sufficient room to hold everything I really needed to carry.
I gave away a PLP purchased previously (wasteful, I know) and kept the PHP... but I did nothing with it. I don’t plan to make the same mistake and not use the equipment I have on hand to carry first aid supplies. The PHP will be moved into a side pocket of my salesman bag, still loaded with everything from before, along with a compression bandage held on the outside via rubber band!
Now, about the ‘felt loop-lined case’ I mentioned in the initial description: with the hook-and-loop closure straps on the tourniquet, folding everything so it would slide into the pouch without adhering to the case was ‘interesting’ in the Chinese-curse definition of the word. If you didn’t care that the straps stuck to the sides of the case as you inserted them, there would be no problem. However, there would be a problem when trying to remove the tourniquet in a hurry, since those hooks on the strap really bond with the interior of the case. I needed two hands to get the tourniquet out of the case, and that doesn’t sound like a good idea in an emergency. I spent extra time folding and refolding the strap to get the hooks on the inside of the packet, so everything would slide into and out of the case without a snag. The case with everything in it is now slightly longer, wider, thicker, and weighs fractionally more than before, but I don’t think it will matter. I’m going to give this version a week or two trial before deciding if I’ll continue with a belt-carry trauma kit.
The Takeaway
How Does Everything Fit?
Actually, it fits reasonably well. The clotting sponge and compression bandage are packaged in extremely stiff material: heavy gauge vinyl for the bandage, and thick mylar/foil for the sponge. Part of the problem in fitting everything into the old case, let alone the new one, was that packaging didn’t allow for folding items into as compact a shape as I’d like.Now, about the ‘felt loop-lined case’ I mentioned in the initial description: with the hook-and-loop closure straps on the tourniquet, folding everything so it would slide into the pouch without adhering to the case was ‘interesting’ in the Chinese-curse definition of the word. If you didn’t care that the straps stuck to the sides of the case as you inserted them, there would be no problem. However, there would be a problem when trying to remove the tourniquet in a hurry, since those hooks on the strap really bond with the interior of the case. I needed two hands to get the tourniquet out of the case, and that doesn’t sound like a good idea in an emergency. I spent extra time folding and refolding the strap to get the hooks on the inside of the packet, so everything would slide into and out of the case without a snag. The case with everything in it is now slightly longer, wider, thicker, and weighs fractionally more than before, but I don’t think it will matter. I’m going to give this version a week or two trial before deciding if I’ll continue with a belt-carry trauma kit.
The Takeaway
- Sometimes smaller isn’t better.
- An actual bandage, if it will fit, is a better choice than duct tape.
The Recap
- Two H&H Medical Mini Compression Bandages: $10.50 from Amazon with free shipping.
Caveat
As I have stated before,
I AM NOT A DOCTOR, NURSE, OR EMT. THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. SEEK TRAINING IF YOU DON’T ALREADY HAVE IT.Be safe and be prepared.
* * *
Just a reminder: if you plan on buying anything through Amazon, please consider using our referral link. When you do, a portion of the sale comes back here to help keep this site running!
If you have comments, suggestions or corrections, please post them so we all can learn. And remember, Some Is Always Better Than None!
NOTE: All items tested were purchased by me. No products have been loaned in exchange for a favorable review. Any items sent to me for T&E will be listed as such. Suck it Feds.
No comments:
Post a Comment