I may have mentioned before on this blog that I am prone to migraines. I tend to avoid using painkillers unless I have to, but recently my doctor told me my condition was such that I’d be advised to carry more painkillers with me.
I’m always in favour of precaution and preparedness, as we know!
If I have to carry some painkillers, it seems only prudent to also carry some other items of similar usefulness.
Some of my jackets are short on pockets, and I spend a lot of time not wearing a jacket.
The logical place to carry this kit was the cargo pocket of my trousers. You are less likely to be separated from your trousers, which is why in my articles on the soldier’s load I recommend the cargo pockets for survival kit, minor injuries kit and other important items.
I will stress here that what is illustrated in the photo is not supposed to be a comprehensive survival kit.
There is no means to create fire or cut in the pouch, since these are already carried elsewhere.
And sometimes capabilities are duplicated, or worse. I cringe when I think how many items I have on me that can be used open beer bottles.
Not having all your eggs in one basket is prudent, of course. Should one pocket get damaged and I lose the contents. I will not have lost everything.
My pocket kit is basically a collection of useful items for everyday carry,.
Cargo pocket carry means you do not want a container that is hard or bulky.
Do not carry a survival tin. It is an unwelcome lump that will dig into you, swing against your thigh and hurt you if you fall on it.
I want my EDC items easily accessible, not packaged up tight so squaddies won't play with it. Many components of a commercial or issued survival tin need stocking up, incidentally.
The best thing you can do with a survival tin is empty it and utilize the contents.
For my pocket kit, I selected a cheap first aid kit. It came with a rather nice triangular bandage that was worth the asking price alone. I have this bandage in my primary travel medical kit.
To the now emptied pouch I added the following:
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Some paracetamol, and some diclofenac, the latter being good for migraines. A sheet or two of water purification tablets could also be added.
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Some alcohol wipes (can be used as firestarters). Avoid non-sterile alcohol-free wipes.
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An assortment of plasters.
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Container of dental floss : 90 metres of useful cordage. The spool may be removed from the plastic outer container.
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Small bag of safety pins, hair pins and paperclips. Useful for broken zippers or improvising tools. I need more of the larger, springier paperclips since these are more useful. This bag now includes a SERE pin.
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Two short lengths of chalk. One light/ white, the other dark/ coloured. For leaving messages and route marking. One colour will contaminate the other if they are together. Place in separate bags or wrap the sticks in something like clingfilm. In another trouser pocket I have a Sharpie.
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Pencil, wound with about a foot of electrical tape. I should have added the tape first and used the rubber to cap the pencil point. Hindsight is wonderful! I have added a sailmaker's needle with a metre or so of invisible thread to this.
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Foil space blanket. In its own zip lock bag for protection. This squeezed into the pouch, but could be carried outside it within the cargo pocket.
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Note that each component, other than the pencil, has its own ziplock bag.
Since I have created this kit I have added a bypass knife/shim and a piece of music wire bent into a traveller hook. Tape over the points so they do not poke through the plastic bags.
Recently, I stabbed myself deep into the thigh while reaching for a rubbish bag. One of the safety pins in the pocket kit had opened. Injuring myself with my survival kit, not my finest moment!
Pack your pouch so that the pins and delicate items such as the pills and chalk are in the centre, cushioned by the plasters on one side and the foil blanket on the other.
One idea is to take a rectangle of plastic and fold it. Place around the bags of pins, needles, hooks etc. Tape and/or line may be wrapped around the outside of this piece of plastic.
The pouch within the pocket is within a larger zip lock bag that could be used to carry water or found food.
Not shown: You could add a small compass to this kit.
I already carry a clipper compass elsewhere on my person so this was not a high priority for me.
I am also going to add a suitably sized card with Morse code on it, but have not yet had time to print one out while near a laminator.
Also later added to this kit is six-spans of braided fishing line and 22 fishing hooks on nylon, no.12 and no.10 size.