Pentagon ‘Hippokrates’ First Aid Kit

It really makes sense to make sure you have a compact yet versatile first aid kit handy, whether for small cuts and sprains, or more serious injuries that need stabilising whilst further medical attention is sought out. It’s amazing how helpless you are with nothing, yet even the smallest amount of kit can inspire the greatest levels of improvisation to aid the injured.

I am not accident-prone, but I have used a kit twice in the last year that is stored in my vehicle and carried in my rucksack when travelling on foot. It measures just 13 x 10 x 7cm, weighs 310-grams, and includes two elastic 7.5 x 4.5cm PBT bandages, one 10 x 4.5cm elastic crepe bandage, 10 adhesive plasters, adhesive tape, scissors, a 5 x 5cm non-adherent wound pad, assorted safety pins, handwash, cleaning wipes, latex gloves, and two mouth-to-mouth resuscitation pieces in separate pouches.

Everything fits in a zippered polyester pouch that’s available in bright red (my preference), black or green. If you want to carry it visibly in plain sight, with the first aid insignia on show, it can be worn vertically or horizontally, and the two-way zipper gives immediate access to the internal storage segregated by four elasticated loops and a zipped mesh pocket.

The kit is durable, with double stitching on stress points, and the Velcro-type loops on the rear will also attach to a belt or other webbing.