Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight / Watertight Medical Kit .7 – Gear Review

Paul April 9, 2012 gear, review 1 Comment 425 Views

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It goes without saying that it is far better to practice safety and prevention than to have to use first aid. Those of us with young ones in tow must especially take extra precautions and preventative measures to ensure the safety of our children, as we guide them in understanding safe discovery of the outdoors. However, many times medical complications occur of which no amount of safety and forethought could have prevented.  Sometimes, as I lay out what to pack I realize it’s mainly an assortment of emergency medical gear for any possible backcountry disaster scenario I might have thought up as I lay awake in the night.  It’s a good thing my husband is able to reign me in, and I am currently able to minimize our ‘portable emergency room’ to a mere bulging gallon-sized zip-lock bag. I realize I’ve still got some minimizing to do. Unlike my bulging gallon-sized ziplock, the Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight Medical Kit .7 weighs only 8 oz. and measures 6.5″ x 8.5″ x 2″. As you can imagine, when I received it I picked it up and then looked in the box for the rest of it. I’m just not so sure I’m cut out for this ‘Ultralight’ business. My husband, on the other hand is thrilled to leave the huge zip-lock bag at home and grab the AMK Medical Kit .7 for his trips with the guys.

The proprietary DryFlex™ bags of the AMK Medical Kit .7 claim to be water-tight. So, I put this claim to the test by putting the whole kit in the kitchen sink for a while; I then proceeded to forget about it. I came back a few hours later to find it still bobbing happily in the water. While the outer bag was wet, the inner plastic bag held the contents dry inside. While the inner bag plastic doesn’t seem to be of the best quality, it does do its job. To maintain the water-tight seal, one would need to ensure that the zip-lock style seal at the top is thoroughly pressed together after each use.

Here is what is included in the kit, sealed up inside the proprietary DryFlex™ bags:

Bandage Materials
3 Bandages, Butterfly Closures
2 Dressings, Non-Adherent, Sterile, 3″ x 4″
1 Bandage, Conforming Gauze, 2″
5 Bandages, Adhesive, Fabric, 1″ x 3″
2 Dressings, Gauze, Sterile, 2″ x 2″, Pkg./2
3 Bandages, Adhesive, Fabric, Knuckle
2 Dressings, Gauze, Sterile, 3″ x 3″, Pkg./2 

Bleeding
1 Gloves, Nitrile (Pair),
Hand Wipe 

Blister / Burn
1 Moleskin, Pre-Cut & Shaped (11 pieces) 

Duct Tape
1 Duct Tape, 2″ x 26″ 

Fracture / Sprain
1 Bandage, Elastic with Velcro, 2″ 

Instrument
3 Large Safety Pins
1 Splinter Picker/Tick Remover Forceps 

Medication
2 After Bite Wipes
2 Antihistamine (Diphenhydramine 25 mg)
1 Aspirin (325 mg), Pkg./2
3 Ibuprofen (200 mg), Pkg./2 

Wound Care
4 After Cuts & Scrapes Antiseptic Wipes
3 Triple Antibiotic Ointment, Single Use
3 Alcohol Swabs
1 Tape, 1″ x 10 Yards
1 Tincture of Benzoin Topical Adhesive

In addition to this thorough kit, one might want to add a few additional items such as altitude or antidiarrheal medications, snake-bite kits, or other gear to fine-tune for your specific location or medical needs. While this thought process has certainly encouraged me to over-pack, careful consideration of risks should not be ignored. Knowing the terrain, climate, and creatures are essential for the customization of your personal medical kit.

But, as it turns out the Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight Medical Kit .7 is a convenient way to carry the essential medical gear needed for 1-2 people for a short low-risk weekend trip. Designed for adventure-seeking enthusiasts and the inevitable bumps, cuts, and bruises that come with exploring the unknown, this watertight kit is a sensible addition to your day pack, diaper bag, bike pannier, purse, or whatever you might have on you when the urge for adventure strikes.

What essentials do you carry in your lightweight medical kit? Does the Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight Medical Kit .7 include something you don’t? We would love to hear your input, so please comment, share on Facebook, and send us a tweet!

Reviewed By:
Tabea B
The Outdoor Adventure Team

Gear provided by Adventure Medical Kits