A Green Beret’s Take on the Top 4 Medical Kit Mistakes

John Lovell sat down with Doc T, a retired Army Special Forces operator, to talk about the vital components and critical mistakes we make in prepping our med kits. 

A well-stocked and -staged med kit can be the difference between life and death in combat or other tactical situations. The right tool for the injury means life-saving speed when the adrenaline is pumping and your buddy’s life is on the line. 

I (John Lovell) sat down with my friend Doc T. The Doc spent 18 years as a Green Beret/Special Forces Doc, serving as a warrior and a medic to his fellow Special Forces brothers all over the world. Now he’s teaching others to care for injuries and wounds in the field for military, LEO, first responders, and civilians. 

No matter who you are, it’s important to be prepared with the knowledge and skills to save lives at a moment’s notice. Whether you’re a tactician, adventurer, or just driving with your family to the beach, it’s important to know what to do when you come across the injury and time is of the essence. 

There are some pretty common pitfalls to steer clear of when it comes to your med kit readiness. 

SPOILER ALERT: That first aid kit you picked up from Walmart or REI typically won’t make you ready for what might be coming down the road. 

Here are the top four mistakes people make in their med kit preparedness.

Med Kit Mistake #1: Improperly Stocked

There’s a significant difference between a first aid kit and a trauma kit. While it’s important to carry a first aid kit for the minor cuts, scrapes, bee stings, a trauma kit is what you need to add to your set up to deal with the bigger issues you face in the wild. 

“While most guys won’t be facing a combat situation in their day-to-day, it's important to have a combat mindset when prepping their kit,” Doc T said. “I want to take the combat experience that I had overseas, and I want to give that to people.” 

This is why Doc T has started creating gear and training for everyday life. A true trauma kit is going to include items like these, at the very least: 

Tourniquets: Essential for controlling severe bleeding from a wound at a major vein or artery in the extremities. 

Gauze: Both combat gauze and compressed gauze are vital for wound packing. 

Chest Seals: Necessary aid that can be packed on chest wounds. 

Nasopharyngeal Airway Tools: To create or maintain open airways, such as with a collapsed lung or clogged air passage. 

Trauma Shears: Critical to quickly expose injuries hidden by clothes.

These are the barebones of a trauma kit, and just as important is being able to reach them when you need them. “The question is whether you can get to it. Will you need both hands?” Doc T said. 

“Sometimes this means having more than one kit and keeping those kits in multiple places. I have kits all over the place.” When life and death seconds are ticking, if you have to go searching for wound care items, you’re in the danger zone.

NOTE: You can find all of these life-saving tools and more in the medical section of our store here.

Med Kit Mistake #2: Accessibility

This gets back to the idea of staging. Keeping multiples of everything in multiple kits in your bag, car, house, office, etc., all packed the same way, will cut down on time and allow you to go into action without having to think and fumble. 

“Especially if you've had training, you'll be able to get to them quickly,” he said. “Red blood cells can leave the body quickly, and this can mean survival or not.”

By staging your medical kit effectively, you can ensure that you and those around you have quick access to life-saving equipment when it matters most. The life you save may be your own.

Our Packy Sack is an excellent device for storing and staging medical supplies in easily-accessible locations around your home, in your truck or trunk, or in a backpack. They're available both with and without medical components included.

Med Kit Mistake #3: Improper Kit Maintenance

Unfortunately, packing and staging your med kits is not a one and done. These kits need to be maintain, updated, and enhanced based on the situation. 

By keeping your medical kit in top condition, you can make sure it performs reliably, the same way every time, when it really matters. during an emergency. 

Regular Checks: You need to periodically inspect your kit to ensure all items are in good condition. 

Replace Worn or Expired Items: Tourniquets and other frequently used items should be replaced as they wear out. 

PRO TIP: Those expired or worn out med kit items are perfect to repurpose for training and drilling. Just make sure they don’t get mixed in to your “active duty” kits. 

Training Use: Use expired or worn items for training purposes to stay familiar with your equipment.

Med Kit Mistake #4: Improper Training

Just because you have properly staged, stocked, and maintained your med kits doesn’t mean you’re ready for those moments when you really need them.

Don’t make the mistake, or create that false sense of security, of thinking you can handle the unlikely event of a traumatic injury. Once you face this kind of situations, the statistics of likelihood no longer matter. That’s why combat mindset and combat readiness are so critical. 

To maintain this readiness, you have to Train Hard. Train Smart. To Save Lives. Live Free.