Unboxing LTC's Get Home Alive Medical Kit

When I started this journey of making the best Prep Bag, there were a lot of questions. There were also a lot of unknowns. One of those unknowns was how to put together the best medical kit. I have experience is some First Aid. I know a little more than the average bear. But to actually try and figure out, let alone source all the materials, was something that I wasn’t comfortable dealing with.

So I went looking for something that would give me everything I needed. I also wanted to try and buy from a small company. Yes I could have gotten something from REI, Bass Pro Shop or a myriad of big chain stores. But doing that made me feel like I was just one little cog in the chain of endless buyers. Plus, I really wanted to support a small business.

So down the YouTube rabbit hole I went. Trying to watch anything and everything I could about med kits. I looked at those that were wayyyyyyyy over the top. I saw some that I knew wouldn’t even come close to being anything other than a thing that takes up valuable space. Plus, I wanted something that I could attach to my PALS webbing on the Predator Bag. I didn’t want this kit to be put in a pocket and forgotten. I wanted it out and easily accessible

After watching what seemed like a billion videos I came across the YouTube channel PrepMedic. He did a video on LTC’s Get Home Alive Medical Kit. Check that out here. After I watched that video, I realized how compact, and precise the kit was. So of course I do a lot more due diligence and figure out, that for an emergency kit, it was exactly what I was looking for.

So let’s get to my thoughts on this kit.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Water resistant Zippers with Positive Grip Pulls

• Durable 500D Nylon Fabric Construction & High-Vis Grayscale Interior

• Dimensions 8" x 6" x 3" (HxWxD)

• Med Cross Patch Included

• Made In The USA

• Lifelong warranty

Medical Supplies:

• CAT Gen 7 Tourniquet

• SWAT Tourniquet

• QuikClot Combat Gauze LE

• NAR HyFin Vent Compact Chest Seal Set

• ​28fr Nasopharyngeal Airway w/Lube

• 4” Israeli Bandage

• (2) NAR Compressed Gauze

• Trauma Shears 7.5"

• ​Emergency Blanket

• (2) Pair XL Bear Claw Gloves Tan

First Aid Supplies:

• 24" Moldable Aluminum Splint

• Triangular Bandage

• CPR Face Shield

• Assorted Bandages

• (2) 4x4" Gauze Pads

• (2) 3x3" Gauze Pads

• Abdominal Gauze Pad

• Eye Pad

• Splinter Out

• Steri-Strips (wound closure strips)

• (2) Iodine Wipes

• (2) Alcohol Wipes

• (2) Hand sanitizer wipes

• 1" 3M Medical Tape

• Tampon

• (2) Bacitracin Packs

• (2) Burn Gel Packs

• (2) Aspirin Packs

• (2) Ibuprofen Packs

• (2) Antihistamine Pack

• 5"x4" aLOKSAK

So the first thing I like about this kit is that you get two types of straps. A harder type, which has a multitude of uses. And a softer set with velcro ends.

So looking at the front, you have a nice velcro strip taking up the full width of the kit. This is really nice if you wanted to add different things. Say your blood type, or something specific that you might need a quick view of. I also like that the Cat Gen 7 tourniquet is right there for easy reach.

One of my only complaints about this kit, is that the area used for attaching this kit to various things, isn’t velcro. I would like the ability to just rip it off of the straps in case I needed to grab it and go. As it stands now, I would have to take valuable time unstrapping it and then taking it. It’s definitely not a deal breaker, but just something I hope that LTC offers up in the future.

It’s a nice compact kit. I really like how it is laid out. I like how there is a very distinct separation between trauma care items, and your other stuff.

Here are pictures of what the two sides have in them. The first shows all the stuff on the trauma side. The second shows all the contents on the non-trauma side, the third shows what is in the tiny packet within the non-trauma side. And the last is what the kit looks like empty.

As you can see it has just about everything you need for emergencies. Remember, this isn’t here to be a long term solution. It’s the perfect size for something you can put in your car or on the outside of your Predator Prep Bag.

One thing I like about this kit, is that you can use something and then go back to LTC’s site and replenish the exact product. So you don’t have to worry about starting out with the good stuff, and then having to settle for a lesser product as a replacement.

Coming in at a hefty $260.00, it is a bit of something to think about. Especially if you are on a budget. But, if you are like me, and are able to afford something this expensive and able to help out a small company, then I think it is a great buy.

Here’s the full version for the song used in the into to Episode 8

Let's talk about gloves

There are a lot of important things required for a Prep Bag. Heck, everything is important. That’s why you have it. But one thing that I feel is something that up there at the top, is a good pair of work gloves. It never fails for me, no matter how careful I am, I always seem to bust a knuckle, or scrape some skin and need a band aid or two. Well, in this Prep Bag, I’m once again leaning on Warrior Assault Systems to help me with a pair of gloves that I can not only work in, but also will protect my already busted up knuckles.

Watch the video below and see what my choices were, what I chose and why. You can get your own pair here.

Here’s the full version for the song used in the into to Episode 6

The Bivvy Scenario

As I look into finding the best items to put in my Prep Bag, I got in two bivvys. I wanted a bivvy in the bag because it can be used in a multitude of ways.

Most of the bivvys that I have come across seem to be made by a couple of manufactoures and then licensed out to companies. I’m not 100% sure of this, but with all the ones I looked at, there sure were a lot of bivvys that looked EXACTLY the same. So I chose one of those, the Tact Bivvy® 2.0 Emergency Sleeping Bag w/ HeatEcho® Technology, Paratinder, & Whistle by Frog & CO. I also chose one that wasn’t made to look the same. And that was Titan Survival’s EMERGENCY SLEEPING BAG, SAFETY-ORANGE.

Specs: Tact Bivvy

• WEIGHT: 7 oz

• SIZE: 7ft x 3ft (84” x 36”) - Length x Width

Specs: Titan Survival

• SIZE (PACKED): 6” x 3.25” x 3.25” - Length x Width x Depth

• SIZE (UNROLLED): 6.5ft x 3ft (78” x 36”) - Length x Width

• TOTAL WEIGHT (IN STUFF SACK): 4.3 ounces (120g)

• BAG THICKNESS: 35µm - 40µm (vs. 25µm competitor average)

When I look at the specs, the first thing that comes to my eye is the physical length. There’s a half a foot difference between the two. That’s a big difference for someone like me who is over 6 feet tall.

Moving on to the next item that I noticed was the bag thickness. Just feeling the two bivvys, the Titan doesn’t feel as thick or as stout. When I open up both of them, the Tact Bivvy just feels better. You can sort of tell this when you look at the weight. There’s almost 39% more weight with the Tact Bivvy over the Titan Survival. This has a direct correlation to how these items feel in the hand. I’m not saying that weight is making the Tact Bivvy better, but when you pick the two up, it just feels better.

Overall decision:

I have to decide which bivvy is the right bivvy for the Prep Bag. And it’s not a cut and dry answer. Both bivvys have merits. Both are good in their own right. If I was strictly looking for weight savings, then it’s a no brainer. The Titan Survival is the answer. But if I’m going for something that makes me feel that it’s the right thing to have, then that is the Tact Bivvy. It’s the one that I’m going to put in the bag.

Final Decision:

Tact Bivvy® 2.0 Emergency Sleeping Bag w/ HeatEcho® Technology, Paratinder, & Whistle by Frog & CO

Here’s the full version for the song used in the into to Episode 5

The Predator Bag

In this video I go over the specs of the Elite Ops Predator Bag by Warrior Assault Systems. I absolutely love this pack. Yes it’s going to be a bit heavier than your normal “civilian” pack. But that’s by design. For me this is a super comfortable pack and one that I feel has the best options for what I want to accomplish! You can find the bag here.

Here’s the full version for the song used in the into to Episode 3

Why I chose Warrior Assault Systems

I have spent many a year carrying all sorts of bags. And during this pandemic I realized that I needed a bag that could handle just about everything. But that also meant I needed a company that produced a bag that could live up to what I was looking for.

And I’m very lucky to say that Warrior Assault Systems is that company. There are so many things to say and yet not enough space to say it all. So, see the video below and I explain it better than I could ever write it.

Here’s the full version for the song used in the into to Episode 2

The Beginning

Why did I start this site?

That’s a simple and yet complicated answer. I have spent the past few years looking at various ways to be prepared. I have spent countless hours reading books, watching videos and talking to others about what they like and don’t like. So I figured when I was ready to really get into making my self prepared for almost any situation, that I would also sell and document that journey.

Praeparari - Latin for Be Prepared is a simple motto. And yet it means so many different things to different people.

I was tired of looking at all the “Prepping” sites and still not finding what I needed or what I thought was the best item for a particular purpose. Yes, there are a lot of sites that have a lot of great stuff. But there was just so much material and so many products that it made it difficult for me to choose the best item.

So that’s where this site comes in. I want to trim down all that stuff and just sell what I feel are the best items that I can get. Yes, the stuff on here will be more expensive. Yes, there will be limited options. But for those like me, who spend a lot of time researching and don’t mind paying a bit more for better quality, having fewer choices is a better thing. In my opinion.

So look at the things I will be putting up. Do your research. Email me and ask questions. But most of all, think about what you are trying to accomplish. If what I have fits that need, then awesome! If not, then that’s okay to. Just go out there and be ready for whatever life throws at you!

Byron

Here’s the full version for the song used in the into to Episode 1