Essential Equipment

I've long struggled with the ideal contents of my prehospital pack. Time was that I carried enough gear in the back of the ute to perform an emergency laparotomy at the roadside...as time goes on I've slimmed things down...even more so on kayaking expeditions where weight and space are at a premium. Indeed, my minimalist approach to medical kit caused a small stir in the Australian sea-kayaking community, not least for the reliance on duct tape, superglue and suggesting the rectal route for treatment of dehydration and/or hypoglycaemia.


I've touched on thoughts for minimal standards for prehospital kit and a move towards similar standards in equipment and infusion protocols between small rural hospitals and retrieval services elsewhere in this blog. However, I was surprised to see the inclusion of a rubber chicken in Minh le Cong's essential prehospital kit. You can read more over at Cliff Reid's Resus.me site. But this of course raises the issue of what other 'unique' piece of kit that you feel you cannot function without.

Choking the chicken - an essential prerequisite for retrievalists?

For me, it's always been a six-pack of Dr Tim Cooper's Pale Ale (or Dr Tim's) - I usually slip a six pack in the vac-mat for the retrieval team when they take away a sick patient - in thanks for their efforts and as a reward to enjoy back at base.

What weird extra kit do you carry in your prehospital or emergency bag?