TAMPAX: for absorbing blood, there is very little as effective; they are specifically manufactured to absorb and contain blood, and so are handy for cuts or other concentrated wounds that are bleeding heavily. If you snip the tip off one, the tip can also be used for bloody noses. I wouldn't recommend this for everyday use, though; people might look at you funny. But in the woods where appearance is unimportant, they are pretty handy. Because of their shape and material, they also are handy for firestarting. Tampax Satin are probably best, as they are available in Super Plus absorbency, and are also biodegradeable, and they are softer, hence will aggravate wounds less.

VAGINAL YEAST INFECTION CREAM: yeah, I know, I've got all the weird stuff on this dumb page, right? Well, it is widely available, and it works on fungi and bacteria in a broader spectrum than just vaginal yeast. These things come in various levels of treatment, Monistat 1 being the most powerful (the only non-prescription one that is supposed to cure an infection in a single dose). It does not come in a little toothpaste tube, like the others, but a little plunger applicator. This makes it a little less messy, and it also makes it more precise and easier to use one-handed.

OROPHARYNGEAL AIRWAYS : A simple solution to a terrible problem if you encounter any breathing difficulties. No, not for yourself. All that CPR does you a whole lot of good, though, if all there's just a tongue in the way. Carry several sizes, and only use them on unconscious individuals. Make sure you use the right size, too, or you'll either do no good or choke them.

2 IV SETS: A pair of 500 ml lactated ringers and a couple of tube sets go great with a pair of 18-gauge radiopaque needle/catheters. If you've ever been in a non-friendly environment, then you probably know what I am talking about. Treatment for shock, collapsing bloodlines, or things as simple as dehydration (you ARE drinking plenty of fluids, though, tight? So that'll never happen.) You have to be licensed to use these, though, and they can get spendy, so if you're just a little kid toolin' through the woods, don't bother. If you are often many many miles from anything even remotely resembling organized civilization, then taking a pair of these along could help, in the long run.

PURE CHARCOAL: You can find this in just about any art store. I've never had to do this myself, but I have been taught that if you have ingested some sort of poison that's about to eat you alive, you can swallow some charcoal, ground to a fine powder, and the charcoal will absorb the poison from your stomach and allow it to be passed through and deficated. Other uses include firestarting (an obvious one), and for marking signals and things, if in solid form.

COFFEE FILTERS: good for wiping down wounds for cleaning and other "paperwork" duties. They are stronger than moist towelettes, paper towels, and toilet paper, and they won't pill or fray at all. Paper towels, toilet paper, cotton swabs, Kleenex, all that other stuff frays and pills and leaves little pieces of itself behind. Coffee filters won't and they won't break down if you tear them in half.

BAND-AIDS & GAUZE: That's right. Carry about 20 Band-Aids with you for minor boo-boos, and some gauze and tape to cling bruises and larger wounds. Try a small roll of medical paper tape and 3 short rolls of gauze. That should suffice. If it doesn't, then what you're doing is way too dangerous, or you are trying to play doctor to too many people. I don't play Dr. to a boyscout troop. I take care of myself, and my wife, and anybody else that I find who happens to be having trouble.

ORANGE PEELS: Rub the inside of orange peels on bare skin to keep not only mosquitoes, but nearly everything else away. I've heard that in the Amazon basin it works better than even 100% DEET and Jungle Juice. Yes, really. Not very tasty, but could also be eaten.

PURELL HAND SANITIZER: this is an alcohol gel used for sanitizing. Cosequently, it can be useful around a campsite. Use it on your feet at the end of each day to prevent any exotic buildups of dubious microbes. It comes in varying sizes and shapes, so shop around. Try not to get the little bathroom counter dispenser things; likewise, avoid the big fat containers. They are available in squeeze bottles (which offer better control over the amount dispensed) that are tall and thin, handy shapes for packing. It's kinda expensive (depending on the size you choose) but worth the money if it prevents an exotic disease.

SHOP PAPER TOWELS: The main problem with the coffee filters is that they don't absorb . . . period. Zero absorption. So to supplement them, invest in some shop paper towels. These are different from household paper towels, and are more expensive, but worth it. They are many times as strong, and will absorb about the same, maybe a touch more moisture. You can find them in any good hardware store, and most of them are a light sky blue color, which is in my opinion much more pleasant than the dumb goose prints and other sissy stuff.

SAM SPLINT: You should probably carry two splints with you, as you'll need to immobilize compound fractures from both sides. The easiest way to do this is to carry what are called SAM splints. These are basically wire covered in foam padding, so that they can be rolled up for easy carrying. Since we are going more for space saving than comfort of patient, go ahead and get the wire splints. They roll up a lot thinner, and are significantly cheaper and just as strong. They just don't have the high-speed padding that makes them so comfortable to wear . . . NOT! I've had to wear one before. Comfortable they aren't. But, they are effective as immobilizers for broken or fractured bones, and they pack small enough that you could practically put them in your pocket. That's what we are looking for.

EMT HOLSTER: Hey, you got those snappy EMT pants, now you need the EMT holster, right? Well, sort of. You know, there is a reason that EMT kits are popular with EMT personnel. They work. They have a wide variety of useful things for emergency medical purposes. I would, though, advise you to very carefully study the tools and learn how to use them, and what to use them for. What would you do with a pair of forceps? Find out! In case you are wondering, they are the things that look like scissors, but are really more like pliers. They are used for gripping extremely delicate things. In fact, some of them have such fine tips that they are used by jewelers as well. Here's what you should have in one: