Hypochondria

At the start of Jerome K. Jerome's hilarious “Three Men in a Boat” the narrator, “J”, describes a visit to the British Museum to read up on the treatment of a slight ailment. He makes the mistake of turning the page and quickly realizes that he has every disease in the book, with the exception of housemaid’s knee, up to and including zymosis. Similarly, shopping for a first-aid kit at www.rescue-essentials.com this week ended with our preparing for every type of major disaster imagined or real. Rest assured, team Red Thread is coming prepared. 

Noting that the three leading causes of death in the the tactical environment (wherever that is) is penetrating trauma with 60% extremity bleeding, 33% tension pneumothorax, 6% airway obstruction, the only sensible answer is a S.T.O.R.M. Operator IFAK pack. Fortunately it’s made to meet the demands of an austere environment as well and can be worn as a drop down leg rig leaving one's hands free to steer the car. No responder can do without a CAT tourniquet, but if that doesn’t work there’s Celox-A to control life-threatening bleeding from penetrating wounds (them again). We actually got some of this in case some pointy bit of automobile decides to penetrate something it shouldn’t. It better have legible instructions. 

Thus equipped for combat, wilderness, front and back country injuries, and eventual evacuation, it was simple matter of maxing out the credit card to ensure that every eventuality is covered. Fifty pounds of prevention to deliver several ounces of cure. And just in case that doesn't work or we're attacked by rabid Mongolian mongrels, we’re taking out air-evac insurance and carrying a SPOT with a nifty red Batphone button.