The BOSS Kit:

Updated Minor First Aid Kit For the Age of The IFAK.

The law enforcement and military communities have come a long way over the course of the last few decades with regard to first aid, both in training and in equipment. I can recall the kits I was issued during the early years of my enlistment as well as the ones that were tossed into the trunk of my first patrol car almost as an afterthought. They both contained items that may have offered some utility and convenience when faced any number of fairly minor injuries or maladies, but the situations they could adequately address all had one thing in common. They could probably wait. They didn’t constitute life-threatening emergencies. Thankfully, a lot of progress has been made to equip police and military personnel with modern IFAKS that are designed to provide the equipment needed to render life-saving aid rapidly in the field.

What is a BOSS kit? Well, BOSS is an acronym for boo-boos, owies, sniffles and um, s#!+s. In practical terms, it’s a first aid kit for those items that don’t need to be taking up space in a more serious trauma kit. While the IFAK or trauma kit has thankfully replaced the outdated general issue first aid kits of the recent past, there is still clearly a use for a number of items they contained, although they usually had too many of one thing and not enough of the next. The BOSS kit, or whatever you want to call it, is something I’ve carried in various configurations for years. A lot of experience has gone into optimizing it for the most common minor issues that one can expect to encounter in day-to-day operations.

M. T. Rush

So, what’s in it? Well, the version pictured here, that has accompanied me on any number of adventures contains the following:

· Eyedrops: (Dust, grit, smoke and other particulates seem to follow human activity. You don’t want them in your eyes).

· Burn Gel: Minor burns suck. They suck less if you can take the sting out of them.

· Alcohol pads: Minor cuts aren’t minor anymore if they get infected.

· Film Canister of Pain Meds: Just a handful of the usual (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and Naproxen)

· Anti-Diarrhea Tablets: For a condition notorious for making bad situations worse since the beginning of human history.

· Medical Tape: About three feet of two different widths folded flat.

· Liquid Bandage and Superglue: For minor cuts and abrasions on places (like fingertips) that don’t tend to bandage easily or where you need to maintain dexterity.

· Adhesive Bandages: For minor burns and cuts (An assortment of straight and knuckle and fingertip bandages, both cloth and plastic, sealed in small bag).

· Allergy Relief: Some people know what will cause an adverse reaction to them, others find out the hard way. Usually at the worst possible time.

All of these items are packed into a waterproof container that can be conveniently transferred from a glove-box to a backpack, tossed into a boat or stowed in a range-bag. The two items I have included in other BOSS kits that aren’t pictured here are a tube of triple-antibiotic ointment and cold medicine. Both could be handy, but both could probably wait until I’m out of the field. Your own particular operational environment, medical needs and preference should dictate the specific contents included. But keep it simple. It’s just for for boo-boos, owies, sniffles and um, s#!+s.