BAD DAY GEAR · FIELD NOTES

First Aid & Emergency Comms Gear Guide

Built for friend groups and small communities: what to buy, what’s optional, and what actually matters when you want to take care of people and stay in touch during outages, storms, travel, or “weird days.”

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

◄ Choose Your Kit ►

Grab-and-Go Field Ready Deep Care

Oh No Kit

For when things are going sideways but you're not panicking... yet.

Add these items to your Amazon cart below to get started!

Why did we pick these items for First Aid?

Why did we pick these radios?

  • During emergencies, cellular networks often fail due to overload or infrastructure damage.
  • UHF/VHF radios work independently of cellular towers and provide direct peer-to-peer communication.
  • Weather alerts and public service broadcasts can provide critical real-time information.
  • Mesh devices and GPS beacons enable texting and location sharing when networks are down.

Required: First Aid

  • Pre-made First Aid Kit
    Complete kit ready to go. Basic supplies for common emergencies.
  • Tourniquet (North American Rescue CAT)
    Extremity bleeding control. Buy known brands to avoid counterfeits.
  • Pressure bandage (Israeli bandage)
    Fast compression for heavy bleeding.
  • Nitrile gloves (box)
    Probably the most-used first aid item you'll actually reach for. We have a box to share but if you have XS or XL hands, you should probably buy your own.
  • Trauma shears 2-pack
    Cut clothing, tape, bandages. Cheap and practical. You only need one pair, but this 2-pack is a good value.
  • High Value Compressed Gauze
    Great small EDC size for wound packing.
  • Hemostatic Agent Saturated Gauze
    Advanced bleeding control with hemostatic properties.
  • 5" Hemostats
    Compact size to fit in IFAK for clamping and manipulation.
  • Pre-Lubricated Nasal Pharyngeal Tube
    Airway management for unconscious patients.
  • Chest Seals
    For penetrating chest wounds. Budget-friendly alternative to Hyfin brand.
  • M.A.R.C.H. Cards
    Quick reference for trauma response protocol.
  • Metered Mini Eye Wash
    For mace, chemicals, auto glass, bugs. Highly useful in field situations.
  • Emergency Blanket
    Body temperature mitigation with hemorrhage. Also works as improvised chest seal or clean ground space.
  • Hand Warmers
    Body temperature management during severe bleeding.
  • Chem Lights
    Signal to EMS for tiny/missing address numbers. Can attach to paracord for visibility.
  • Olight Hi-Viz Flashlight
    Magnetic accessibility, high visibility. Can't fix what you can't see.
  • Butterfly Sutures
    Budget-friendly wound closure strips.
  • Window Punch/Seatbelt Cutter
    Vehicle extraction tool for emergencies.
  • Mini Tourniquets
    For fingers, kids, and dogs. Versatile size.
  • Compressed Towels
    Great for wound packing, cleaning, general use. Reconstitute with water.
  • Burn Gel Dressing
    Specialized treatment for burn injuries.
  • Flat Fold KN95 Masks with Valve
    Protection from dust storms, demolition debris, and air quality hazards.

Required: Communications

  • Mini Radio
    Small walkie talkie with Weather radio and basic public service channels.
  • UHF/VHF Radio with Location Sharing
    GPS location sharing, messaging, and voice communication. No license required.
  • Off-Grid Texting & Location Sharing
    Two-way texting and location sharing when networks are down; pairs with phone for maps.
  • Advanced Multi-Band Radio
    Advanced radio with encryption, extended range, and multiple modes.
  • Off-Grid Text & Location "BlackBerry"
    Standalone device for two-way texting and GPS location sharing when networks are down.

Add all 8 essential items to your Amazon cart in one click

Upgrades & Optional Supplies

    Group Buys (Bulk)

    • Nitrile Gloves (Box)
      High-use consumable; easy to split across the group.
    • Sharpies, 12-count
      Label gear, dressings, and radios; bulk pack to divide up.
    • CPR Face Shields, 12-pack
      Disposable barriers for CPR; share across kits.
    • Burn Gel Packets, 25-count
      Bulk burn treatment packets to distribute among kits.
    • Emergency Candles, 20-count (9hr)
      Long-burn candles for outages; split across households.
    • Emergency Blankets, 6-pack
      Lightweight thermal blankets; divide into individual kits.