Emergency light for first aid kit

[Glow_worm]

I'm reviewing my first aid kit which lives in the car or handy about the building site which is currently home. I live in the wilds a good ambulance wait from help, and do plenty of stuff with an element of risk. First aid kit consequently includes trauma kit as I may be on my own for some time.

I'd like to add some form of lighting to it. I always have a torch on me, but it seems silly not having a light in the kit just in case. Thoughts welcomed regards what would be best!

Glow stick? Ultra reliable in long term storage, may be hard to crack into life with use of only one hand while feeling shaky.

Tiny cheap Olight style torch? Small, simple, reliable, waterproof, especially with a lithium AAA which won't leak and die like alkaline. Tricky to hold as both hands likely to be needed.

Headtorch- ideal hands free option. Cheap but not necessarily reliable? Or better quality (but without so much gadgetry/user interface it's likely to break down or forget how to switch on in emergency!) Costly for something which will hopefully never be used.

Hmmm...

 

[Muxley]

I'm reviewing my first aid kit which lives in the car or handy about the building site which is currently home. I live in the wilds a good ambulance wait from help, and do plenty of stuff with an element of risk. First aid kit consequently includes trauma kit as I may be on my own for some time.

I'd like to add some form of lighting to it. I always have a torch on me, but it seems silly not having a light in the kit just in case. Thoughts welcomed regards what would be best!

Glow stick? Ultra reliable in long term storage, may be hard to crack into life with use of only one hand while feeling shaky.

Tiny cheap Olight style torch? Small, simple, reliable, waterproof, especially with a lithium AAA which won't leak and die like alkaline. Tricky to hold as both hands likely to be needed.

Headtorch- ideal hands free option. Cheap but not necessarily reliable? Or better quality (but without so much gadgetry/user interface it's likely to break down or forget how to switch on in emergency!) Costly for something which will hopefully never be used.

Hmmm...

I have a tiny Olight & a generic head torch in my car’s FAK.
Trying to do first aid whilst holding a torch is a pain hence the head torch & the Olight can easily be held in the mouth should the head torch lets me down, not an ideal solution but at a push it’ll do.

 

[Toddy]

I bought a 'work light' for Himself recently. I was impressed enough that I bought another one to keep in the car, because it's bright, simple to use, very stable, can be charged from the car if necessary too.

Like this...


Two of them for under a tenner on eBay, maybe five or six pounds for a plug into the car dash usb charger..that would do phone, laptop, etc., too.

 

[stonepark]

USB Lithium Polymer battery Head torch and a glow stick as back up.

Torch would need charged once every 12 months to account for self discharge.

I just took a Superfire HL23 - S which was bought November 22, never charged out its box and tried it and plenty of charge for full operation of the torch and was likely posted with 70% charge.

 

[TeeDee]

Headtorches - more than one. One for you , (if you're not that casualty ) and one for anyone that maybe assisting or trying to find first aid items for you whilst you are dealing with the injured

 

[Jared]

Sofirn HS10 paired with a CR123a primary?
Good LED, 4000K and Ra of 90, so not going to wash out colours.
It has a mechanical lockout if slightly unscrew the cap, so can store it with battery in.

Sofirn HS10 Rechargeable Headlamp with Magnet Tail

Sofirn New Model Presale, the first small batch of HS10 16340 Angle Light, works as a headlamp, 1100lm by LH351D 90CRI LEDs.1. Mini Lightweight: Weighing 37g (without battery), measuring 67.2mm long, lightweight to wear for hours at a time. 2. High Lumen Headlamp: Powerful headlamp fitted with...

www.sofirnlight.com

 

[The Frightful]

Got the HS 10 and love it, can't beat Sofirn imo
Personally with a FAK id have a battery LED clip on front facing torch/ light, very cheap and simple push button operation. Mine came from a camping shop, factory shop or the range, wherever i got it it was certainly sub £10.
Id save on the torch and buy more Celox
Ps now putting my one with my FAK

 

[Glow_worm]

Alright, it seems worth paying out for a headtorch- HS10 looks a good option, thanks @Jared, a good neutral white really helps when things get critical and well suited to long term storage given the battery type. Looks similar quality to the Acebeam H16 I'm been hammering every day for a year, but these have hiked in price and are almost double the cost of HS10 so not really justifiable to sit in a box.

No harm in a white glowstick too, weight and bulk are not really an issue in the home/car kit.

@Toddy That work light would be handy to hook under then bonnet for any roadside repairs, thanks.

 

[Toddy]

Alright, it seems worth paying out for a headtorch- HS10 looks a good option, thanks @Jared, a good neutral white really helps when things get critical and well suited to long term storage given the battery type. Looks similar quality to the Acebeam H16 I'm been hammering every day for a year, but these have hiked in price and are almost double the cost of HS10 so not really justifiable to sit in a box.

No harm in a white glowstick too, weight and bulk are not really an issue in the home/car kit.

@Toddy That work light would be handy to hook under then bonnet for any roadside repairs, thanks.

It's a really bright clear hands free light, and it has different modes; one is a flashing red warning, which can be just as necessary at times.

 

[Jared]

Alright, it seems worth paying out for a headtorch- HS10 looks a good option, thanks @Jared, a good neutral white really helps when things get critical and well suited to long term storage given the battery type. Looks similar quality to the Acebeam H16 I'm been hammering every day for a year, but these have hiked in price and are almost double the cost of HS10 so not really justifiable to sit in a box.

No harm in a white glowstick too, weight and bulk are not really an issue in the home/car kit.

I have an Acebeam H16. Wouldn't recommend as it doesn't have a mechanical lockout, instead relies on a double click to turn on, or a little plastic isolator to keep battery disconnected which would be unwanted pfaff in an emergency.
Otherwise for an EDC admin light its fine.

As for the price, got mine at £22 on Amazon a few years back.

And Wurkkos released the HD12 earlier this month, another AA/14500. But with white and red modes. So likely replace my H16 at some point.

【New Release】Wurkkos HD12 Mini Angle Light, White&Red Beam, USB C Rechargeable 14500/AA Headlamp ,with Simple UI/Adjustable Headband

Wurkkos HD12 is a mini right angle flashlight for indoor use and outdoor activities like camping, hiking, fishing etc. Power by an AA or 14500 rechargeable Li-ion battery.

www.wurkkos.com

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

The chances of me, or any of us, religiously checking and changing batteries is low so why not carry 2? It almost has to be a headtorch as emergencies and first needs many hands. I equipped my kits with these:



Product Specification:
• Ultra-compact and ultra-light emergency headlamp to always have on hand
• Always ready to use, it can be stored with batteries (lithium CR 2032) for 10 years
• White lighting allows you to move around easily in the dark
• For emergency situations, the powerful red LED allows you to be seen from a distance for a long period of time
• Locking on/off switch designed to prevent accidental operation
• Withstands extreme temperatures: -30° C to +60° C
• Waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes (IPX7)
• Brightness: 40 lumens (ANSI/PLATO FL 1)
• Weight: 26g
• Beam pattern: Flood
• Energy: 2 lithium CR2032 batteries (included)
• Watertightness: IPX7 (waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes)
• 10 Year Guarantee


They are self contained and have a 10 year shelf life and even a whistle as part of the headband. With the military phrase, "One is none and two is one" throw in a regular use standard headtorch with this as an standby spare?

 

[Jared]

The chances of me, or any of us, religiously checking and changing batteries is low so why not carry 2? It almost has to be a headtorch as emergencies and first needs many hands. I equipped my kits with these:

View attachment 93067

Product Specification:
• Ultra-compact and ultra-light emergency headlamp to always have on hand
• Always ready to use, it can be stored with batteries (lithium CR 2032) for 10 years
• White lighting allows you to move around easily in the dark
• For emergency situations, the powerful red LED allows you to be seen from a distance for a long period of time
• Locking on/off switch designed to prevent accidental operation
• Withstands extreme temperatures: -30° C to +60° C
• Waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes (IPX7)
• Brightness: 40 lumens (ANSI/PLATO FL 1)
• Weight: 26g
• Beam pattern: Flood
• Energy: 2 lithium CR2032 batteries (included)
• Watertightness: IPX7 (waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes)
• 10 Year Guarantee

They are self contained and have a 10 year shelf life and even a whistle as part of the headband. With the military phrase, "One is none and two is one" throw in a regular use standard headtorch with this as an standby spare?

Yeah, another alternative that is similar to the Petzl is the Black Diamond Flare.

Flare Headlamp | Black Diamond Equipment

Check out the Flare Headlamp. Our most compact and lightweight headlamp with 40 lumens of light and fully waterproof and dustproof.

www.blackdiamondequipment.com

 

[mrmike]

The chances of me, or any of us, religiously checking and changing batteries is low so why not carry 2? It almost has to be a headtorch as emergencies and first needs many hands. I equipped my kits with these:

View attachment 93067

Product Specification:
• Ultra-compact and ultra-light emergency headlamp to always have on hand
• Always ready to use, it can be stored with batteries (lithium CR 2032) for 10 years
• White lighting allows you to move around easily in the dark
• For emergency situations, the powerful red LED allows you to be seen from a distance for a long period of time
• Locking on/off switch designed to prevent accidental operation
• Withstands extreme temperatures: -30° C to +60° C
• Waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes (IPX7)
• Brightness: 40 lumens (ANSI/PLATO FL 1)
• Weight: 26g
• Beam pattern: Flood
• Energy: 2 lithium CR2032 batteries (included)
• Watertightness: IPX7 (waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes)
• 10 Year Guarantee


They are self contained and have a 10 year shelf life and even a whistle as part of the headband. With the military phrase, "One is none and two is one" throw in a regular use standard headtorch with this as an standby spare?

I was going to suggest these also - I have one in my main first aid kit and another on the back of my usual head torch band

 

[Glow_worm]

More choices! Although as I regularly service the car, it's not an issue for me to add charging a torch to the list of things to do. Equally, I'll stick at one light source in the first aid kit- I always have a torch in my pocket, and take a head torch if I go anywhere by car. There's a good old reliable Maglite in the car too because I like backups with mechanical switches and without electronics.

 

[TeeDee]

A small focused pen light maybe useful also.