Hello,

I am a fan of your medical kits and just saw that the one of your Travel Kits had a suture kit in it, good idea. I just got back from a few months in Colombia with a smaller  Travel Kit that did not have the sutures. Went on a hike and about two days in, I gashed open my shin. Some Colombian military guys came by and stitched me up with a sewing needle, needless to say it was not pleasant.

Getting Stitched up in Columbia

I think an upgrade is necessary for my next trip. Anyway thought you guys might get a kick out of that, I sent a picture of it as well. Keep up the good work your kits have saved my butt in more than one country!

W. Gatchell

AMK Response:  Thanks for the feedback!  Just to clarify, our Suture/Syringe Medic is now sold separately and can be added to any Travel or other line of medical kits that we offer.  Always a good idea to add some QuikClot to your first aid kit as well, just in case you need to stop the bleeding and don’t have a professional around to stitch you up.

Sept 21, 2009

Dear AMK:

I just wanted to take a moment and let you know how much I enjoy your medical kits. I’ve used them for several years when traveling in Colorado and Moab. They’ve always served me well when an injury occurs. With this experience, when it came time to update the first aid kit for my SWAT Team I choose to use Adventure Medical Kits. Well, it turned out to be a great choice! Last week we were conducting our “SWAT Applicant Test” and we were on the Missouri River bluffs, outside Leavenworth, Kansas conducting some land navigation courses when one of the SWAT applicants collapsed. We immediately moved the applicant to a cliff and I began evaluating his injury. The first thing I did was grab my AMK “Adventurer” kit and pulled out the “The Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine”. The guide helped me determine that the applicant was suffering from heat stroke and shock. I immediately treated him based on the guide’s advice. We summoned an ambulance and had to evacuate the applicant off the cliff and over a quarter mile down the river bluff and through some dense woods. I’m please to say, that after a two day stay in a local hospital the SWAT applicant is back at work.

I can not stress enough how much your product has helped me in critical
situations and therefore you’ll have a customer for life.

Sincerely,
Paul Carrill, Captain, Platte County Sheriffs Department

Dear AMK,

I am happy to report that your survival kit helped me to survive an unplanned night in Point Reyes this past January. A friend and I went hiking around Abbott’s Lagoon. At the end of the trail, we walked along the beach. It was an overcast, cold day and we didn’t realize how late it was and so it was almost sunset when we headed back towards the trail. It seemed simple enough to follow the beach along until we saw the trail that went around the lagoon. But we got completely disoriented and were not sure where to pick up the trail. We tried to follow close to the lagoon to pick up the trail but this didn’t work (In the morning we realized that had walked to a much further end of the lagoon.) We were lost. And it was already cold.

Before we left for the hike, I returned to my car to get my hat. When I went back I noticed my Survival Kit, which I usually leave in the car. I bought it after I read about the Kim family who had been trapped in the wilderness, in their car, which scared the heck out of me. I took the kit along with me as an after thought. Afterall, it was only a 4 mile hike and it was on a well marked trail in Point Reyes. I rarely bring the survival gear with me for such a short adventure.

Well, we spend thirteen hours there in the darkness as it was January. It got down to the low 20s. We were right near the ocean so we didn’t have a lot of coverage. Luckily we found a little area that was mostly protected from the harsh wind that was blowing. It took us a long time but we were able to build a fire with your kit and keep it going all that time. It’s amazing how much wood it takes to keep a fire going that long.

The sky was cloudy and at one point it started to drizzle. But that only lasted a little bit. Very early in the morning, the clouds passed and we could see the star filled sky. I’ve never felt such relief! In the morning, we were able to find our way back to the trail. We weren’t that far from it, but who knows what would have happened if we had kept wandering around the night before.

Bringing the kit was a last minute decision. I don’t know what instinct made me do that or what angel was looking out for me, but I am so thankful that I took it. I know that hypothermia in windy, cold weather can set in quickly. And there is no more vulnerable feeling than being disoriented in the wilderness at night. I am thankful that we were able to stay put for the long night and set out in the morning. The tools in your kit helped save our lives. So thank you.

Also, it says that if we use this kit, we’re eligible for a replacement. We used most of the tinder, pencil, duct tape. I’d love to get a replacement!

Thanks for the life-saving kit!

Sincerely,
Tara, Oakland Ca.

AMK Response:

Tara- Thanks for passing this story along to us.  We love to hear that our kits are helping people enjoy the outdoors safely, and it’s great that you were able to stay warm during a very challenging situation.  We’re based in Oakland and familiar with the Pt Reyes area (and its winds), so you impressed everyone in the office by being able to get a fire going in that environment.

I’ll put a package of some replacement supplies together and send it your way.

Thanks again! The Team at AMK

Here are a few recent comments from our customers.  We would love to hear from you!

Send us some feedback and share your stories with us (go to form) or ask our experts a question here.

From Mark K.- July 20, 2009

I absolutely love your products!  Very good quality!  I definitely plan on ordering more products in the very near future!

From Joe L – June 2009 (This was sent to Teddy – one member of our great Customer Service team)

Hi Teddy,   I received the moleskins today! Thank you very much for taking the time and making the effort! It says a lot about Adventure Medical Kits and their customer service. I’ve already taken the medical kit on a couple of hikes. It is light, yet well stocked. Thanks again!! With great appreciation, Joe.

From G. Jones – June 2009
Have used the Glacier Gel on a bad burn, healed painlessly and fast. Holy cow. Haven’t used the Quikclot, hope I never do, but sure glad I have it. Thanks, ex-Oaktown cowboy

Here is a recent testimonial that we received from Travis Macy – a Professional Multisport Athlete, racing for Team Salomon/Crested Butte.

Let us know if you have a similar story to share!

“Two years ago, amidst a hailstorm in the middle of the night, I hunkered down and pulled out my space blanket, only to be showered with little metallic shardes that had once been part of the useless clear sheet I held in my hand. Needless to say, that was a miserable night!

Since then, I have been an avid user of the Thermolite 2.0 Bivvy and Emergency Bivvy from Adventure Medical Kits. Whether I’m competing in expedition-length adventure races like Primal Quest or the Adventure Racing World Championship or just out for some training or backpacking, these items are crucial in my gear kit.

Combine one of these bivvies with your choice medical kit from AMK, and you’re good to go. I slept in a single Thermolite 2.0 Bivvy every night at Primal Quest Montana, and the warm sleep provided was paramount in pacing our team to a podium finish.

I highly recommend these products to anyone looking for a high quality emergency or planned-sleep option–and to all of us who have experienced the disheartening shower of metallic shards at 2:00 a.m.!

Travis Macy
Professional Multisport Athlete, Team Salomon/Crested Butte

Share your AMK story or send us feedback!

Comment:

I took an Ultralite .5 First Aid kit and added these Adventure Medical Kit items: 1 person HeatSheets Blanket, Signal mirror, Firestarter, & Whistle.

It is compact, fits easily in a pocket and weighs about 7 oz. Plus it looks cool!

My two cents. Kurt

Response:

Thanks for the comment Kurt! Our Product Development team loves to hear feedback from our customers about how they use our products.  Keep the ideas coming….

If you have a story or product idea to share with us, you can submit the info using this form.

Dear AMK,

The wonderful product donations for Trips for Kids and Trips for Kids Marin arrived, and we want to be sure you know how very much we – and the other chapters – appreciate AMK’s generosity!

Simple bike rides sound as if they should be easy to plan and manage, but a LOT goes on behind the scenes. All the pieces have to be in place for successful trips. AMK helps us serve worthwhile community agencies and delight deserving kids. We are grateful for the valuable part your organization plays.

Sincerely,

Marilyn Price, Founder and Director

Helen Cameron, Communication and Outreach

Learn more at www.tripsforkids.org

Comment:

My medical background ranges from First Responder, Medical Missionary,HAM Radio Operator and Special Operations Medicine First Responder (Civilian).

I bought several of your Heatsheets Blankets to put into my medical kits and bug out bags.  I have used them and they have not let me down.

I bought your SOL kit and added it to my bug out bag and getting a few more to put into to put into my travel bags.

Thanks for great kits and products.
Jerimiah G.

Dear AMK:

I just came back from a ten day surf trip down to Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica and I had to send you some photos because to be honest, my Adventure Medical Kit saved my entire trip. I got the World Traveler kit last summer when I went down to Costa Rica to surf the first time because it was designed for travel to Third World Countries.  This time that kit came in handy as I ended up taking a fin above my eye and getting a minor gash in my forehead.

I was very lucky and the only other person in the water was an American ER Doc and he ended up stitching me up that morning in a restaurant allowing me to go out and surf a four hour session later that afternoon.  Without the kit, my surf trip could have been over.

Thanks!

David S.

Got a story to share? Click here to send us a message!

Sent to us on 07/16/08 by Michael S. – Columbus, OH

Here is a story about my Ultralight & Watertight .5 that I am sure you will enjoy.

I have lunch with my parents every Tuesday while they are volunteering at the local hospital. A few weeks ago I was walking thru the hospital parking lot at the Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center, Cambridge, Ohio, when I recognized a client of mine. He is in his early 80’s and also volunteers. His shift starts at 1 pm. He had just stood up after tripping and falling on a curb in the parking lot. We walked into the hospital lobby/waiting room and I used the supplies in my medical kit to wipe up some blood on his cut fingers, and scrapped knee. I put some antiseptic on his knee, and put Band-Aids on his fingers and knee because NONE of the employees in the hospital in the lobby/waiting room or at the front desk had anything. No Band-Aids, no gauze, absolutely nothing. Employees and nurses went to look for Band-Aids, gauze, and some antiseptic and could not find any. Absolutely nothing!! I have to say that again. Absolutely nothing!!

So here you have it. This Ultralight and Watertight .5 medical kit was of more use to him than the entire hospital and these hospital employees and nurses running around like chickens with their heads cut off looking for supplies.

Adventure Medical Kits saves the day again.!

Do you have a story to tell or a comment to share? Click here to tell us….