Survival Release Gen 8 – Its Easiest to Use First Aid Kit Yet

Jack’s new look at safety on the trails has him nerding out on the impressive system inside Survival’s new Gen 8 First Aid Kits.

I took my son on his first summit hike recently. I say both these things loosely – the elevation was small by every standard and his legs didn’t touch the ground.

He was nestled into my chest, asleep in the carrier, as the nearing-spring sun poked through, saturating the wattle that popped from the bush. As I wandered the skinny single track I realised I’d broken a key Dad rule – I should have been more prepared.

Although it was a simple bushwalk, if I – or my wife – came across a snake or had a stumble, our little boy would be stuck in the bush with us. The peel of the mandarin we enjoyed at the top would be useless as a snake bandage.

It made me realise how ‘laxed I’d been about safety and first aid kits. I’d often been carrying one to tick a packing box, moreso creating peace-of-mind, rarely checking how well it was stocked or brushing up on how to use it.

First Aid Kit – Large (Gen 8) and Snake Bite Kit (Gen 8)

It was the week after this hike, that Survival revamped their first aid kits, and released the Gen 8 range, designed to make first aid faster and easier. My heightened interest had me nerding out on their impressive organisation, that could be critical when administering first aid.

What Makes Survival First Aid Kits Different?

Survival have been in the game since 1988, and upon opening up their first aid kits, I was thoroughly impressed with how organised they were, and the clear system that governs their use.

On the outside of the 600D polyester ripstop case is a rubber key explaining their distinct, easy-to-follow colour-coded system.

The key to the colour-coded system that guides you through the kit

As you open each first aid kit you’ll find four zones, with colours corresponding to the key on the front helping you find what you’re looking for fast.

Red for trauma, blue for hygiene, green for information, and black for utilities, once you’ve found where you need to be, each pocket is labeled with the item that’s stuffed inside and what it’s used for – and that’s where Gen 8 further increases this clarity.

What’s new in Gen 8?

In Gen 8, they’ve built upon this colour-coded system by adding pictogram to every item within the kit.

Gen 8 pictograms are designed for anyone to find what’s needed

Alongside the colour-coded pockets that take you to the right place, a yellow picture cuts the medical jargon and shows you how you would use each item, while a white pictogram shows you what that item is – something that’s not always obvious when it’s wrapped up in plastic and shoved into a kit.

In an emergency this allows you to find exactly what you need without flailing through every pocket.

Clear labelling and (now) pictures to help you find what’s needed, fast

The Outdoor Bundle Made For Explorers

Landing on the Survival website you’ll find they have first aid kits designed for a myriad of users. There are kits designed for storing in vehicles, kits for hikers, kits that are slimline, and kits with enough supplies for the whole family, workplaces, and even pets.

Within the Gen 8 range, there are four: large for three or more people, medium for two, small for one. Each has the same essentials, with each size increasing the quantity of the supplies. Also in Gen 8 is a Snake Bite Kit, which includes extra essentials for the Aussie bush – it’s designed to join you on the trail.

The 700g Snake Bite Kit

If you’re not sure which kit’s best suited for you, they have a quiz, but if you’re an outdoorsy type, then the Outdoor Bundle is one of your best bets.

It combines the First Aid Kit – Large (Gen 8) and Snake Bike Kit (Gen 8), along with an Emergency First Aid Handbook, and with the savings of bundling up, it’ll cost you $420.10.

The Survival First Aid Kit – Large

The Survival First Aid Kit – Large (Gen 8) is built for three or more people with 163 pieces, covering minor scrapes to major emergencies. If there’s fewer of you, building your own bundle with the medium or small kit might be a more affordable option.

Inside you have a SMART Bandage which allows you to apply the correct pressure for bites and sprains, and strong enough to hold pressure and slow serious bleeding.

Then there’s serious trauma cover: a splint for fractures, major wound dressings, wound closures and an eye pad.

And everyday essentials which includes dressings, saline, gloves, CPR mask, splinter probes, and an emergency blanket for shock and cold.

At 1.65kg, and 25cm tall, I see this being the kit that gets thrown into the car for family camping as well as being used around home, with the larger size requiring less restocking.

Essential packing for family camping trips

The Snake Bite Kit

At 700g, and 18cm in height, the Survival Snake Bite Kit (Gen 8) will be coming on the hikes I mentioned earlier, along with being the kit I bring on longer hikes, and bikepacking trips.

No size is truly understood unless compared to a 1L Nalgene

The 19 piece kit has all of the Gen 8 ease-of-use features I’ve mentioned, covering general first aid with added extras for dealing with bites and stings that are a risk in the Aussie bush.

The pieces inside treat bites and stings, sprains and strains, and major bleeds with two of Survival’s SMART bandages, a splint for immobilising a broken limb, a tick spoon, an emergency blanket, and a loud emergency whistle.

Inside the fully stocked Snake Bite Kit

The weight conscious may look at the specific hiking kit, at 500g, or the Compact First Aid Kit at 180g, however should do so cautiously as both lack the inclusion of the SMART Bandage and the Gen 8 pictograms, among other items.

The Survival SMART bandage guides indicates the correct pressure is applied

All of the Gen 8 Survival First Aid Kits are compact and built tough with YKK zips, molle and d-rings for attaching to a hiking pack, bike bag, or whatever you can hitch it to.

Ready for attaching anywhere – no excuse

The outdoor bundle also comes with a First Aid Emergency handbook that I’ll be reading up on, and I’ve already installed Survival’s app, iFirstAid, that’s available for anyone to download free.