With how organized I like to be, I can’t believe I haven’t done this yet. For what it’s worth, I’ve always just kept my over-the-counter (OTC) meds in small Ziploc bags, labeled with a sharpie. Those small bags were then stashed in a larger, quart-sized Ziploc and placed in each bug out bag.
Recently, I got thinking that there has to be a better way…and that’s when I found these travel pill organizers:
Now, I didn’t spend much time on Amazon looking, but these pill organizers seemed to be about the sturdiest option for the cheapest price. And they had a total of 10 slots, which is perfect because they match up with the OTC recommendations from my book, The Survival Blueprint.
Specifically, one my many recommendations within the book is to keep an assortment of OTC medications, including pain meds, an antihistamine, anti-diarrheal, laxative, and a few others as shown here:
Because I wasn’t sure what pills would fit in which slots of the pill organizer (there are only two sizes of slots in each pill organizer, four large and six small) I decided to take a sample of each pill out of their respective containers to determine which pill needs to go where. After a brief deliberation with myself, it worked out like so:
As you can probably tell, I simply duplicated the same setup in each of the four travel containers shown above, though I still have two more to make for a total of six bug out bags. Some slots had plenty of space for more pills, such as the laxatives and anti-diarrheal, but others only had space for a handful or less, such as the expectorant. Regrettably, I could only fit two Tums. 🙁
In any case, it worked out well enough. And because there’s no expectation that I’ll be able to remember which pill is what months or years later, I labeled them accordingly (it’s also helpful for other people):
Although it might be difficult to tell, because my handwriting is poor to begin with, some of the writing smeared as I attempted to affix the labels; this is purely a result of the wrong choice of ink pens coupled with not allowing the ink to dry for long enough. But I’m nothing if not stubborn, so I proceeded…damn the consequences. 😉
Although I haven’t yet done so, it might be wise to include some sort of usage instructions inside each container because you (and others) may not remember how much of any pill can be taken during the day, and I’d hate for you to get that wrong.
As for how sturdy the containers are, I can’t say that I’ve used them extensively, but it all appears to latch (and stay latched) fairly well. But, if you had to use them daily for months, then I can see something giving out. Specifically for use in a bug out bag, I think these pill organizers will work well.
Last, although I only included OTC medications, you can certainly include any pills you like, including vitamins or herbs or whatever. About the only problem I foresee is that any large pill will take up a lot of space, so you might only be able to get a few in any one slot. That said, I’ve already ordered more containers for this very purpose. That and I have more bug out bags to in my household to deal with.
Hope that helps!
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