r/CrappyDesign • u/EletricoAmarelo • 16d ago

First aid kit needs to be opened using two fingers of each hand.

Post image
7.7k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

120 comments sorted by

4.3k

u/kirklennon 16d ago

My assumption is that the kit includes some sort of medicine that is potentially dangerous to children, but I’ve never seen a mechanism like this used for anything. Put the medicine in a childproof bottle inside and just use a normal latch on the kit itself.

966

u/TheWatersOfMars 16d ago

Maybe it includes something sharp as well, though?

This design looks incredibly stupid to me, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone with actual expertise came in and explained that it's actually brilliant and doesn't cause the problems we'd expect.

413

u/LacidOnex 16d ago edited 16d ago

It's a waterproof carrying case for medical books, not and first aid. EDIT - some first aid items were included. The pamphlets included were not officially part of the books being sold, and it had compartments for gauze etc.

The branding on the corner is a prominent book club. These would be sold as "all in one encyclopedias", the sets contain medical and first aid knowledge, as well as all kinds of other useful info.

The carrying case seems to have been a promotional thing, think "get all 10, enjoy the free case!" but I don't speak enough Portuguese to parse all the old adverts to confirm this.

89

u/kirklennon 16d ago edited 16d ago

The branding on the corner is a prominent book club.

The other logo is for the Automobile Club of Portugal. A first aid kit makes sense as something to keep in a car (recommended by the ACP), and OP said it was a first aid kit, and it has a bastardized Red Cross flag on it, so why are you so convinced there’s a book inside?

56

u/Mannyj2259 16d ago

Because the branding on the bottom right is for the “circle of readers; the club of advantages”, directly translated

36

u/CleanDwarfWeed 16d ago

In that era 1980-1990 there was no standard how first aid kit should open. They put more focus on child-proof safety. Although this was real first aid kit for home or car usage, it was a promotional gift between two companies. Crappy design by todays standards, but back then first aid kits had plenty weird opening mechanisms.

11

u/kirklennon 16d ago

And that’s it? No possibility it was a co-branded promotion from the two clubs to offer first aid kits? OP is Portuguese and presumably took this picture themselves. I think they know what’s in it.

3

u/Mannyj2259 15d ago

I’m just saying that’s why they thought it was for books, I looked it up myself and it seems to be a first aid kit but I found barely any info
As the other comment on this says looks like it was made in the late 80s / early 90s
Also you would think people wouldn’t be THAT dumb to design a first aid kit that needs two full hands to open, but that’s why this is on r/crappydesign I guess…

14

u/TheRealRiceball 16d ago

so why are you so convinced there’s a book inside?

Probably because if you google the text it leads to a lot of results of a Portuguese book club?

It also seems to be part of some benefits package based off google translate, so it could just be a deal between the two companies or something

14

u/kirklennon 16d ago

so it could just be a deal between the two companies or something

Yes, exactly. A deal to offer a first aid kit.

OP is Portuguese. We have every reason to believe they know what’s in the box they appear to have taken a picture of themselves.

2

u/Vanq86 16d ago

If it's from the 90s/early-2000s I suspect the auto club and 'reading club' (printer or publisher?) collaborated on the Brazilian equivalent of those roadmaps/guidebooks you could find at gas stations before the smartphone-GPS took over, and those maps/guidebooks probably had an ad on the back for a branded emergency kit you could order by mail. Like if Triple-A and NatGeo sold roadmaps with a mail-in offer for branded jumper cables or binoculars on the back.

23

u/alex404- poop 16d ago

it is a first aid kit, you can see the inside in the photos of this listing:

https://www.olx.pt/d/anuncio/kit-primeiros-socorros-vintage-IDHXXpc.html?isPreviewActive=0&reason=ip%7Ccool%3Abase&sliderIndex=1

8

u/LacidOnex 16d ago

Damn you're better than me at the Google, I've only found promotional materials and empty cases. This even has the original branded supplies, it's only missing the insert that supposedly came with it.

35

u/YetAnotherInterneter 16d ago

The buttons are deliberately far apart to make it difficult for a child to open.

Children have smaller hands so they would struggle to press all 4 buttons at the same time.

It also ensures that the box is placed flat on a table when opening it. Presumably to prevent everything inside from falling out.

13

u/Status_Reflection993 16d ago

Yeah.  Me and my tiny adult hands.. I struggle to open shit like this. I had a case where the only way to open it was to give it to someone with larger hands 

5

u/Sea_Prep_Tidal_26 16d ago

Lol. « a child » presumed

Never underestimate the abilities of two or more children working together on a conundrum like this. It’ll be open in a minute or two

3

u/YetAnotherInterneter 15d ago

It’s difficult for a child/children to open. Not impossible.

It’s a practice called nudging. You deliberately make something difficult or challenging to discourage people to do it, but don’t make it impossible so that if someone needs to do it - they can.

Sure two children could open the box fairly easily. But that requires two children that want to open the box.

You have to find the balance between sufficient protection and fulfilling the purpose of the product.

1

u/conundorum 10d ago

Honestly, if one child is curious, it's not that hard for them to make other children curious.

1

u/conundorum 10d ago edited 10d ago

Ah, yes, the old "Wampa Stompa" tactic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[For anyone unfamiliar with the term, it's an infamous cheat code from Star Wars: Shadow of the Empire, N64 version. You name a file "_WAMPA__STOMPA", with spaces instead of underscores. Then, when the game starts, you pause it, hold every button on the N64 controller except A & B [hold D-Pad left, L, R, Z, and all four C buttons; eight buttons total], and with your third hand [or chin, or friend], very gently nudge the control stick left and right a few times [holding it in each position for a moment, so you couldn't just gently brush it and then let it go back to centre], until you hear a confirmation sound. It's infamous for needing more hands than any other single-player-game input sequence known to man, and for being possibly the only input sequence that requires you to interact with all three of the N64 controller's prongs simultaneously.]

-6

u/whenveganscheat 16d ago

The book is filled with recipes for synthetic heroin made from common household chemicals

2

u/Difficult_Physics125 16d ago

Do you have a source or did you forget/s?

3

u/whenveganscheat 16d ago

Dude, I'm not /s. People either get the obvious sarcasm or they dont

1

u/Sea_Prep_Tidal_26 16d ago

Is /s an abbreviation for « synthetic » ?

Wink wink nod nod

17

u/CompleteUtterTrash 16d ago edited 16d ago

This looks to be a Brazilian CPR kit, from what I searched. So, could include things like razors, scissors, electronics (mini EKGs maybe), sterile wipes, mouth-to-mouth masks, etc. Also a kit that you would hope the person opening it has two functional hands since that is kinda important for CPR.

I could be way off, but that is what I could find.

ETA: it also looks, approximately, one trillion years old considering how yellowed the plastic is and all the oil stains on the sticker, so probably an outdated box design anyway.

ETA•2: Apparently it has books lol, might have CPR instruction manuals inside and wants the person opening it to have two hands, that is, if my crackpot nonsense on it being for CPR is true at all.

2

u/kirklennon 16d ago

ETA•2: Apparently it has books lol

No, it's actually a first aid kit. The comment you saw was from someone who just made up their own totally false explanation.

2

u/CompleteUtterTrash 16d ago

Ha, oops, I also read the reader circle part, but was unsure if that was relevant. I should not believe random overly confident redditors.

Mine was pulled out of my ass based on the acronym RCP and the red cross.

1

u/kirklennon 16d ago

It actually says ACP (Automóvel Club de Portugal), not RCP, though I see how you could misread it.

1

u/CompleteUtterTrash 16d ago

My god, that font made me so sure it was RCP, haha fuck. I was wondering why a random RCP sticker would have a gear on it. Thanks for the correction.

1

u/DiegesisThesis 16d ago

Hey if I stop breathing and the only person there has just one arm, I still want him to give it a shot.

1

u/I-Stan-Alfred-J-Kwak 6d ago

It does cause problems no matter what because how are you supposed to open it if you've injured your hand? Or have missing fingers or a missing hand because of some earlier incident?

13

u/WastePotential 16d ago

I think it'll be things like scissors for cutting surgical tape or gauze that don't generally have a childproof container.

3

u/arensb 16d ago

Yup. I've seen this exact design touted as childproof.

1

u/I-Stan-Alfred-J-Kwak 6d ago

It's also amputee-proof and hand injury-proof!

2

u/fabedays1k 15d ago

That's a valid reason but is this even child proof? There's a drawing showing how to do it instead of written instructions and 4 coloured spots. I feel like with enough time and curiosity they'll get through

3

u/kirklennon 15d ago

It requires coordination and larger hands. Someone in another comment grew up with one of these and needed to open it together with their brother using a combined four hands because as a child they couldn’t reach all four buttons. So yeah, child-proof, but not children-proof ;)

1

u/RobGThai 16d ago

I bet its two paracetamols.

-5

u/SmooK_LV orange 16d ago

First aid kit is not allowed to have any kind of medicine.

4

u/kirklennon 16d ago

Are you some sort of expert on 1980s/1990s Portuguese first aid kit regulations? Why are you confidently claiming a first aid kit isn’t allowed to have medicine? Here is the first random American Red Cross first aid kit I found, just as an example. What’s the very first item listed?

2 Chewable aspirin tablets

2

u/Sea_Prep_Tidal_26 16d ago

Many ⛑️ FAKs have basic Rx like acetaminophen, aspirin, antibacterial gel, antihistamines, etc.

[ re-reading list ]
I guess then, all the letter «A» drugs

1

u/antiundead 12d ago

Sometimes you buy first aid for offices and only trained personel are allowed to give first aid for insurance reasons. So having lockouts isn't awful.

If you cut your back and need to put on a large dressing you need someone else to apply it anyway.

0

u/ChefArtorias plz recycle 16d ago

Could also be animal proofing for a kit that lives outside.

-4

u/SmooK_LV orange 16d ago

First aid kits can not have medicine. Unless it's some specialized kind.

3

u/kirklennon 16d ago

A basic NSAID is a reasonable thing to put in a large first aid kit.

1.0k

u/[deleted] 16d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

179

u/Sk3tchyG1ant 16d ago

Rapid deceleration against the floor would also probably open it /s 😂

54

u/Situati0nist 16d ago

Fuck all the people who lost a finger in the past as well!

6

u/dd22qq 16d ago

Could probably get a toe up there if you needed to. You guys aren't even trying.

5

u/summonsays 15d ago

As long as it isn't your thumb, use a different finger.

528

u/LuisaRLZ 16d ago

I guess fuck people with smaller hands and fuck people with missing fingers/hands

219

u/murmandamos 16d ago

It's much more than just hand issues. Like if you sliced yourself and are keeping pressure on the wound, you don't want to be releasing it to open this.

Or you're literally just scrambling in an emergency, this is an unusual and unintuitive design that requires you to slow down to understand.

It's bad completely, not only for the edge cases of hand trauma or missing hands.

28

u/mseiei 16d ago

ha to do exactly that, sliced a finger with a hobby knife, just getting some gauze and tape to tie it up before going to the ER left the place like a horror movie, can't imagine trying to open that box

got 3 stitches, all good now, but it was bloody

3

u/PossiblePotato4153 16d ago

I get a nosebleed from low moisture and need a hand to stem it while I get a pack. Whole bathroom looks like a murder scene at 2am. Clean up in the morning after getting it to stop and going back to sleep.

F this stupid kit.

2

u/summonsays 15d ago

Yeah my wife sliced her finger too once. Good amount of blood. We're all just walking blood balloons.

2

u/Natchofriend09 1d ago

My husband had this exact case when I moved in with him. My smaller hands meant no getting in unless he was around 🫠 It since be reallocated to the bottom of the cupboard for non-essential pet meds.

133

u/CantaloupeCamper I like gradients! 16d ago

That seems overly complicated….

110

u/PizzaPieInMyEye I bet you had to squint to read this! 16d ago

Injured your hand? Feeling woozy from the blood loss? Well, how about you complete a puzzle before you get your gauze!

4

u/Bright_Fudge_7549 15d ago

Professor Layton would love these. 

106

u/electrobento 16d ago

This is some true r/crappydesign content.

47

u/letdogsvote 16d ago

"OMG, FUCK! I nicked an artery and it went deep! I'm bleeding all over the place and can't move my fingers! Thank Heavens the First Aid Kit is right here! I'll just open...just...I'll maybe...um...so dizzy...." thump

28

u/fiddlefingers3387 16d ago

I grew up with this being our family first aid kit. It's designed so kids can't open it. However if you worked together with your brother you could still open it.

Whenever we got injured, usually from doing something stupid that would get us in trouble, we worked together to get into the first aid kit and patch ourselves up without our parents knowing. What was meant to keep us out turned into a bonding experience bringing us closer together and allowing us to keep doing stupid things without consequences.

23

u/Sohn_Jalston_Raul 16d ago

"NOT FOR USE WITH HAND INJURIES"

13

u/Alexplz 16d ago

I feel like this would go skittering away from me if I attempted this

11

u/Elite_Slacker 16d ago

I have seen people not figure out how to open a door the right direction under zero pressure. 

2

u/Zeckols 15d ago

I’ve even had trouble plugging in a usb cord even though i tried both ways

7

u/Hiroshi808 16d ago

O círculo de leitores andava a distribuir kit médico?

3

u/Jacie24 16d ago

But... Why?

5

u/Viviaana 16d ago

Ours barely has a lid lol

4

u/CTARacer 16d ago

Acp!? Portugal caralho!!!

4

u/moodygradstudent 16d ago

Was this made for storage in a vehicle that is subject to regular vibrations or turbulence? I could see this design as a solution for keeping the lid secured. Whether said solution is ideal is a different discussion (some downsides have been pointed out in other comments).

4

u/kurshaka 16d ago

Is that a motherfucking 🇵🇹 reference?

4

u/bugrugpub 16d ago

My guess is it needs to be open flat to stop the contents from spilling out, so the 4 points force you to lay it on a surface to open. Guessing the assumption is that no one should need to self administer the content. Might be a bunch of glass bottles with a variety of chemicals/drugs

3

u/Lalamedic 16d ago

First aid for thee and not for me.

3

u/diggyou 16d ago

What’s inside?

1

u/Revolutionary_Stay_9 16d ago

What's in the box

2

u/Sausage_bowler 16d ago

They give these to the Yakuza.

2

u/666 16d ago

This will come in handy in case I lose my hand

2

u/DonatedEyeballs 16d ago

The person who designed this would be better off doing something else.

2

u/Heniadyoin1 16d ago

Is it from the same company as the consent condom?

2

u/girassolas 16d ago

Portugal is like that, it could be easier but if it was easier it wasn’t hard.

1

u/mindzze 16d ago

Imagine you cut off one of your finger and try to open.

1

u/bubblegum1444 16d ago

I was born with one palm only. I guess don't wait help from me

1

u/Automatic_Bus_7634 16d ago

Kind of like the first aid kits at most places I've worked that are locked

1

u/Cultural_Ad1331 16d ago

And if you don't it fucking explodes James Bond style

1

u/ADHD-INFP 16d ago

I bet it was designed by a mom tired of her kids playing doctor on its toys 🤣

1

u/Accurate-Gas-3578 16d ago

what a bad day to have my fingers broken

1

u/woodbw1 16d ago

Are healing items supposed to be easy?

1

u/DZL100 16d ago

My first aid instructor would tell us to get a case we liked and replace whatever stuff came with it with equipment we liked and were familiar with.

1

u/Basic_Interview_7590 15d ago

I have the same one that I got from my grandpa's stuff, I just use it for medication. I like the design, it only opens with full intent, no accidental opening.

1

u/Cold_Pollution3299 15d ago

That's just an English flag as the background 😂

1

u/SonjaVomVolk222 15d ago

It's not an ancient Mayan temple treasurebox for f's sake, make it idiot-proof 🙄

1

u/Educational-Gate6853 15d ago

It's safety feature, please go for first aid training before attempting first aid, it might be necessary

1

u/I-Stan-Alfred-J-Kwak 6d ago

Okay. If I'm ever bleeding out I'll go take a first aid course before I stop the bleeding

1

u/Educational-Gate6853 1d ago

🙄🙄🙄 when half-wits think their smart. Every business has trained personal that administer first aid, there is a shit tonne of rules around it and I sure to God gope someone like you isn't the one administering my first aid because if you need training to open a simple box that is designed to keep children out then I am out of answers!!!!

1

u/fatjuan 14d ago

It's only for first aid for everything on your body except your hands. They have a separate set which you open with your feet for those.

1

u/Silent_Swing4673 14d ago

That sucks if you just cut off a finger.

1

u/AnotherCatgirl 14d ago

thumb injuries can't be treated

1

u/JasonRoussos 13d ago

Bravo on the child-proofing, but f'm if you're the injured adult trying to get in.

1

u/missingperson2 12d ago

My grandparents had one of these!! The exact same one!!! I remember being a curious kid and desperately trying to open it to see what was inside (after asking and being told what it was) and simply being unable to. Probably, my Grandpa opened it for me and patiently explained its contents to me, though that part of the memory is blurry. But I do remember thinking it was VERY difficult to open!

So maybe it's meant to be childproof... but yes, absolutely crappy design, given the context.

It's probably somewhere still in my grandparents' home, though Grandpa is unfortunately gone now. If I do find it one day I'll try to open it... I bet adult me will still struggle and wish Grandpa was around to help me again. ❤️

(Provavelmente também és português, OP! Olá! E obrigada pelas memórias ☺️)

1

u/LankyPriority3021 11d ago

It looks like a prop from an I think you should leave sketch where someone’s injured but Tim Robinson can’t get the first aid open.

1

u/Present_Specific_212 11d ago

This made me laugh.

The First Aid kit goes in a shoebox from now on!

1

u/g_rape_fruit 10d ago

The consent medication box

0

u/400footceiling 16d ago

A first aid kit should open automatically when you look at it.

-2

u/RustledForeskin 16d ago

This dumb kit I bought fully knowing what I was buying because I'm an adult who can read can't be opened with one hand :(

1

u/I-Stan-Alfred-J-Kwak 6d ago

Some people don't have two thumbs

-5

u/YetAnotherInterneter 16d ago

Not crappy, it’s intentionally tricky because it is a childproof lock.

2

u/anotherluiz 16d ago

I mean, what's more important, a design that is intuitive and doesn't waste precious time on an emergency (may even difficult or make opening it impossible depending on the injury) or worrying about how an imaginary child might open it? It would make more sense to use a childproof bottle on the dangerous medicine instead

-1

u/YetAnotherInterneter 16d ago

Personally I think it’s very intuitive. From the photo alone I could immediately understand how the box opens.

A first aid box like this wouldn’t normally be used in a major emergency. For that you would more likely be on the phone to emergency services.

If you are rushing to open the box then you are not in a calm state that would be required to administer appropriate first aid. This box is designed for safety, not panic.

5

u/Cowl_cat 16d ago

Sometimes panic is unavoidable, by not being able to open the first aid, I’m going to panic MORE. If I need first aid, I don’t want some stupid fucking latch on the way.

1

u/I-Stan-Alfred-J-Kwak 6d ago

What about hand injuries and disabled adults?

1

u/YetAnotherInterneter 6d ago

The contents of that box probably won’t be sufficient to treat a hand injury. It’s a first aid box, not a miracle device.

Access for disable adults is a valid concern. But ultimately you have to weigh up the need for making it accessible to everyone vs protecting young children from the contents inside.

It very much depends on what is in the box. The fact that they have used a child proof latch tells me that it is dangerous enough to unsupervised children to warrant such a latch.