Week 26, 2012: What's inside my bag

MY FRIENDS were in disbelief when they realized I had stopped borrowing things from them. I don't like carrying bags; I want both my hands free. I would go to class empty-handed if that were possible. And then clerkship came where I had to somehow invest in doctor-things lest I become a mere space-occupying lesion in PGH. Inspired by What's In Your Bag Flickr group, I'm sharing the contents of my bag. Whether they speak a lot about me is a matter of philosophical interest—the truth is, I just bring these things around because I need them.

1. A cheap belt bag where I can stuff all my things in. It doubles as a hand bag with a sling I can carry on my shoulder during rounds.



2. A retractable tape measure (for accurately recording tumor sizes or fundal heights) and my trusted stethoscope.



3. A pulse oximeter which measures oxygen saturation levels and pulse rates accurately. Although a bit pricey (around Php 2000), I had to buy this so I don't have to take the pulse for 15 long seconds, the value of which I multiply by 4 to estimate the pulse rate. I'm bad at arithmetic so I couldn't mentally compute for the answer.



4. My new pen of choice, Pilot Super Grip Fine retractable pen, and a pocket notebook with grids.



5. Micropore tape and my wallet.



6. A BP apparatus and an electronic thermometer.



7. An affordable name stamp (locally called Trodat, after its more expensive counterpart) attached to my keys and a small bottle of 70% ethanol.



What I didn't include: surgical scissors, tourniquet, spare syringes, vials, snacks, scratch paper, tissue paper, coins, nail cutter, among others.