Paris emergency medic pack wins 2018 Concours Lépine

The “MedPack”, created by Samuel Mercier - an emergency medic in the BSPP (Brigade de sapeurs-pompiers de Paris) - is a portable, professional first aid box designed for emergency situations.

Weighing just seven kilos, it is designed to be carried on someone’s shoulder like a normal bag. It opens in under five seconds to become a functioning workstation, standing on its own tripod for easy access.

Made of carbon fibre and aluminium, it contains several “bins” for sorting medical waste, a blood transfusion stand, a blood test machine, a bulb to light up the accident area, an intubation kit, and a mini sterile pharmacy designed to make emergency medical care as safe and easy as possible.

It also has a stand for an umbrella to cover the pack and the patient in case of rain, and is arranged to stop items blowing away in strong wind.

For his prize, Mr Mercier won a Sèvres porcelain vase and wide recognition of his innovation and achievement.

He won out over the 582 other inventions presented as part of the prize this year, and came top out of the 250 to be commended.

The Concours Lépine is in its 117th year. Since 1901, it has been celebrating innovative inventions and achievements, and was the first to recognise the ballpoint pen, the contact lens, and the steam iron.

Speaking to the Agence France-Presse to explain his 2018 innovation, Mr Mercier said: “We haven’t really evolved [the concept of a portable medical bag] for about a century, and our working conditions had not changed.”

Army minister Florence Parly congratulated Mr Mercier and said his invention was more than just a “gadget”, but a “necessity”.