IFAK kit (Individual First Aid Kit)
An IFAK is not just a mandatory first aid kit that collects dust at the bottom of your backpack. It is a personal life-saving device designed specifically to treat traumatic injuries, especially massive bleeding, in a critical situation. Its purpose is to keep you alive until further help arrives.
Massive, uncontrolled bleeding remains one of the most common causes of death on the battlefield and in serious accidents, which is why a good IFAK kit focuses on quick-to-use, high-quality bleeding control products that you can use to treat yourself.
Characteristics of a good IFAK
In our opinion, a good IFAK kit stands out with the following features:
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Contains only the essential, high-quality, easy-to-use tools. Nothing extra to cover up the most important care tools or anything of poor quality that will fall apart in your hands just when you need it most!
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Compact size. It should fit in a vest, backpack or belt so that it is always easily accessible.
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Quick to open and remove. When seconds matter, your IFAK needs to be ready to use immediately. Rip-away models allow you to tear the pack from its mount with one hand, giving you access to the pack even when you're in a bad position. You can also just as easily reattach the pack to its "dock".
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Made of durable material. It must withstand heavy wear, abrasion and weather conditions.
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Suitable for the field, training or contingency. It must withstand the rigors of all these environments.
What should a good IFAK contain?
The IFAK kit should only contain the essentials and equipment you know how to use . Here is a recommended content based on general tactical first aid principles (MARCH / cABC algorithm):
π©Έ M (Massive bleeding) β Massive bleeding
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Tourniquet: Preferably outside the IFAK, for example, attached to a holster on a combat vest so that it is immediately accessible to both hands. Get the longest model (95 cm) to ensure a fit for different limbs. Invest in quality - the cheapest will not work in an emergency.
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Hemostatic dressing: A dressing impregnated with a clotting agent that stops bleeding. Prefer flexible dressings that can be pushed into the wound cavity (e.g., in gunshot wounds). If you are not experienced in using hemostats, I would avoid hemostatic powders that can be blown into the wind or washed out of the wound with bleeding. There are different types of hemostatic dressings, so check the instructions for your particular dressing (usually on the packaging).
π€ A (Airways) β Respiratory tract
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Nasopharyngeal tube (NPA): Size 28Fr / 6.5mm is suitable for an adult. Important if you have to treat an unconscious or unresponsive casualty. Easy and quick to install and stays in place well, for example during evacuation. Make sure that the "trumpet" that sticks out is large enough so that the tube cannot sink too deep.
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Lubricant: Helps with the insertion of the NPA and prevents adhesion to mucous membranes.
π©Ί R (Respiration) β Breathing
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Chest Seal 1-2 pcs: These are easy-to-use bandages for the treatment of penetrating injuries to the chest area where there is reason to suspect pneumothorax/pneumothorax.
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Chest Seal with Valve: Allows air to escape from the chest during inhalation and closes when exhaling. This reduces pressure inside the chest, facilitates lung opening and improves ventilation. We recommend this model.
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Non-valve bandage: A simple, adhesive-coated plastic film. Helps prevent air from entering the chest cavity, but does not release pressure that has already built up there. You can also improvise a pressure bandage like this out of plastic wrap and secure it with a pressure bandage.
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π©Ή C (Circulation) β Blood circulation
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Pressure bandage 4" (e.g. Israeli-style "Iippo" bandage): Everything you need in one package, and you don't have to look for rocks etc. under the snow in winter for pressure. Easy and effective to use for creating pressure on a wound. Also suitable for other purposes, such as making a support bandage.
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Compressed gauze: Small in size, but when opened, it provides a huge amount of bandage. Suitable for packing deep cuts or protecting burn areas.
π₯Ά H (Hypothermia) β Hypothermia
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Hypothermia blanket ("space sheet"): An essential aid for taking care of the patient's thermal economy. Prevents moisture evaporation and thereby cooling the patient. Hypothermia significantly impairs blood clotting and the patient's chances of survival, and therefore taking care of thermal economy is an absolute part of the care of a trauma patient.
β Other accessories
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Good trauma scissors: Don't buy the cheapest ones! High-quality scissors are essential for quickly cutting through clothing and various equipment to expose the injured area, and we can tell you from experience that you can't rush with bad scissors, even if you're in a hurry.
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Eye shield/s: To protect the injured eye. Cover both eyes to prevent the patient from moving their eyes unnecessarily. Why not just use a regular bandage/tape? If the eye injury is caused by a foreign object getting into the eye, a bandage can push the object deeper into the eye and make the injury worse.
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Nitrile gloves (not black): Durable and long-lasting. Colored (e.g. blue) gloves make it easier to spot blood in the dark or when swiping through clothing.
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Marker: Important for taking notes on injuries and procedures treated (e.g. time of tourniquet application).
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TCCC Card: A card that records the patient's condition and treatments given to facilitate evacuation and ensure the flow of information.
Our recommendation: CMS Mini-IFAK ππππ
If you are looking for a ready-made, top-quality solution and do not want to compromise, we recommend the CMS Mini-IFAK . It is a small, yet effective, top-quality rip-away pack that is built to save lives. In our online store you will also find other products for building a high-quality IFAK pack
Do you already have your own IFAK? What have you found important about its contents?