IFAK questions?

[Grayfox54]

The tourniquet thread got me to thinking that I could use a good Individual First Aid Kit. I have first aid kits and other supplies in the house, but they're big. bulky and don't travel well. I looked at kits on-line, but they're expensive and contain a bunch of stuff I really don't think I would ever use. 

What I would like is a kit capable of dealing with most any injury, but compact enough to keep in the truck, throw into a day pack or attach to a belt without being overly bulky. The smaller, the better. I'm thinking the best option is to put something together myself. Just what's needed and nothing more. 

So, what would be the bare minimum of equipment and supplies needed to put something like this together?

[Omega]

I would look for a list that includes some of the IFAK components, but supplement them with stuff you will use more often.  The pic below shows the basic contents, but I add small squares 1"x1", out of the quikclot, some bandaids, med scissors, tincture of iodine, a tube of single use medical superglue (can use regular superglue in a pinch) and steristrips.

[E4 No More]

I went through this exercise not too long ago. I ended up making my own kit that contained what I wanted it to contain. I worked on the premise of, if my wife was badly injured, what would I need to save her life if I was present. I put a bag with the same contents in both our truck and car. If you were to go a similar route, I recommend that you get all the items that you want to have on hand and THEN get the bag big enough to contain them. I went from way too small to too small, and then settled on one that's a little tight but carries everything. I certainly spent more than the prefilled bags but at least I don't have superfluous items in the bag. I actually had a thread on this. You might get some use out of reading it.

[Grayfox54]

Omega: That's pretty much what I'm looking for. Something about the size of a magazine pouch. What's the name of that and where can I find it? 

[Omega]

3 hours ago, Grayfox54 said:

Omega: That's pretty much what I'm looking for. Something about the size of a magazine pouch. What's the name of that and where can I find it? 

PM inbound.

[Shorty]

If you're looking for that style pouch, at one time the Army surplus store on Collierville square had them for a decent price.

[FrankD]

Whatever you decide with do not purchase your CATs from Amazon, they have been riddled with fakes.  I suggest Dark Angel Medical for your kit components.

[billyblazes]

A couple of things I keep in my kit are aspirin and diphenhydramine (Benadryl) in both capsule and liquid form (Zzzquil)

If myself or someone with me is having cardiac symptoms indicative of aspirin administration, it's good to have that at my fingertips.  Diphenhydramine for an allergic reaction.

I'm also a big fan of the Israeli bandage.  A great way to secure a trauma pad anywhere on the torso and larger limbs.

Edited July 14, 2022 by billyblazes

[Grayfox54]

I've been poking around the internet looking for ideas. Some I'm not sure of.

Trauma scissors? Are they really necessary? I always carry a knife anyway.

Quick Clot? Seems like a good idea. Powder or the bandages that have it on them? 

Chest seals? In the Army they just taught us to use the plastic wrap the bandage came in. 

Mastisol or Steri-strips or both? 

Any other suggestions? 

BTW: I'm thinking I want to use a M-14 double mag pouch to carry it all in. That's about the size I want. Space will be limited, so I only want the essentials.

Edited July 14, 2022 by Grayfox54

[Omega]

38 minutes ago, Grayfox54 said:

I've been poking around the internet looking for ideas. Some I'm not sure of.

Trauma scissors? Are they really necessary? I always carry a knife anyway.

Quick Clot? Seems like a good idea. Powder or the bandages that have it on them? 

Chest seals? In the Army they just taught us to use the plastic wrap the bandage came in. 

Mastisol or Steri-strips or both? 

Any other suggestions? 

BTW: I'm thinking I want to use a M-14 double mag pouch to carry it all in. That's about the size I want. Space will be limited, so I only want the essentials.

Scissors, yes, your patient may not not be still enough to use a knife to access the wound.

Quikclot, again, yes, bandage, IMO, is better than powder because you will have to bandage anyway.

Chest seals, again, yes, plastic works, I have done it, but most commercial ones have a "burp" valve which help prevent a pneumothorax (collapsed lung), we are issued these most times. vent on one side and none on the other (if exited).

Mastisol or strips, I would say both, sometimes the strips will not stick due to blood, dust, humidity etc, And sometimes the wound just isn't clean enough to use the glue.  I would add a suture needle and thread to this as well.

Duel ammo pouches would work just fine as most IFAKs are not that big.  Just be sure to pack it in a way where you can find what you are looking for without having to dump the pouch.

 

 

[btq96r]

@Omegaand I don't agree on much, but his earlier post and the one above this are spot on.  The Asherman style chest seal is super quick, and trauma scissors are a cheat code.

Here's an older thread that still holds up and can compliment this one.

https://www.tngunowners.com/forums/topic/105661-med-kit/

 

[Shorty]

Primary arms has a pouch about the size you're looking for on sale.

https://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-first-aid-pouch-coyote

[Jtanner]

On 7/12/2022 at 8:37 PM, Omega said:

I would look for a list that includes some of the IFAK components, but supplement them with stuff you will use more often.  The pic below shows the basic contents, but I add small squares 1"x1", out of the quikclot, some bandaids, med scissors, tincture of iodine, a tube of single use medical superglue (can use regular superglue in a pinch) and steristrips.

Huge thanks, been looking for a good portable list for a while. Going to probably make 2 of those : 1 for my bug-out bag and 1 for my survival kit I'm taking while camping!

Edited August 10, 2022 by Jtanner

[Thursty]

So, I am not trained as a medic (we don't have those in the Marines), but I've trained in Combat Lifesaver, so my IFAK is tailored to what I can use and will use. 

I keep:

2 tourniquets, a CAT and a SWAT tourniquet. Buy a real CAT, then get a knockoff from Amazon to practice with. And stage your tourniquet, don't leave it in the plastic

Compressed or rolled gauze

3x3 gauze squares

Medical tape

Israeli bandage

Chest seals

Medical shears 

Various sizes of bandaids

Various meds in single packs (Tylenol, aspirin, Benadryl, Imodium, etc.) I prefer the individual packs you can get from a gas station. I know they're more expensive, but I don't like the idea of tossing a few pills in a Ziploc. Even if you label them, too much risk for me. 

I don't carry stuff like an NPA or a decompression needle. Too much risk there. You're protected under the Good Samaritan rule to assist someone externally, but once you start inserting things into people you open the door to litigation.