IFAKs (Individual First Aid Kits) are a great way to keep your hands on life-saving medical gear at all times. But there are a few things you should know before buying one.
Whether you're a military or law enforcement professional, a civilian outdoorsman, or an amateur survivalist, you should have an individual first aid kit on your person at all times.
Size
A good Individual First Aid Kit IFAK will be small enough to fit in your backpack or bag. It should also be easily accessible when needed, especially for someone else who can help you if you get injured.
Your IFAK should also include items you need in the wilderness or survival situations, such as a tourniquet and rolled gauze. These are the Swiss Army knife of medical supplies - you can use them for wound packing, pressure dressing, compression wraps and slings, just to name a few.
You should also have an IFAK that is easy to carry on your body, so it’s not in the way when you’re trying to draw your weapon. This is particularly important if you’re carrying a plate carrier or other attachments.
Material
Your IFAK should be packed in such a way that it's easy to access and use. This is especially important for tactical first aid kits.
The material used in your IFAK should be high quality, standardized and tested. It should also be labeled to make it easier to locate.
Keep your kit in a place that is easily accessible, like a backpack or car trunk. You'll want to rotate your IFAK so that it stays fresh and has the most updated supplies.
Your IFAK should contain a few standard medical items, like tourniquets and pressure dressings. It should also include some extras, such as hemostatic gauze or a pack of washcloths.
Storage
A good IFAK should be easily accessible when needed and within arm’s reach. Ideally, it’s positioned where you can access it quickly – over your kidney or just above your waist on your dominant side – but if that doesn’t work, it’s also important that it’s not impeded by other tactical gear or pouches on your plate carrier.
IFAKs typically include a tourniquet, pressure bandage, trauma shears, chest seals and hemostatic agent. But you can also buy IFAKs with supplementary components like Wendl and Gutl Tubi, antibiotics, emergency splints, adrenaline auto-injectors, or even an EMT kit to help you treat multiple people in need.
Portability
The Individual First Aid Kit IFAK is a small med kit that is worn by soldiers and other front-line personnel. It consists of several common items to treat trauma or immediate emergencies.
IFAK kits are usually MOLLE compatible so that they can be attached to different types of tactical gear. They typically contain a CAT tourniquet, nasopharyngeal tube, chest seals and pressure dressings.
Make sure that you have these items in a pouch that is easily accessible, so it can be used quickly. Also, be sure to keep a patient assessment sheet in your IFAK with instructions on how to use the tools.
Cost
The cost of an Individual First Aid Kit IFAK can vary from about $10 to $50 depending on the size and desired use. These kits should be in every home, car and camping bag.
Whether you're working in the military or just trying to prepare for an emergency, you need a good IFAK. They can be pricey, but when viewed as an insurance policy, they can save you a fortune in medical bills.
For example, the Army IFAK is priced at around $75, but you can find cheaper options out there. They don't contain all the contents of the original, but they will be more affordable and will meet TCCC standards. IFAKs can also be MOLLE compatible, which is great for your tactical gear.
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