What’s in your IFAK?

Whether you envision yourself to be an armed partisan, a minuteman, future freedom fighter or simply a prepared citizen, if you’ve got a fighting loadout, or anything of the sort, it needs to include an individual first-aid kit, or “IFAK”. Your IFAK needs to be small enough to fit easily with your kit, preferably somewhere on or inside your load bearing equipment. I’ll show you my own IFAK, and I encourage you to do some research and build one that fits your needs and your skillset.

When putting your kit together, please keep in mind the ABCs of airway, breathing and circulation. In the case of the IFAK, the airway and breathing tools are going to limited in most cases to little more than a naso-pharyngeal airway (NPA) inserted into the nose (specifically, one of your battle buddies inserting it into YOUR nose) and into the back of the throat. The circulation aspect is going to be covered by things like tourniquets and gauze bandages, as in, keeping the blood from circulating it’s way out of your body.

Every IFAK is not going to be the same, but every IFAK does need to have a few of the same things at a minimum. Every kit needs to have some form of gauze bandages, another separate bandage capable of serving as a pressure dressing, and a robust tourniquet, preferably one that is commonly issued to military or police units, since they’re designed to be quick and easy for someone to use under stress.

Below you’ll see a picture of one of my own very simple IFAK kits opened up, this one assembled mostly from items I was issued when I was active duty, and from near “expired” items that were being thrown away by my former Army Reserve unit and the emergency room I currently work in. The pouch itself is an IFAK pouch and insert with NSN 8465-01-531-3647 and NSN 8465-01-531-3147 respectively. This pouch is MOLLE compatible and cheap to find online.

Inside I have a pack of regular gauze, a roll of medical tape, a pair of large nitrile gloves, a 28Fr NPA, a roll of “Coban” compression cling, a compression bandage for trauma dressings, some quick clotting gauze, and a “CAT” style tourniquet.

The medical tape is 3M brand “Durapore”. In the ER we call this one the “fabric” tape, because it’s made of a strong adhesive on some sort of silky fabric. It sticks very well and holds together, and if you write on it, it doesn’t wipe off or smear. Coban compression cling is excellent for pressure dressings on limbs. The packs of gauze wadded up under a Coban compression wrap is a great way of applying direct pressure.

I hope this helps you in your task of making an IFAK. If you don’t have one, you need it. This kit cost me nothing, but the parts of it are cheap and easily found. Coban, gauze, tape, etc. is easily found in your local pharmacy and the NPA can be found online for less than $6 by searching “naso-pharyngeal airway for sale” on any non-Google engine. The tourniquet can be searched as well, and there are many under-$20 options available. A couple of websites I saw popping up in my searches while writing this were IsraeliFirstAid.com and EmergencySafetySupply.com. I haven’t purchased anything at either site, but it looks like they’ve got what you need to build a nice little IFAK for yourself.

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By Published On: July 31, 2019Categories: Grey Man, Medical, Tactical14 Comments on What’s in your IFAK?

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14 Comments

  1. Bryce Sharper July 31, 2019 at 21:07

    5

  2. Matt in Oklahoma August 1, 2019 at 16:13

    Good stuff. Mine all have a base and some have extra things added because it’s more towards hunting etc.

  3. Kilo August 1, 2019 at 18:05

    I rarely write long and/or detailed replies to most articles, but I will make an exception in this case because I think this is an important topic and I’m really beginning to like this site.

    Please do not take any of these issues personally. I mean them only in a professional sense. This is coming from someone with many many years of active duty in both Infantry and SOF MOSs, not to mention that I’ve unfortunately had to use an IFAK in a non-training environment more than once. Additionally, I’ve had a little medical training to back most (not all) of these recommendations up.

    First, the top photo of your article is misleading. I understand you state to use the issued NSN IFAK pouch in your main article, but an IFAK with zippers is a no-go. Accessing zippers with one hand sucks in the best of times. While you show the better NSN pouch below, people reading the article who don’t know any better are going to wrongfully assume that the photo down below is the same pouch shown above. That was my initial impression as well.

    Second, while the 3M fabric tape might be good in an ER setting, the one inch variety in your photo isn’t field proven in my experience, especially in the rain. If people want to use it, use at least two inch and maybe even three or four inch wide tape. Lately, we have just gone to duct tape of Gorilla brand tape.

    Third, the way you write about tourniquets is either incomplete or misleading. You state that you have a TQ inside your kit, but there is not one shown in the photo. While I have no issue with an additional TQ being inside a kit, the primary one or two should be outside the kit in an easy to access area for care under fire situations. Additionally, you write ‘a “CAT” style tourniquet’ which is how people falsely advertise fake stuff on eBay and other such sites. This could potentially lead people in the wrong direction. You don’t want a ‘CAT style’. You want a ‘real’ CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet) made by North American Rescue, preferably the latest generation and at current retail cost they will probably be over the $20 price point that you mentioned.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FJFY2Z4/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01FJFY2Z4&linkCode=as2&tag=j3st3r13-20&linkId=b45da2994b4771743ea28d6e6f705e19

    Fourth, is the severe lacking of anything to treat penetrating wounds to the torso. Your TQ, pressure bandage, and other items are great for wounds to the extremities. For a GSW, shrapnel, or other penetrating wounds to the chest, you need to have some chest seals (plural) in there. Sure, you can improvise them with some of your plastic and that small role of tape you have, but it is far from ideal.

    Finally is your preparation of your items, or rather lack thereof. This is more of a pet peeve, but it has relevance in reality. Most of the wrappers on your items in your photo have quick tear features which one would ordinarily think are a good idea…and they are, but they are not good enough. When it is raining, dark, and there is blood all over everything, we need as much of an advantage as we can get in speed and efficiency. Using some of that one inch tape you have to make elongated ‘pull taps’ to quickly open your packages of gauze, dressings, and the like will go a long way in increasing speed and efficiency. They also work well on IV bags, admin sets, and most everything else. Properly preparing the items in ‘your’ kit will hopefully make it that much easier for the person/people that ends up using ‘your’ kit on ‘you’ which is why it is called an IFAK in the first place.

    Now for the positive:

    I love your recommendation of Coban. I rarely see that recommended and it is awesome for so many things. I also like that you did not include needles, which many people do and get into trouble without proper training. Additionally, I really like this statement: “a robust tourniquet, preferably one that is commonly issued to military or police units, since they’re designed to be quick and easy for someone to use under stress.” We already addressed the CAT above, but the SOFTT-W Generation 4 Tourniquet is another good one…especially for leg wounds. I’ve seen CATs fail on leg wounds.

    Having the IFAK is great, but the training to use it is much more important in my opinion. We can improvise many of these items if we absolutely have to, but we can never improvise the training and knowledge.

    Again, this is purely professional in nature and I don’t want it to seem like an attack on you or your article. You had the inclination to write it which is more than I can say for me. I just wanted to ensure that some issues were brought to light and the people reading this article had a bit more context and additional information. Everything written above is just my opinion and worth no more than that.

    Take care,
    Kilo

  4. Bryce Sharper August 1, 2019 at 22:13

    Kilo,

    Where does one get training for treating GSWs and other catastrophic injuries? I’ve had basic first aid and CPR training for working in the EMS. The only tourniquet training we got was to tighten it down using a stick and write the time on their forehead.

    EMT certifications are a lot of work.

    • NC Scout August 2, 2019 at 09:13

      We ran a course on it at the beginning of the summer.

  5. Gray Man August 2, 2019 at 00:57

    Kilo, just a quick reply to a couple of a points, the CAT tourniquet I have I strapped to the outside of the insert, tucked into the pouch. If I took that left side flap in the photo and folded it inward, that’s where my CAT is located. I know it isn’t really visible, but just so you know it’s there, you can JUST see a bit of the black tourniquet if you spot the blue gloves and trace your eyes straight upward. As far as “CAT” or “CAT style”, it’s just semantics on my part, and I’m not trying to endorse one particular company or anything. I hope the readers understand (as you seem to) that you get what you pay for. I hope they aren’t paying for junk.

    As far as the stock photo at the top, I went looking for a bright red cross on a pouch to catch the eye.

    For the packing, I agree that having some stuff staged for quick access if desirable, but it’s also important to keep some of that in its original packing to keep it sterile, but I also wanted the stuff to be indentifiable to people when they look at the photos so they can go buy what they see if that’s what they’re wanting.

    As far as the wider tape, it’s a good point. I actually do have gorilla tape in my go bag, and a roll of it in my load bearing gear. But that won’t fit inside my already tight IFAK pouch.

    One addition; I encourage everyone to sign up at you local community college for the EMT program, if they offer it. Many/most programs are one semester and will give you some skills if you’re starting off with none. A trained professional can do more with nothing than a novice can do with a full ER cabinet.

    Thanks for the points.

  6. Kilo August 2, 2019 at 12:14

    Bryce,

    I couldn’t get the reply button to work on your specific message, so it is here under a general reply.

    The training is out there, as NCS mentioned. Various trainers are providing it. You just need to look for it. That is the short answer.

    The long answer is much more complicated. The bottom line is that you’re not going to learn this stuff in a weekend. Before each deployment, I am required to take a 40 hour TCCC refresher. That is just a refresher. A person is going to need to put in the time and effort in order to get both the right training and to keep it up. It is definitely a perishable skill. This is not a one and done sort of thing.

    Unlike many others, I DO NOT recommend EMT training (unless it is at the Paramedic level). I’ve taken the Basic course multiple times throughout my life since I let it expire. IMO, it is useless. The vast majority of the training is focused on legal topics and not practicing any form of medicine. I’ve also had the intermediate certification back when that was a thing. This was before I joined the military and was doing SAR.

    EMT-Bs basically stabilize and transport. They really don’t treat. To get any significant on scene treatment, it is going to come from a Paramedic unit. EMT-Bs don’t really handle the ‘interesting’ stuff.

    Like you mentioned, EMT (B or P) training is a lot of work.

    So, what is the answer? Well, the best thing I can advise, and what I/we practice, is to get a couple/few motivated people in your group that are medically inclined to go take that difficult training. I’d suggest EMT-P, several different wilderness courses from first responder all the way up, and getting TCCC instructor certified. Once they have it, they teach the group. You could also attempt to recruit a MD or other medical professional into your group. Then, for ongoing proficiency training, medical events are incorporated into the group training sessions, just like commo and other perishable tasks should be incorporated. Additionally, once they have the EMT-P cert, they can spend volunteer hours in the ER or on ambulances to remain current with real world application.

    The bigger issue is what do we do after the initial treatment? After we do our care under fire, tactical field care (stabilize) and prepare for tactical evacuation care, who are we evacuating to? Who is that higher level of care?

    NCS and I had discussed this, albeit briefly, and we have some ideas. Stay tuned. I’m sure NCS with push something out once it is solid.

  7. Bryce Sharper August 2, 2019 at 14:01

    Kilo,

    The ‘reply’ button now only works on the back-end thanks to one of WordPress’ recent “updates.”

    “Get a few motivated people together” – the problem of our time, friend.

    I am unfortunately on the wrong coast to find many of these classes. I think the government offers some casualty first-aid, but probably not for battlefield type injuries. Setting up the labs/practicums for such a thing would cause many to black out on this coast, if you get my drift.

    The most I’ve treated in the EMS was some cuts. A friend shocked a guy with the AED. That was pretty cool. I’ve superglued some of my kids’ and friend’s injuries.

  8. Kilo August 3, 2019 at 14:53

    Bryce,

    https://www.naemt.org/education/CourseDirectory

    There are several courses in CA, OR, and WA.

    I left the west coast back in 1998 and haven’t looked back. There are still some motivated people there (well CA and WA for sure, I personally don’t know anyone in OR) who are stuck. Hooking you up with them is an offline discussion though.

  9. Doug August 21, 2019 at 15:27

    Learn a cricothyrotomy for when the upper airway is blocked. Even a very small opening is sufficient, using a pen of if available a large syringe needle.

  10. Reltney McFee August 21, 2019 at 17:28

    Bryce: here are some (non EMT course) resources:

    https://cms.bleedingcontrol.org/class/search

    https://firstcareprovider.org/

    https://community.fema.gov/until-help-arrives

    Myself, I took the EMT course several dozen years ago, and moved on from there. (RN, Paramedic, now a PA). Others have suggested “Wilderness EMT” training (https://www.nols.edu/en/coursefinder/courses/wilderness-emt-WEMT/).

    These folks (NOLS) advertise this as a one month long program, and, yes, that is a considerable commitment. W-EMT is highly spoken of by Aesop of Raconteur Report, and he has insights worth considering. (https://raconteurreport.blogspot.com/2018/05/first-aid-first-aid-kits-ifak-and-beyond.html) (https://raconteurreport.blogspot.com/2013/02/lesson-four-training.html)

    As in most things, you make your selection, and receive your consequences.

    Glad you’re interested. Every one of us started somewhere.

  11. Arawak5071 November 12, 2019 at 15:51

    As far a Coban bandage, you can find a much cheaper priced version of it in agriculture supply stores (Tractor Supply, Rural King, etc.) for veterinary use on animals. Tractor Supply sells it in four-packs for approximately $8.49/each, including a [woodland style] camouflage color.

    https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/powerflex-4-in-bandage-15-ft-woodland-camo-pack-of-4

  12. Gryphon December 3, 2019 at 19:53

    3M Vetwrap. Stretch/Cling/Waterproof stuff, can be had in Black. Hold and Protects the Sterile Stuff against the Wound. Can be applied (with practice) using one Hand. When playing ‘Horse Mechanic’, it is the second thing I use after the Neosporin Ointment and Gauze.
    Find a Pet Store that carries Horse Stuff, lots of useful things and cheaper (sometimes) than the Drug Stores.

  13. Anonymous July 18, 2020 at 15:57

    4.5

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