Your military IFAK contents must include medical equipment to deal with critical situations because every second counts in a severe bleeding emergency.
Having a well-equipped Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) on hand can be the difference between life and death. The essential components of an IFAK are designed to save lives on the battlefield or in civilian emergencies like road accidents, gunshots, and natural disasters.
Contents
1. Tourniquet
The most important piece of life-saving equipment when dealing with a penetrating trauma to—or accidental amputation of—an extremity is a tourniquet. When applied correctly, a tourniquet can quickly and effectively stop blood flow to a limb. This prevents excessive blood loss and frees up the first responder to treat any other wounds. It’s particularly crucial for injuries to major arteries, where traditional pressure dressings may not be sufficient.
Leading options like the True Rescue bleeding control kit allow you to choose among three tourniquets for your kit. Before choosing, it’s important to inform yourself of the differences between the available brands in order to choose the best tourniquet for your needs.
Windlass-style tourniquets like the C-A-T (Combat Application Tourniquet) and the SOFTT-W versions are popular choices among military and law enforcement personnel. These types of tourniquets are designed to make application more standardized and intuitive for the first responder. That said, bystanders with little or no emergency first aid training may find products like the SWAT-T tourniquet easier and faster to apply.
All tourniquets work to stem potentially life-threatening bleeding from an extremity. Learning how to use your tourniquet by attending a STOP THE BLEED® course, watching tutorial videos offered by the manufacturer, and practicing on yourself and others is the best way to ensure fast and effective application in an emergency.
2. Wound Packing Gauze
Wound packing gauze is a specialized type of gauze designed to control bleeding from deep wounds. It’s a critical component of a well-stocked IFAK. Effective wound packing takes the form of forcing gauze into the wound and applying direct pressure until the bleeding stops.
Conventional wound packing gauze works on a simple principle: to constrict blood flow. The more gauze that’s packed into a wound, the less space there is for blood to flow out. With this in mind, purchasing extra gauze for your IFAK is a great idea. Wound packing gauze must be highly absorbent, sterile, and packable.
3. Hemostatic Gauze
Hemostatic gauze is an advanced type of packing gauze. The gauze is saturated with a hemostatic agent that stimulates the body’s natural clotting factors. This speeds up blood clotting at the site of a wound. When applied to a bleeding wound, the hemostatic agents interact with the blood to:
- Promote platelet aggregation: The hemostatic agents help platelets to clump together, forming a clot.
- Activate clotting factors: Hemostatic agents trigger the body’s natural clotting cascade, leading to rapid clot formation.
This rapid clotting process helps to stop bleeding quickly, even in severe cases.
The American Red Cross’s Scientific Advisory Council (SCA) reviewed the efficacy of hemostatic dressings and regular gauze in cases of life-threatening bleeding. As a result, the SAC recommends the use of hemostatic dressings in the event of life-threatening external hemorrhage in cases where tourniquets aren’t suitable.
4. Pressure Dressing
A pressure dressing should be applied after the wound is packed with gauze. Pressure dressings serve two main functions: further restricting flow from a penetrating wound and holding the wound packing gauze in place.
Pressure dressings come in different forms. However, they tend to come with an elastic bandage and a hook-and-loop closure or velcro to ensure the bandage stays in place. These systems keep the bandage tight and prevent the bandage from unrolling after application. These closing systems also exert pressure on the wound.
Pressure dressings feature large and highly absorbent pads that cover the wound and any wound packing gauze. This helps to absorb any blood and protect the wound from outside contaminants.
5. Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves are an essential part of any IFAK. They primarily work to protect the first responder from any bloodborne pathogens. However, they also protect the casualty by limiting exposure to any contaminants on the first aid giver’s hands. It may be worth investing in extra gloves as they’re cheap and easily fit into your IFAK pouch.
6. Shears
Shears make it much easier and faster for a first responder to access a wound. They’re primarily used for cutting away clothing that impedes direct access to the wound site.
Research suggests that tourniquets are usually effective when applied over clothes. However, a 2024 study revealed that tourniquets were significantly less effective when applied over leather motorcycle trousers. This underlines the importance of an IFAK’s shears. Make sure your kit’s shears are robust enough to tackle even thick clothing like leather jackets or trousers.
7. Rescue Blanket
Keeping an injured person warm contributes to delaying the onset of shock. Maintaining body temperature is critical for patients’ chances of survival after catastrophic blood loss. This makes a rescue blanket—and any other items used to keep the patient warm—essential life-saving equipment.
8. Vented Chest Seals
A vented chest seal is a sterile adhesive patch that is placed over an open chest wound. It forms an airtight seal, preventing air from entering the chest cavity and causing a potentially fatal condition called pneumothorax. The vent on the seal allows air to escape from the chest cavity, helping to equalize pressure and improve breathing.
Note that vented chest seals only come in more advanced IFAKs.
What Are the Main Differences Between an IFAK and an AFAK?
IFAKs and AFAKs are both compact medical kits designed to treat life-threatening injuries in tactical or military settings. An AFAK (or Advanced First Aid Kit) is a more comprehensive kit that offers more specialized medical supplies and equipment. While an IFAK focuses on immediate life-saving interventions, an AFAK often includes additional items for more complex medical situations. An AFAK is designed for users with more proficiency in emergency first aid.
IFAKs carry basic tools to treat a life-threatening bleeding situation. AFAKs also carry these items plus other specialized medical equipment such as:
- An IV starter kit
- Advanced airway devices
- Chest decompression needles
- Surgical tubes
- Blood pressure cuffs
AFAKs may also carry other advanced medical tools to respond to other potentially life-threatening injuries on the battlefield. Some level of emergency medical training is generally required to administer this equipment.
Key differences:
- Scope: IFAKs are designed for basic first aid and trauma care, while AFAKs often include more advanced medical supplies.
- Expertise: AFAKs typically require more medical training to use.
- Size and weight: IFAKs are typically smaller and lighter, while AFAKs can be bulkier and heavier.
- Contents: AFAKs may include items like advanced airway devices, chest seals, and specialized medications.
A Well-Stocked IFAK Saves Lives
An IFAK offers much more than a standard first aid kit. An IFAK contains all the supplies required to give emergency first aid in cases of severe bleeding.
Bleeding caused by injuries on the battlefield, at home, at work, at school, or on the road can strike at any time. Having a well-stocked IFAK—and the knowledge to use its contents—saves lives.
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