How To Pack An IFAK

How To Pack An IFAK



An IFAK is an Individual First Aid Kit, or an emergency aid kit for use by the individual carrying it. To get more news about trauma kit, you can visit rusuntacmed.com official website.

Your IFAK should contain the relevant supplies to mitigate the risks of the environment you will be working in. For example, if you are carrying an IFAK to go camping, you likely will not want to take up valuable space with a chest seal for a sucking chest wound.
In this guide, we will cover what typically goes into an IFAK, but it will vary depending on the needs of the individual.

What goes into an IFAK?

While many would assume that a tourniquet would be a no brainer, they are actually better suited on the outside of your IFAK for quicker access. The minimum gear necessary for an IFAK should be planned for using the MARCH PAWS acronym. When packing your IFAK with supplies, you should keep these in mind, as you’ll want to pack supplies that can mitigate as many injuries/risks associated with these terms as possible. The exception might be circulation as you’ll likely not have enough room in your IFAK for an IV kit

Massive Hemorrhage – Supplies should be able to treat heavy bleeding, short of needing a tourniquet. The three most common supplies in this category are Combat Gauze or another hemostatic agent, sterile gauze, and pressure dressing at least 4 inches wide.

Airway – To unblock an airway, your options are fairly limited. The best way to mitigate a blocked airway is with a properly sized NPA (Nasopharyngeal airway) with lube.

Respirations – For respirations, a pair of vented chest seals will do the trick. You’ll want a pair so that you can treat an entry wound, and an exit wound. In a pinch, a chest seal is fairly simple to fashion from materials around you. For instance, you could use the sterile side of the plastic gauze packaging. But carrying a pair of chest seals is always a better option.

Circulation – As was mentioned before, you likely won’t be able to fit much in the way of circulation related supplies in your IFAK.

Head Injury/Hypothermia – A possible solution is a mylar blanket to help warm the patient. But plan on other means of keeping the patient warm as the data on the effectiveness of these blankets is limited. For head injury, treat visible wounds as quickly as possible and follow up with a HEADS screening for possible TBI identification.

Pain Management – Tylenol is best-suited for pain mitigation in the absence of prescription medication. Do not use Motrin as it will prevent blood platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding.

Antibiotics – Unless you have access to prescription medication you likely will not be carrying these and will need the resources of a medical professional

Wounds – Pack extra supplies like a burn dressing kit for additional wounds

Splinting – A splint can typically be fashioned easily from your environment. Use a medium-length, rigid rod on either side of the wound held in place with gauze or bandage for a quick splint. You can also create a sling from the gauze in your IFAK

A few extra items that are handy to have include: nitrile gloves, a marker for time and date that a tourniquet was applied, and an Epipen.