IFAK, aka The Blowout Kit, or Trauma Kit

[PLANofMAN]

I've seen lots of posts about people purchasing firearms for home defense, but what I don't see as much of is posts about people's trauma kits or IFAK (individual First Aid kit). I suppose most of us live in an alternative reality where 'bad things' don't happen to the good guys. You will never miss, because your heart is pure, and bad guys will always miss because they hold their gun sideways.

I've always carried a 'first aid' kit in the car, along with a fire extinguisher, and congratulated myself on being 'well prepared' for emergencies. This kind of kit is somewhat derisively called a "boo-boo kit" by those who know better. It wasn't until I read a book about a small company's fight to get the U.S. Army to adopt Quikclot combat gauze, that I realized that my first aid kit was woefully inadequate for anything resembling an actual emergency.

So I started putting together an actual personal trauma kit based on the MARCH protocol, which is a bit different than the old ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) training I had many years ago.
Massive hemorrhage
Airway
Respiratory
Circulation
Hypothermia

I bought a med pouch and started filling it with goodies.
(2) CAT (gen 7) tourniquets w/holders that attach to the outside of the kit
Leatherman Raptor Rescue Shears
Hemostatic combat gauze
Z-Fold gauze
Triangle bandage w/safety pins
Israeli combat bandage
Abdominal gauze
(2) vented chest seals
Ace bandage
More gauze patches and a gauze roll
Nasalphangeal tube w/lube
Penlight w/batteries
Small rechargable 30 LED area floodlight
Iodine swabs
Alcohol swabs
(3 pair) Medical gloves
Medium rolled splint
Tweezers
Roll of medical tape
Roll of duct tape
Emergency blanket
Two laminated cards, one listing the contents of the kit, the other with my blood type, allergies, and emergency contact info.
First Aid reference booklet.

All the blood stopping gauzes and stuff are in one vacuum sealed pouch, so no digging around through the other stuff in the kit to find them.

What's in your IFAK bag? Or if you don't have one, what is your excuse for not having one?

[Grendel]

My excuse? I'm married to an RN and I'm an ex Paramedic and retired Law Enforcement, and 911 is only a phone call away. Neither of us are going to be performing trauma surgery in the time it takes to get an ALS ambulance here. Towels and direct pressure along with CPR are about it.

We do carry FA kits and CPR masks in our vehicles though.

If I lived out in the back of beyond, I might feel different I suppose, but..practicality rules.

[M1A4ME]

We've got a first aid kit (with the addition of tourniquets in every vehicle.

Probably out to buy some stuff for "inside" the house as well.

[PLANofMAN]

My excuse? I'm married to an RN and I'm an ex Paramedic and retired Law Enforcement, and 911 is only a phone call away. Neither of us are going to be performing trauma surgery in the time it takes to get an ALS ambulance here. Towels and direct pressure along with CPR are about it.

We do carry FA kits and CPR masks in our vehicles though.

If I lived out in the back of beyond, I might feel different I suppose, but..practicality rules.

Knowing where to apply pressure is better than having a kit any day of the week. Still, I'm surprised that an ex-paramedic wouldn't carry some sort of trauma kit.
...though I suspect your FA kit is rather more robust than a couple Band-Aids.

Edit: my IFAK kit is just there to keep me alive until the paramedics show up to take over. 5-15 minutes, maximum, or to hand off to someone like you or your wife, happening upon the scene of the accident.

[Earl Keese]

I'm assembling kits for my church security team, PLANofMan can you post up some pics of the bag you chose? Brand, etc...
 

[double-d]

what is your excuse for not having one?

Personally don't think a person needs to have an "excuse".

[Grendel]

Knowing where to apply pressure is better than having a kit any day of the week. Still, I'm surprised that an ex-paramedic wouldn't carry some sort of trauma kit.

In all my years, I never saved anyone with significant trauma, other than by replacing fluids and preventing further blood loss. Given that in a 'non-professional' scenario, you cannot provide IV fluids since they have significantly short shelf life, then direct pressure by means of bandages (or substitutes such as towels) or tourniquets is the only realistic option. All the rest is just extra weight to carry around.

The only place trauma victims get saved is in the OR. The trick is to get them there alive. Thus: Keep air going in and out, and blood from running out. YMMV

[bang bang]

welcome

i think some/alot of it is whats your nightmare scenario? 

Zombies?  Nuclear apocalypse?   Goa'uld invasion?  2nd coming of Christ?

the people i chat with about things point to their phone and 911.   But i guess it all depends on what you think will happen and if you are close enough to the kit to use it or are able to use it.

YMMV.

[PLANofMAN]

I'm assembling kits for my church security team, PLANofMan can you post up some pics of the bag you chose? Brand, etc...

I would recommend either:
https://scherberusa.com/products/scherber-premium-ifak-kit-trauma-pack-fully-stocked-molle-pouch-w-cat-tourniquet-hyfin-vent-chest-seal-israeli-bandage
or
https://www.refugemedical.com/products/bearfak-individual-first-aid-kit

In good conscience, I cannot recommend that others go the route I took, which was to order 90% of my stuff off TEMU. The product number is listed after the product name. Type the number into the search bar and it will pop up.

The four standout products I ordered from TEMU is Kaolin hemostatic gauze TV14358, tourniquet FP01638, and tourniquet holders HC09109, and Leatherman Raptor Rescue Shear knockoffs ED06375.

The pouch came with an IFAK kit, but many of the items were somewhat sketchy, so I wouldn't recommend that particular kit.

I don't know what size of kit you are putting together, so here's two pouch options. This would be the small of the back type kit, with a built-in tourniquet holder BG12101. This is the typical belt pouch you usually see in premade IFAK kits NX14324.

If you want the full list, I can provide it. Ordering the pieces individually from Temu put the costs of the kits at about $50 each, a significant savings from the $150 and up kits.

Edit: another good pack style: HD15370

[PLANofMAN]

photo upload website



I'm still waiting for a few more things in the mail. Ace bandage, Z-Fold gauze, another chest seal, abdominal gauze pad and the nasalphangeal tube. Once those get here, I'll vacuum seal the 'bleeder stuff' together so it's all in one spot.

[PLANofMAN]

welcome

i think some/alot of it is whats your nightmare scenario? 

Zombies?  Nuclear apocalypse?   Goa'uld invasion?  2nd coming of Christ?

the people i chat with about things point to their phone and 911.   But i guess it all depends on what you think will happen and if you are close enough to the kit to use it or are able to use it.

YMMV.

Vehicle accident, shooting, or negligent discharge at the range. I see the first and third event as more likely than the second.

I'll admit, it's preparation for a once in a lifetime event, if that, but I've saved two lives in my lifetime, so I figure if I have the right stuff, I'll be in the right place at the right time for someone, someday.

[crosstimbers]

I'm a bit of a prepper, but not overzealous about it. One thing that I think gets overlooked is meds. We are of an age where we both have pill planners, if that clarifies what I'm saying. I cant do much about prescriptions but OTC stuff I can, and have.

One thing the "pandemic" demonstrated is that stores can and will run short, even with little cause. If people make a run on something, empty shelves can be reality fast. So, basic stuff is good to have, and I was surprised at how low our stock of certain common items was when I set out to stock up. Heck, even band-aids- we had a half empty box so old they wouldn't stick anymore, etc.

Just food for thought.

[armoredman]

I'm weird. I have a belt pouch that pretends to be a cell phone holder, but contains a few minor items like Combat Gauze, a milspec sterile bandage, some Kerlix, maybe a few 4x4s, you know, just some basics. I remember reading about a few of the mass shootings where some people with some training and a few basic things kept people alive until actual EMTs arrived.
Of course, full disclosure, I do get first aid training every year at work, and some limited practical experience using it at work, but I've yet to bandage a single gunshot wound, and hope to keep it that way. I just like having a few basics with me - you should see the IFK I carry AT work. 
I have been told that I should probably rotate the Combat Gauze, (Quik Clot), for some regular 4x4s or a n Israeli bandage due to the tissue damage the Quik Clot stuff can do.

[polecat]

Being in medicine for some 40 years from inner city paramedic, flight medic at large University based Level 1 and as Surgical PA in a level 1 Trauma center. Totally agree with experienced medics “ direct pressure” concept. It’s like the more you know the less you need. Knowing you blood type is not useful, neither are iodine preps and alcohol swabs. Most couldn’t put a NPA in properly, would cause more bleeding and be in a worse predicament. Don’t even get me started on needles for the chest. Rubber gloves, combat gauze, pressure dressings, kerlix, scissors, and tourniquet.

I really think it would be challenging to place a tourniguet on yourself quick enough from a significant insult before you are took weak, lightheaded or pass out.

[PLANofMAN]

...
I have been told that I should probably rotate the Combat Gauze, (Quik Clot), for some regular 4x4s or a n Israeli bandage due to the tissue damage the Quik Clot stuff can do.

Tissue damage? Sounds like whoever told you that was either thinking of the first gen Quikclot, which could cause burns due to the endothermic reaction (modern kaolin clay based combat gauze does not cause a reaction), or was thinking of the Quikclot granules, which must be washed out of the wound before treatment. Neither of those two things are used or recommended anymore.



Finished the wife's bleed kit. This would fit in a cargo pant pocket. I was going to store an extra tourniquet inside the pouch, but decided to order another holder and put both on the outside of the pouch.