IFAK setup advice & what is the best compact gauze and compression bandages?

[younggrasshopper]

I carry a Coyote Tactical Solutions burrito with their medical insert on my duty belt. I’ve replaced the trauma blanket with more compressed gauze.

I have a Spiritus Mk4 that I use for training/active shooter response. On that I have two hyfin vents, combat gauze, compressed gauze, and a CAT on a tourniquet dangler on the bottom. Since it’s in the half flap part I don’t have room for much more. I obviously omitted certain things on my Mk4, but they all serve as redundancies due to my belt mounted IFAK and the medic bag I keep in my cruiser.

There are things contained within a military IFAK that aren’t necessary in a civilian one in most situations. Like an IV starter kit.

When I’m space limited I keep it to:
-Tourniquet
-Hyfins
-Combat gauze
-Compressed gauze

I’d prefer to have additional gauze over a pressure dressing to maximize surface contact within the wound.

[Frenchman]

I just recently put a new IFAK together. Here's n'y list:
2 vented chest seals
1 Israeli
1 set of decomp needles
1 4" rolled gauze
1 Mylar blanket
1 CAT gen3
1 hemostatic gauze
1 set of shears
1 red sharpie
2 chem lights (1 red, 1 white)
2 pairs of nitrile gloves
1 roll of paper tape
1 nasopharyngeal (packed with a little tube of lube)
I would like to carry a SWAT TQ with that (as an option as TQ or pressure dressing), but I'm out of room.

I am part of a tight knit group of friends who happen to enjoy firearms and related things. We have a combat medic as well as an NP who specialized in trauma care, and who rode on an EMT truck in BAD neighborhoods for years. Every now and then, they set up a class for the rest of us, so we all get a little more advanced knowledge. I gotta say, if you think that you had enough training after 8 hours, you're dead nuts wrong.
And keep in mind, there's more to life than penetrating trauma/GSWs. There's injuries to the eyes, the bones, burns, toxic stuff, and the list goes on. Even basic CPR is often overlooked because some people can't fathom any injuries that aren't shot related.

[yellowfin]

Currently mine in my range bag contains:

Israeli bandage x2
Hyfin x2
hemostatic gauze
various bandaids, butterflies, and minor cut related stuff
tweezers, hemostats, and shears
bug bite relief stuff
alcohol wipes

Looks like I'll be making some additions.

[chuckman]

Currently mine in my range bag contains:

Israeli bandage x2
Hyfin x2
hemostatic gauze
various bandaids, butterflies, and minor cut related stuff
tweezers, hemostats, and shears
bug bite relief stuff
alcohol wipes

Looks like I'll be making some additions.

A range kit needs to be more than an IFAK. An IFAK by definition is trauma-specific, and for use on you. Have one, sure, but also have a general first aid kit.

[KayBur]

You would also add painkillers, a remedy for diarrhea. If you go camping, such things should be in the first aid kit.

[1168]

There are things contained within a military IFAK that aren’t necessary in a civilian one in most situations. Like a full IV kit.

Military IFAKs are not issued with and should not contain IV kits. Everything in a military IFAK should be compatible with the scope of practice of an Infantry PVT. I’m all for cops carrying the same.

[younggrasshopper]

Military IFAKs are not issued with and should not contain IV kits. Everything in a military IFAK should be compatible with the scope of practice of an Infantry PVT. I’m all for cops carrying the same.

Many other military medics I’ve talked to have told their units to add IV starters to their IFAKS so they don’t have to carry a million of them. In the general civilian scope, I was merely saying they could be omitted...

I was a 68W long before I was a cop. Sorry I didn’t say that to begin with.

[1168]

Many other military medics I’ve talked to have told their units to add IV starters to their IFAKS so they don’t have to carry a million of them. In the general civilian scope, I was merely saying they could be omitted...

I was a 68W long before I was a cop. Sorry I didn’t say that to begin with.

Fair enough. We used to do similar in units I’ve been in a while back, but its been largely DC’d to make room for other stuff. I just don’t think thats the best way to stage IV supplies, and official policies tend to agree. I suppose IV stuff wouldn’t be the worse thing to have in an IFAK, if you can fit it. Dumbest thing I’ve found in someone’s IFAK is Twizzlers, so there’s that.

[younggrasshopper]

Do you prefer skittles....? Hahaha

But generally speaking, I think the main thing civilian IFAKs should cater to is the “M” in “MARCH”

[sandsunsurf]

Here’s my favorite kit for balancing small but get you to a higher level of care if you’re in the boonies...


https://buyhandh.com/products/easy-carry-trauma-kit