An IFAK is an Individual First Aid Kit. IFAKs have become increasingly popular since the inception of the global war on terror. The U.S. military estimated about a quarter of its preventable battlefield deaths were due to extremity hemorrhage. IFAKs attempt to address that problem.
What is an IFAK Kit?
An IFAK isn’t a simple boo-boo kit for cuts and scrapes. An IFAK is specifically for treating traumatic bleeding injuries. The purpose is to house the tools you need to treat life-threatening bleeding wounds like gunshot and stab wounds.
An IFAK should be:
- Compact
- Portable
- MOLLE-Compatible
- Organized
- Easily Accessible
Who Needs an IFAK?
IFAKS aren’t just for the military, law enforcement, and first responders. They’re for everyone. Of course, we say that cautiously.
As with firearms and body armor, the user should be properly trained. Seeking out a tactical first aid class is a great idea to make sure you know how to use all the equipment in your IFAK.
Remember, the I in IFAK stands for individual. This kit is meant primarily for you. Either for you to use on yourself or for someone else to use on you.
But do you really need one? Let’s look at some of the reasons why someone would own an IFAK.
Why You Should Have an IFAK
The primary purpose for anyone to own and carry an IFAK is for the preservation of life. That’s the reason people carry firearms and wear body armor. It’s the same reason to carry an IFAK. While it is for use on yourself, you may also find yourself responding to an injured person and have no other medical supplies available.
Most preventable combat deaths are due to bleeding out before the wounded can reach a medical treatment facility. If you or whoever is injured can be kept alive long enough to get in front of trained hospital staff, the likelihood of survival goes way up.
What is Inside an IFAK?
If you start searching online for the best IFAK contents, you could fill a duffel bag by the time you’re done. When putting a kit together, you must be strategic. You want the items most likely to save a life while fitting neatly into a compact pouch. Pre-packed kits will vary but should have similar basic items.
- 1 x tourniquet (like the Swat-T, the C-A-T, and SOF-Tactical Wide)
- 2 x chest seals
- 1 x emergency bandage (like an Israeli bandage or H&H Thin Fold Bandage)
- 1 x compressed gauze
- 1 x hemostatic agent (like Celox or Quickclot)
- 1 x pack of non-latex nitrile gloves
- 1 x trauma shears
- 1 x medical tape
- 1 x casualty card
- 1 x marker
Some people prefer to put their kit together. They may have experience with certain products and have stronger opinions than someone just starting. You can always customize your kit later and swap out individual items for something you prefer.
The most important thing is to know what you have, where it is, and how to use it.
Where Should You Place Your IFAK?
IFAKs are so compact and portable that you can stage them in a variety of ways. They take up very little space in a vehicle, can easily fit in a purse or backpack, or can be stored in a desk drawer at work.
We recommend carrying your IFAK on a plate carrier or belt. Keep the following things in mind when doing so:
- Check your mobility. As with all attached gear, go through a range of motions to make sure you can move freely without the pouch getting in the way or snagging.
- Mark your IFAK. Red cross icons or other clear indicators on the outside of your IFAK pouch allow for quick identification amid chaotic scenes.
- Keep clear of other gear. If you carry a firearm on the right side of your belt, you wouldn’t want your IFAK on the right side of your vest. Your IFAK pouch should not restrict access to essential tools.
- Test your IFAK when you unzip it. The internal pockets, elastic straps, and retention cords should prevent the pouch from falling all the way open when unzipped.
- Ensure ease of access. You should be able to access your IFAK pouch easily with either hand. Placing it in an area like the back of the vest is probably not a good option.
A note on the last point: Why do we say you should be able to access with either hand? Remember, one of the main injuries the IFAK treats is extremity hemorrhage. There’s a chance that if you need your IFAK, you’re trying to apply treatment to one of your own extremities using an extremity that’s still functioning.
When Would You Need an IFAK?
If only we knew the answer to this question, we would also know when we’d need our firearms and ballistic vests. That’s why we recommend having all three ready at all times possible. When you don’t, you may have to resort to using inferior materials.
Take the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, for example. In the aftermath, heroic bystanders used whatever clothing items they could to apply makeshift tourniquets to victims’ extremities. They acted with what they could, but IFAKs on the scene would have helped.
That’s exactly why you should carry it in every situation. You never know when you’re going to need it.
Conclusion
The IFAK is one of the strides tactical emergency medical services have made in the post-9/11 world. They should have everything you need for traumatic bleeding and nothing you don’t. If you need to access your IFAK, the stress is going to be high. We recommend you do the following:
- Own at least one IFAK
- Familiarize yourself with the contents
- Get trained on the proper use of those contents
- Stage and/or carry at least one IFAK in a convenient place at all times
For a complete video breakdown of an IFAK kit, check out our Armored Republic IFAK: Most Common Questions Explained.