When people hear “combat” or “tactical” training, they think of learning about inflicting pain and destruction on others instead of receiving it themselves. Unfortunately, it is equally possible that you will receive wounds during combat in the process of inflicting wounds on others. For this reason, you need to have the knowledge and the gear to treat yourself and others if you should become wounded. COMMON WOUNDS It is hard to say what a standard IFAK should have in it, because it is all dependent on the enemy, environment, and the time/distance to advanced medical facilities. However, your IFAK should be capable of treating you against the most common types of wounds one could sustain in a combat environment. Things like arterial bleeding, sucking chest wounds, and even hypothermia are common things to have to treat in a tactical engagement against armed opponents. On the other hand, things like knife cuts, head trauma, drug overdose, and bone fractures may be more likely things to treat for a Law Enforcement Officer. Your specific environment and situation may slightly change what you add or take out of your IFAK, so think about your specific situation before just getting random things that the cool guys seem to get. PLACEMENT IS KEY It is important to put your IFAK in an area that is easily accessible. For a tactical loadout, your IFAK needs to be reachable with either hand and easy to roll out and use one-handed. You may find yourself needing to perform self-aid while your buddies find a way to get to you. I personally have a tourniquet in either cargo pocket for fast initial self-aid, and my IFAK is sitting right on top in the back utility pouch on my belt kit. For your IFAK pouch, I recommend a buckle system over Velcro or a zipper simply because it is much easier to access one-handed. You or your buddy treating you may have one hand wounded, working on placing a TQ, or holding pressure on a wound. CONTENTS AND USAGE This section is going to just cover the items inside the IFAK pouch itself. We are considering that a TQ or two are placed on your person for speedy access in a self-care scenario. I will be listing the items of an IFAK in the MARCH algorithm order. Items I am not going to have on the list that will be equally important are things like a Sharpie marker, non-latex gloves, and trauma sheers. These have their place, but not in the actual wound treatment portion. Massive Bleed - Hemostatic Gauze: For packing wounds in areas tourniquets can’t reach such as limb junctions, but not the abdominal region. - OLAES Trauma Dressing: This pressure dressing comes with extra gauze for further wound packing and a sheet of plastic that can act as an occlusive dressing for a sucking chest wound. Main dressing is good for maintaining pressure on a wound or covering the stump of an amputation Airway - Nasal pharyngal Airway: This is for when the patient has an obstructed airway and the head tilt, chin lift is not sufficient to aid in airway access. Respiration - Chest seals: Treats sucking chest wounds, so it is wise to have at least 2 on hand. I personally prefer the vented variety to help prevent Tension Pneumothorax. Circulation - Non-Hemostatic Gauze: Good for packing or wrapping wounds that are not bleeding very much but need to be controlled. Good for neck and head wounds Hypothermia - Thermal Blanket: After the loss of blood or exposure to severe trauma, it is important to keep the body warm and encourage good circulation of remaining blood. EXTRAS FOR IMPROVISING In my opinion, it is fine to have a couple of extra things inside of your IFAK in case you need to improvise something. For example, I have duct tape and baggies in case I need to seal multiple sucking chest wounds. I also carry a cravat/muslin/triangular bandage in case I need another TQ. As I said, knowledge is important and can help you know how to improvise if you are short on medical gear in the field. You can only carry so much, but a couple of small things can make a vast difference…that’s what she said. NOT A QUICK FIX None of the gear that I listed here is going to fix you up or help you in the long term. You or your buddy will need long term treatment and professional care off the field of battle in order to fully heal, prevent further blood loss, and prevent deadly infection. The best you can do as a possible future patient is to arm yourself with the tools and knowledge to better help your doctors and nurses keep you alive and on the fast track to recovery.
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