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Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)
What Does IFAK Stand For?
IFAK stands for Individual First Aid Kit. It’s an easily accessible pouch / bag / case containing all the basic first aid supplies you, or a member of your group, might need quick access to in an emergency.
It is usually the first thing you see when opening your pack / rucksack, avoiding the need to go hunting in the pack when seconds count.
Sometimes it is red with a white cross and sometimes it’s a tactical pouch with a red Velcro cross patch stuck on the outside.
The cross makes it immediately obvious that it contains medical supplies and this is vital if someone else is looking for the IFAK in your pack to help you if you are injured.
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What Items Do You Need In An IFAK?
For most people they contain simple everyday items you might need to treat a headache, diarrhoea, cut, sting or insect bite e.g.
Pills
Ibuprofen - Pain killer, anti-inflammatory e.g. Nurofen
Loperamide - Diarrhoea relief e.g. Imodium
Loratadine - Anti-histamine, helps with Hay Fever and stings / bites e.g. Clarityn
Aspirin - Pain killer, helps with heat attack
Calcium Carbonate - Antacid, helps with acid indigestion / heartburn / flatulence / nausea
Creams & Liquids
Antiseptic - Reduce chance of infection with superficial burns / scalds / cuts / blisters / sores e.g. Savlon
Bite & Sting - Relief from pain / itching / inflammation e.g. Anthisan
Pain Relief Gel - Targeted pain and swelling relief e.g. Voltarol
Burn Gel - Cools, reduces pain and protects minor burn wounds
Moisturiser - Dry itchy skin / flaky skin / Eczema / dry psoriasis / sunburn
Sterile Saline Eyewash Pods - Remove foreign objects / substances from eyes
Medical Supplies
Compeed - Blisters
Bandages - Various sizes for cuts / scrapes
Alcohol & Non-Alcohol Sterile Wipes - Wound cleaning
Nitrile Gloves - Sterile hands and hand protection
Gauze & Micropore Surgical Tape - Wound dressing
Skin Closures - Draw together cut and keep it closed
Self Seal Finger Dressing - Quick and easy finger wound dressing
Tools
Trauma Scissors - Quickly remove clothing to get to the wound
Tweezers - Splinters and wound cleaning
Of course everyone is different and each person needs additional medicines they rely on, so most IFAKs start off with the basics, plus additional items to address specific individual needs.
You can buy a ready made IFAK from Amazon, then customise it or build your own from scratch.
Why You Should Carry An IFAK?
It might be a sudden headache wrecking your day, a minor wound / boo boo or something more major.
If you have an easily accessible IFAK in your bag then you can provide first aid to yourself, someone in your group or even help a passer by.
They are even more important if you are out in the woods, up a mountain or in the middle of nowhere.
What Is The Difference Between The IFAK,AFAK And MFAK?
AFAK stands for Advanced First Aid Kit. It’s the sort of kit paramedics carry around with them in an Ambulance.
You might find a heartrate monitor, blood pressure monitor, blood Oxygen monitor, finger splints, Stethoscope, Tourniquet or specialist devices to keep your airway open.
In the USA it is common to carry a Tourniquet in an IFAK, but that’s only because gun ownership is so high there.
MFAK stands for Multi-Use First Aid Kit. It’s generally an IFAK scaled up for multiple people and is generally housed in a little green plastic case. You might find one in holiday lettings or in your car kit, where space and weight are less of an issue.
Why Is An IFAK Sometimes Called A Trauma Kit?
This most likely originates from specialist IFAK kits in the military, where the chance of major trauma from bullets or explosions is far more likely.
Rather than Band-Aids and sterile wipes they are more likely to contain Tourniquets, chest seals and specialist airway equipment.
Note: This is not medical advice. It is a simple list of what we keep in our IFAK, for inspirational use only.