Today we are going over what IFAK stands for, what goes into an IFAK pouch, and why you need one.
Then we’ll cover the best IFAK Kits on the market today.
- What Is An IFAK? Kit
- Who Should Own An IFAK Pouch
- Best IFAK Kit Features To Look For
- IFAK Contents List / How To Build An IFAK From Scratch
- 9 Best IFAKs Kits On The Market Today
One thing is for sure. After reading this, you’ll know what you need to patch someone up in a traumatic accident or emergency.
Knowledge is power, and in a survival situation, the people with the best gear (and know how to use it) will thrive.
**Note: If you just want our top recommendations, feel free to SKIP AHEAD HERE.
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WHAT IS AN IFAK KIT?
IFAK stands for ‘Individual First Aid Kit” or ‘Improved First Aid Kit.”
Let’s get things straight right off the bat. An IFAK is NOT a standard first aid kit.
An IFAK isn’t a kit for carrying baby wipes, aspirins, and chapstick. Typical first aid kits are made for bumps, bruises, and cuts and can be useful to have in your home.
An IFAK kit is a first aid responders bag for traumatic injury.
They tend to be tailor-made for the type of person carrying it. And houses essential life-saving medical devices and supplies, such as:
- Bleed Control Supplies
- Tourniquets
- A Nasal Pharyngeal Airway
- Plus Other Major Wound Treatments
Before the acronym ‘IFAK” became popular, military medics carried “IFAKs type” kits into dangerous situations. These small portable trauma kits treat and prevent various illnesses and injuries.
The bottom line is IFAKS are compact, wearable trauma kits that go with you.
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WHO SHOULD OWN A IFAK KIT
Today everyone should have some kind of tactical first aid kit.
When there’s a car accident or a workplace injury, civilians are usually first on the scene. Before the medical pros arrive, you may need to give life-saving treatment.
Paramedics and EMTs wear simple IFAK pouches for quicker responses – even when they have extensive trauma kits in their emergency vehicles.
If you enjoy hiking or camping in remote areas, you absolutely need an IFAK. Hunting and fishing excursions don’t happen near hospitals.
Ambulances can’t get to you in the remote wild.
So whenever you’re deep in the bush, you’re on your own. And if there’s a traumatic injury, an IFAK is essential to saving your life or the life of a loved one.
The point is this:
Get an IFAK and stock it with the essentials you need for a serious medical emergency. Tailor it to what you’re doing and your medical skill level.
That way, you’ll be prepared for the most likely accidents you’ll come across.
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BEST IFAK KIT FEATURES TO LOOK FOR
Your IFAK can be in the form of a knapsack, bag, or pouch. It can carry critical emergency medical supplies as long as there’s quick access to what you need.
Here are a few of the essential features a quality IFAK should include:
Tear Away Pouches
Depending on the size of your IFAK, you should have side pouches that hold vital supplies.
These IFAK pouches should detach quickly from the main kit so you can get what you need rapidly.
Heavy-Duty Zipper
You don’t want to have a problem opening up your pack in a crisis. A snagged zipper could turn into a delay in accessing critical supplies when time is of the essence.
A robust zipper will keep your supplies secure and open rapidly with confidence.
Well Laid Out Interior
When you open up your IFAK, the layout inside needs to be well organized.
Separate zipped areas, pouches, and compartments can separate your items.
That way, you don’t have to fumble through a pile of stuff to find what you need.
Robust Handles and Straps
You need to react fast to a survival situation, and bugging out can happen quickly. Robust handles on your pack are vital for rapid moves.
You may have to grab and go fast and run for a long distance.
Having straps to wear your IFAK as a backpack or fanny pack will keep it secure on your body.
Compact and Lightweight
You don’t need a bulky, heavy bag to carry around. Your IFAK should only contain the essentials you need for the situation.
The easier it is to pack, the more likely you will bring it along on all your adventures.
Here’s an excellent video that shares even more advanced IFAK features and tips:
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IFAK CONTENTS LIST / HOW TO BUILD AN IFAK FROM SCRATCH
You should build a DIY IFAK bag according to your risk profile and level of training. That’s why they should include basic first aid supplies, such as bandaids and pain killers.
But, the primary purpose of your IFAK Kit is to treat severe trauma.
There are many pre-packed kits out there you can buy. But for those serious, it can be better to build your own, based on what you need for the situation.
Because you don’t want to make your pack any heavier than it needs to be.
Traditional medical emergency procedures focus on ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation). In a survival or combat situation, the military uses the MARCH algorithm.
This acronym lays out the necessary steps in priority for saving lives in combat.
- M-massive hemorrhage – Arterial blood is pumping out of a person
- A-airway – Any obstruction in the airway
- R-respiratory – An injury like a collapsed lung or sucking chest wound
- C-circulation – General bleeding from the body
- H-hypothermia – The body losing heat faster than it can make it
You should pack an IFAK for individual trauma emergencies as well as minor injuries.
Here is a list of your must-have IFAK contents to include in your own DIY IFAK build (watch the video or read our list below):
Compact Gauze
Gauze may be the most important thing you carry.
Compact gauze is a multi-use item that is essential to pack a large wound and stop bleeding. You can also wrap an injury as well as make a sling or splint with it.
It’s very versatile and cheap, so make sure and have a few rolls in your kit.
Combat Gauze
This gauze is more expensive, but it is vital in stopping massive bleeds.
It has a coagulating agent in the material. This material helps to stop bleeding faster, and you apply it directly to a cut artery.
Their primary function is direct contact with a massive hemorrhage.
Israeli Bandage
This type of bandage works on hemorrhaging and provides compression. It combines a sterile dressing and an elastic bandage to keep constant pressure on a wound. And also comes with a closure bar attached to secure it in place.
An Israeli Bandage works well for head or groin injuries too, and if you are alone, you can quickly put it on with one hand. These are another must-have in your IFAK kit list.
Tourniquet
A tourniquet is a band used to stop blood flow from an extremity wound.
Complications from using one can lead to tissue damage. But it can keep a person stable until you get them to a hospital.
Deep cuts, gunshot wounds, or crushed limbs are situations for a tourniquet.
Take the time to learn how to use one properly.
Nasal Pharyngeal Airway
There are situations where you need to supply an open airway to an injured person. Having an NPA is the best way to treat an airway.
In an unconscious person, the tongue or airway muscles can block the throat. That’s why you need to get them breathing again FAST.
It’s easily inserted into the nostril to open up an airway and keep them alive.
Chest Seal
If you get a puncture into the chest that causes air to pour in, you need to close that up ASAP.
Using a chest seal like the HALO Seal is a quick way to seal the hole.
Note: It sticks to skin, hair, blood, and sand. It’s also really flexible and will cover large, uneven areas around a wound.
Burn Gel and Dressing
Burns tend to occur unexpectantly from open flames or hot surfaces. So it’s essential to carry burn gel to ease pain and help jumpstart healing in the affected area ASAP.
You can also get a burn dressing with water gel in the material so you can apply it right on the burn.
From there, you can use gauze to cover the area.
Control Wraps
Along with tourniquets, a control wrap can help stop bleeding. But it can do so without cutting off direct circulation.
You can also use them as an outside dressing over the gauze and extra support for sprained knees and ankles.
Besides these “trauma” focused items, your IFAK content list should also have additional medical supplies, including:
- Nitrile gloves
- Different sizes of Band-Aids
- Neosporin
- Pain relief (aspirin)
- Flashlight
- Tweezers
- Shears
Here’s an excellent video that goes over (in detail) how to use an IFAK in an emergency:
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9 BEST IFAK KITS ON THE MARKET TODAY
1 – MyFAK First Aid Kit By MyMedic
MyFak IFAK Emergency Trauma First Aid Kit
The MyFAK kit is our featured IFAK. It has everything you need with incredible design and function. Check this out!
The MyFAK is one of the world’s best fully equipped first aid kits for all your adventures. It contains all the life-saving supplies for all traumatic emergencies, such as:
- Bleeding
- Airway obstruction
- Fractures
- Sprains
This IFAK comes with 100 supplies for first aid and trauma. Plus lots of standard supplies for smaller injuries.
It’s compact while storing the maximum amount of equipment.
It’s ready to go with you anywhere and comes with high-quality medical supplies—the type of high-grade equipment that medical professionals use.
MyFAK Content List
Including in the design is a rip-away medical IFAK pouch. This feature provides quick treatment of injuries without having to open the entire kit up.
You can store items that you need quick access to in this panel.
Securing the contents is a heavy-duty zipper that will not snag. You can’t have this happen in an emergency, so MyFaK put on the most robust, high-quality zipper they could find.
Inside the kit is a great layout that’s easy to use and access supplies. This organizational structure is vital in an emergency. It opens up in a tri-fold design, so you have everything laid out to see.
On the outside are MOLLE straps and Velcro patches so you can make quick attachments.
This IFAK is the one you want! And you can rest assured it’s made with quality in mind from an industry leader.
MyMedic IFAK Video Review:
2 – EVERLIT Emergency Trauma IFAK Kit
Everlit Emergency Trauma IFAK Kit
Their mission is to help people during disasters where the right gear can save lives.
This IFAK trauma kit comes with all the practical survival gear without any fluff.
They supply the equipment for massive bleeding and respiratory blockages. Plus, it’s ready to treat open chest wounds and hypothermia.
Everett is a company that’s been in the trenches and knows what’s needed to make it out alive.
PROS
- MOLLE compatible
- Universal bandage pack
- 36″ folded splint
- Ideal for police, medics, hunters, military, and firefighters
CONS
- Sorry, I can’t find any!
3 – LIGHTNING X Gunshot Trauma/Hemorrhage Control Kit in MOLLE IFAK Pouch
Lightning X IFAK Kit
They are ideal for emergency service workers, including police, military, and medics. They are fully equipped to handle most emergencies and are MOLLE compatible.
The Lightning X is a proper field kit designed for severe trauma situations. Plus, it has lots of extra features like eight elastic storage hoops and a drainage grommet.
Users have praised the quality of construction, but some supplies were less practical.
PROS
- Great design with many compartments and pouches
- Essential trauma medical equipment
- Light-weight
CONS
- Not an everyday first aid kit
- Not pre-assembled. Supplies shipped and placed inside the case without placement in pouches
Lightning X IFAK Video Review:
4 – LIVANS Tactical EMT Pouch, Rip-Away Molle Medical IFAK Pouches
LIVANS Tactica IFAK Pouch
MOLLE-style attachments allow you to connect on vests, belts, and backpacks. So this will easily pair with your current survival bag setups.
With the rip-away velcro panel feature, you can get at it for fast emergency first aid.
Most IFAK kits are small. Because they only house most essential equipment, but they have little room for much else…
There are several dedicated IFAK pouches for your gear. And an inside mesh pocket and elastic straps house the medical supplies.
The bottom line is:
Livans makes a great IFAK bag for all your survival and trauma gear. But note, there is NO equipment with this IFAK bag. So you are free to stock it with everything you need.
PROS
- A high-density polyester with double stitching for long-lasting durability
- Comes with a Red Cross patch for easy medical identification
CONS
- No trauma supplies included – you’re just buying an IFAK bag
Livans IFAK Bag Video Review:
5 – Meditac Tactical Trauma IFAK Kit
Meditac Tactical Trauma IFAK Kit
It’s small and light-weight while carrying most trauma essentials, including:
- A clotting sponge
- A tourniquet
- An Israeli Bandage
- A NASOPHARYNGEAL Airway
- Plus other trauma essentials
This kit is ideal to have in the car for emergencies. Plus, it works well for hunting or camping trips and even for those wanting to be ready for anything.
Almost all users were pleased with this quality IFAK.
PROS
- Light-weight
- Comes with deluxe trauma equipment as well as everyday bandages
CONS
- Basic bag without compartments or Velcro strips
- A little small to house any extra survival items
6 – GRULLIN MOLLE IFAK Trauma Kit, Tactical First Aid Kit
GRULLIN MOLLE IFAK Trauma Kit
This IFAK comes with essentials for bleeding control and massive wound treatment. It’s perfect for outdoor adventures as well as travel and use in accidents.
They have packed this kit with a fractured board for splinting limbs. Plus, most of the popular tactical first aid supplies you’d expect in an IFAK.
It also has your basic first aid supplies for minor injuries.
PROS
- Waterproof rip away nylon design with Velcro panel
- Standard trauma gear with the addition of a fractured board
CONS
- Needs more compact gauze and chest seal
7 – MEDITAC Premium Tactical Trauma IFAK
MEDITAC Premium Tactical Trauma IFAK
This kit is ready to meet all traumatic situations with a complete blood control kit. For example:
- There are bandages for hemorrhage control
- As well as a tourniquet for limb compression
It has a MOLLE IFAK pouch designed to fit on your compatible vest, gear belt, or bag.
Thus, it makes this pack ideal as an accessory to the gear you already have. It also contains some extra emergency tools and equipment to round this IFAK out.
PROS
- Has a CPR shield and Mylar survival blanket
- Standard trauma gear for major bleed control
- Emergency whistle
CONS
- Small pack for trauma but needs more standard dressings
- More of an add on to a larger IFAK
8 – ASA TECHMED 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit IFAK Molle System
ASA TECHMED 250 Pieces Survival First Aid Kit IFAK
They’ve thought of almost everything you need for survival.
It’s made of rigid nylon construction and is water-resistant. Even though it’s portable, it has large compartments with lots of room for your survival supplies.
You are ready for the next emergency with this kit.
It’s also ideal for camping and hiking as well as your next hunting trip.
It’s a great medical kit with lots of supplies, but it’s not ideal for extensive trauma events.
PROS
- Above standard first aid kit with 250 items
- Great adventure gear that you don’t get in other kits
CONS
- Small pack for injuries but doesn’t include major trauma equipment
9 – LIGHTNING X – Rip-Away Officer’s Patrol Tactical Gunshot & Trauma IFAK Kit
LIGHTNING X Rip-Away Trauma IFAK Kit
Although it’s a big bag, I’ve included it because it has almost everything necessary for severe traumas.
You get a:
- Chest seal twin pack
- Gen 7 tourniquet
- Israeli Bandage
- Compact gauze
- Quick stop blood stop spray
- And so much more
It’s designed to fit MOLLE gear with five rows of hoops but works excellent as a patrol kit for police officers and EMT medics.
It will fit on any vehicle headrest or tactical backpack. So you can open the three-tiered storage compartments while leaving it mounted.
The bottom line it’s a great IFAK for any serious adventurer.
PROS
- Comes with all essentials for trauma first aid
- Lifetime warranty
- Hook and loop MOLLE panel to mount other kits
- Red Cross emblem
CONS
- Very large kit
- Great for car or backpack but not for a battle belt
Well, there it is, everything you need to know about IFAK Tactical First Aid Kits.
You’ve learned what they are, what’s in them, and where to get them. Now it’s time to equip yourself for the next great adventure!
“Just In Case” Jack
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