Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)
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An Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) is a personal trauma kit designed with specialized equipment to rapidly treat potentially fatal injuries.
Tourniquet
A tourniquet is a life-saving tool used to stop severe hemorrhage from limbs. The most effective tourniquets consist of a band, a windlass, and a windlass retaining clip, and are manufactured using industrial processes. The market is flooded with counterfeit products of questionable reliability that cannot be relied upon in field conditions, as their parts break or straps slip under pressure. We recommend the following reliable models:
Hemostatic Agents and Wound Packing
Hemostatic agents are high-surface-area, ultra-dry materials that promote blood clotting, even when blood is affected by blood thinners. For wound packing, we recommend:
- QuikClot Combat Gauze Hemostatic Dressing
- ChitoSAM 100 Hemostatic Dressing
- TyTek EZ-Gauze Packing Gauze
- 6:8 Medical Packing Gauze
Since a single hemostatic dressing is often not enough to pack a wound completely, packing can be continued with standard compressed gauze:
Nasopharyngeal Airway
A Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA) is a hollow tube with a blunt end made of medical-grade rubber or plastic, designed to secure an airway in an unconscious or breathing-compromised casualty. You can choose from the following options:
Occlusive Chest Seal
An occlusive chest seal (Chest Seal, CS) is an air- and liquid-tight dressing designed to seal open chest wounds, preventing air from entering the chest cavity, compressing the lung, and causing respiratory failure. Product selection:
Decompression Needle
A decompression needle is a sufficiently long needle with a catheter casing designed to relieve trapped air from the chest cavity. The kit is used when tension pneumothorax is suspected—when air entering through a wound cannot escape and compresses the lung. This device must only be used by trained personnel. You can purchase these needles:
Israeli Bandage
This is a commercially manufactured elastic pressure bandage featuring a sterile pad and a built-in pressure applicator to ensure enhanced wound compression. Available options:
Additional Dressings
Additional dressings are used for wound care, supplementary packing, or secondary bandaging stage.
Thermal Blanket
A first aid blanket (Space Blanket, Blizzard Survival Blanket) protects the casualty from environmental temperature exposure. Hypothermia (severe body cooling) is a silent killer, as it impairs the body's natural defense mechanisms and blood clotting. We offer the following solutions:
Trauma Shears
Specialized trauma shears are designed to quickly and safely cut through clothing to expose the injury site:
Eye Shield
An eye shield is used to protect an injured eye from further physical impact or pressure:
Video: CAT IFAK Refill Contents
In this video, we review the contents of the CAT IFAK refill kit and demonstrate how to pack it into a pouch.
How to Assemble and Wear an IFAK
In a fully assembled kit, supplies must be arranged neatly with essential items easy to reach. Unrelated gear, such as food or batteries, should not be kept inside. Mount the pouch so it can be reached with either hand if needed, without interfering with daily movements or procedures:
Use only valid, unexpired, and undamaged items. If a tourniquet has been used during training, it should not be stored alongside new, unused supplies in your active personal kit.
Training and Preparation
Having quality equipment is not enough—knowing how to use it is essential. Incorrectly applied or mistimed medical supplies can cause more harm than good. Choose equipment that both you and your teammates know how to operate. If you wish to learn first aid skills, visit mokymai.parakomanai.lt or contact us at info@parakomanai.lt.
