Forums » News and Announcements
Best IFAK Pouches: Foundation of Building Your IFAK
-
Best IFAK Pouches: Foundation of Building Your IFAK
When I am at the range, I often look at what other people bring with them as part of their range bag or range kit. One thing that I often find missing is an IFAK, an individual first aid kit. I find this alarming since accidental gunshot wounds create such traumatic injuries and most drug stores and big-box store first aid kits are just not equipped to handle such massive damage.To get more news about IFAK kit, you can visit rusuntacmed.com official website.
I prefer to build my own IFAK’s based on my experience and with the help of several friends who are both long time shooters and trained emergency medical practitioners. The one thing that I have found is that without a good well-design pouch, an IFAK is almost useless. There are several reasons a top-quality pouch is essential.
Protection – Items packed in sterile wrappings or packages need proper protection to remain serviceable over time. The right IFAK pouch will protect everything inside and ensure that when I need some of those supplies, they are as fresh as the day I put them into the pouch the first time.
Functionality – My IFAK has a lot of small items. In an emergency, I don’t want to dump the entire pouch out on the ground to find the one item I may need right now. A well-designed IFAK pouch will secure and organize items so that they are immediately available and organized so you can find the item you want in the dark.
Durability – An IFAK, by definition, must be readily accessible. For me, that means my IFAK rides on the outside of my pack, bug-out bag, and range bag. It takes a lot of wear and tear and must tough enough to survive its often-exposed condition
Ergonomics – Size and weight are everything, especially if you are on the move. Your IFAK pouch should be as small and lightweight as possible yet provide the other criteria listed above. Finding the right combination of weight, size, and capacity can be a challenge.
I advocate that everyone carries what I term a “blowout kit.” A “blowout kit” is a small IFAK that carries only the essential items to treat a traumatic and severe penetrating injury. You can read that to say a gunshot wound or a deep stab wound. Either one requires quick intervention to control bleeding, and that is what a “blowout kit” does.The 5.11 Tactical Flex Med Pouch is small, lightweight, yet tough enough to withstand the rigors of everyday carry use. The pouch size allows packing several essential items securely yet keep them clean, safe, and readily available.
There are times when it is prudent to carry a blowout kit on your person. Most of the law enforcement officers I know do this routinely, and one of the most popular ways to carry a small IFAK without adding another pouch to a duty belt or a vest is to ankle carry.
My suggestions for added items for this rig is a chest seal and a packet of Z-gauze impregnated with a clotting agent such as Celox.
Carrying small items such as an IFAK on your ankle may seem a little strange, but the position of the ankle pouch puts those critical trauma care items within easy reach, even if you are lying on the ground. For the most part, users of the Rescue Essentials Ankle Medical Holster are satisfied. There are some negative comments concerning the way the hook and loop system is attached. Some users would prefer the hook side to be pointing away from their leg instead of toward their skin.
Condor Outdoor Products has several different pouches that they advertise as medical or IFAK pouches. The Rip-Away EMT pouch has become my go-to standard for building a more complete IFAK than a smaller EDC style of pouch.
The fold-out interior design and the quick-release rip-away attachment system makes this pouch perfect for attaching to the side or back of a backpack or even to a MOLLE style seatback system in your vehicle. One buckle and quick pull rips the industrial hook and loop fastening system from the mounting plate without having to deal with MOLLE or PALS attachments.