How to Build an Awesome EDC IFAK
Having a well-curated medical kit should be at the forefront of every EDC'ers mind. While maybe not the sexiest part of EDC, having a solid medical kit and IFAK can be the difference between life or death. The following are examples of what I carry on my person and in my vehicle (you can use my Amazon affiliate links below if you feel like purchasing any of my recommendations.)
IFAK
One of the most important steps when deciding what to carry for your medical EDC is figuring out what to carry your medical EDC in. I prefer to go with the simple, but tested and true method of the IFAK pouch. This particular pouch is perfect for hemorrhage control and treating other life threats. Big enough to hold a tourniquet, quik clot, and chest seal, this pouch is a perfect size. It's also equipped with belt loops, making it perfect to sit either on your person, plate carrier or on a backpack.
An important note is that the IFAK is designed primarily for hemorrhage control. You'd be hard-pressed to fit a BVM or splint in this sucker. My thought process when arranging my IFAK is functionality, durability, and practicality. Is this bag, and the equipment functional? What function am I hoping to achieve? Is this bag and equipment durable? And finally, is it practical for me to carry this bag and all of the equipment within it? These questions should steer anyone in the right direction when working on their EDC medical kit decisions. Below I've attached a few items that I carry in my IFAK as well as brief explanations under each item.
Tourniquets. Self-explanatory. The most important part of tourniquets is to carry what you're proficient in. That being said, if you're not using CATs, you're wrong. There's a reason the military, police, fire, and EMS all carry predominantly CATs. They work, and they're battle-tested. The second most important part of tourniquets is that if you're going to carry 1, carry 2. Chances are that if you apply 1 tourniquet, you're going to require a second one to truly stop the bleeding.
QuikClot. I have seen this stuff work miracles on wounds that just would not stop bleeding. Is it expensive? Yes. Does it work? Like 99% percent of the time. Obviously, if you have an arterial would to your femoral artery you may require more than a little quikclot. This stuff is amazing though, and with these discrete, compact packages you can easily fit 2 or 3 in your IFAK.
Two trains of thought here regarding trauma sheers. Train 1, buy the expensive, tacticool Raptor trauma sheers. For starters, these sheers are more multi-tool than sheer and have much more functionality. They're also worth the price and do the simple things incredibly well. If you're feeling really fancy you can purchase the holster for these bad boys and clip it onto the front of your IFAK.
Now for the second train of thought. In the event you have to use your sheers in a true emergency, chances are they will immediately become saturated in blood and other gross things. This means that you will either have to meticulously clean your sheers or throw them out entirely. This is where the cheaper sheers come in handy. I have no qualms about tossing these sheers and purchasing new ones. However, I would be rather upset if I had to toss my raptor sheers. These Madison Supply sheers are awesome. They do what sheers were designed for and they do it well. Personally, I run the Leatherman Raptors. They double as a multi-tool and are super easy to clean. Ultimately, the decision is yours.
Every IFAK needs a blankie. But seriously, do yourself a favor and purchase an emergency blanket. These things can hold heat like nobody's business. They're perfect if you get caught outside overnight or if your car breaks down and you need some heat. In the hemorrhage control, tacticool realm, these things are quite literally a life saver. Losing blood is bad. Losing blood and being hypothermic is bader.
The 4x4 gauze pad is the bread and butter of any IFAK or first aid kit. Perfect for cleaning wounds and stopping bleeding, the 4x4 is a gift from God. Do yourself a favor and throw one or two in your IFAK. I prefer these ones due to their packaging, it keeps out some of the grime and grossness that may seep into your IFAK.
Another self-explanatory one is, chest seals are a must for any IFAK. These guys from North American Rescue are what I personally use, and I've never had an issue with them. They fit easily within my IFAK and have nice protective packaging so they always stay ready.
Bandaids are without a doubt the number 1 thing I use most often in my IFAK. Are bandaids an emergency hemorrhage control device? No shot. This doesn't mean they don't have a purpose in my IFAK. Quite simply, it sucks to cut yourself while hiking or at the range and not have any bandaids to cover up a wound. Buy a pack of bandaids and throw them in your IFAK.
The Most Important Piece of Equipment!
The most important piece of equipment for your IFAK is training. There is no substitution and it can't be "winged." You need to know how to control a hemorrhage and how to effectively treat a patient. If you don't know how to properly place a tourniquet, having a fancy one in your IFAK will not save you or your buddy's life. Stop The Bleed is a fantastic resource that everyone should be acquainted with https://www.stopthebleed.org/. If you're serious about gaining medical skills, look into taking an EMT or wilderness first aid course. I believe in the adage "we do not rise to the occasion, but fall to the level of our training." Train well and train often.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. These pieces of equipment are what I carry in my EDC. I recommend these particular products because I have had good experiences with them in the past. If you find something similar that does the job then awesome, role with that. However I will re-iterate, that flashy gear will never take the place of hard training. Train on everything you own and make sure you're proficient.