How to build a great IFAK (individual first aid kit):

This week we’re talking medical kits. When it hits the fan there are some basic needs that you need to keep in stock. The more the better, but if you’re tight on money or tight on space here is a list of things that are a priority! Per usual with survival/prepper things, the more the better! The great question seems to be, how to build a great ifak, that has everything that we need.

You can add a variety of items based on your medical skill level. There’s no point to add a blood pressure cuff if you don’t know to take someone’s blood pressure. In turn, if you don’t know how to apply a tourniquet, then you either need to learn or get a simple reference/training book to teach you how to do more medical things. There’s a lot to be said for a great reference guide!

Let’s look at the absolutely essential items that you need to build a great IFAK!

1. Tourniquet: This is a basic yet essential item for trauma or a gunshot wound.
2. QuickClot: This is a great blood stopping agent.
3. Band-Aids: For minor scrapes and issues.
4. Hand Sanitizer: Not only does it sanitize, but it’s flammable too! It can sanitize hands for working on a wound or it can be put into the wound itself to sanitize.
5. Pain Killers: Tylenol, Advil, Aleve. Anything to kill the pain. If you have a prescription for painkillers you might save a few and put them in a separate container in your prepper stash.
6. Neosporin: Or other triple antibiotic ointment. It will help keep wounds clean and speed up the healing process.
7. Antibiotics: If you happen to have a Z-pack laying around this is a great thing to put into your IFAK. If you happen to have a loved one who travels and can get antibiotics over-the-counter, it would be a great thing to have for those times when you just need something stronger.
8. Safety Pins: Great for holding things together!
9. Sewing Kit: Although this is great for clothes, this is also great for a sewing kit. You might need to administer (or be administered) stitches. Crude but effective.
10. Dental Floss: Other than the obvious use you can use this for stitches also.
11. Essential Oils: Call them what you will, but we swear by them. It’s not a quick fix, but it’s a lasting one.
12. Aloe Vera: This is great for burns! Sunburns, fire burns etc. Aloe helps them all.
13. Alcohol Prep Pad: This is another great fire starter, sterilization tool, and cleaner.
14. Basic First Aid/CPR Booklet: Find a great book on Amazon and keep it in your IFAK. That will increase your survivability and that of those around you. Check this one out: The Survival Medicine Handbook

Like I said above; you probably don’t need to pack it, if you don’t know how to use it. What would also be useful are these:

1. Glucose Meter Kit
2. Chest needle decompression
3. Asherman Chest Seal
4. Epi Pen
5. Nasopharyngeal Airway
6. Oral Airway
7. Ambu Bag
8. Pulse Oximeter

Cheers,

Nila