Chances are that sometime in your life you will run across a medical emergency. It could be a vehicle accident, a violent crime, or a family member gets injured. The video for today, is a somewhat lengthy discussion on first aid kits. About one of the only good things coming out of continuous warfare for the past 20 years is that Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs) have progressed markedly and there is now a variety to choose from at a decent price point in the commercial market place.
Companies like North American Rescue https://www.narescue.com/law-enforcement-tems-products/tactical-medical-kits offer a variety of IFAKs and instructional videos. For Ankle rigs check out Ryker Nylon Gear https://www.rykernylongear.com. There are some kits out there that are very expansive and better suited for a medical professional, but the average IFAK will do a good job at stopping a major bleed and in the USA, you really only need to stop a bleed for 20-30 minutes in most places because once the EMTs arrive, you are in good hands (unlike many countries around the world where the ambulance only transports you to the hospital). You can put together your own kit and keep it in the car and in your home.
Addendum: A great thanks to John for sending this additional advice:
Much appreciate the good info and preparedness reminder .
Up front— I am not a medical person or EMS, but I have had some emergency & wildreness medical training
A couple of other excellent sources for IFAK / Trauma kit supplies and kits are the following. I have used them and, like North American rescue, they are reliable. They also have videos that provide useful information.
Tacmedsolutions: https://www.tacmedsolutions.com
Rescue essentials: https://www.rescue-essentials.com/
Besides items what you mention, some addiitioall light wt, low bulk items for an IFAK to consider:
* Nasopharyngea airway, or oropharyngeal airway (Airway management )
* Combat gauze (wound packing)
* Compress dressing such as: Israeli Emergency Bandage, olaes modular bandage
* Hemoostatic dressing (Hemocon bandage, quick clot bandage)
* Cravat (triangular) bandage
* Mylar foil rescue blanket (prevent secondary hypothermia)
* Gauze bandage roll
* Nitrile gloves, Face mask, & Glasses / goggles (Blood Borne Pathogens / body substance avoidance)
* Eye shield or Eye occluding dressing
* EpiPen (Anaphylactic Shock)
I keep other stuff , including SAM splints, a Bag valve mask, etc in my vehicles, but not individual carry. The bloodstopper stuff, like combat gauze, does have a shelf life , but I think it pertains more to its sterile shelf life and not so much its bleed conntrol effectiveness- I’ll go for stopping the bleed and not worry a lot about whether the sealed package sterility is compromised by time.
