The best IFAK for unexpected emergencies

The best IFAK for our money has got to be the Medical Gear Outfitters Civilian Trauma Kit. While it may be a little pricey, this med kit features virtually everything a properly trained civilian could ever need for responding to a traumatic medical emergency thanks to its thorough, practical, and efficient list of contents.

Unlike most med kits on today’s market, this IFAK comes with two different pouch options: the Vanquest FATPack 5×8 or the Maxpedition FRP. Both packs feature multiple different color options, and each offers plenty of different mounting options (belts, clips, carabiners, MOLLE-compatible webbing, etc.), as well as Velcro panels for morale and ID patches. Inside, each pouch boasts a multitude of organizational features, and both pouches have plenty of room for adding extra equipment for a truly custom medical kit.

In terms of difference, the Vanquest has a high-visibility interior for easier visual identification of the kit’s contents, an external pocket, and a one-handed rip-open front panel. On the other hand, the Maxpedition pouch fits a more traditional clamshell layout with a grommeted drain hole at the bottom, large zipper pulls, and a pair of adjustable paracords designed to create a set opening angle for added predictability.

The only major drawback to this kit (other than the price tag) is the lack of a removable insert. This prevents the kit from being stored in an out-of-sight location, such as the back of a battle belt or plate carrier (not exactly standard civilian fare anyway).

Contents:

CAT tourniquet
SWAT-T tourniquet
QuikClot EMS Rolled Gauze (hemostatic)
Compressed gauze
28Fr NPA with lube
NAR HyFin vent compact chest seal (twin pack)
Four-inch OLAES
Gecko tape
Survival blanket
Non-latex gloves, large (2 pairs)
Trauma shears
Permanent marker

When your budget is tight but you need the best IFAK you can find, go with the Rescue Essentials TCCC IFAK Refill Module. It comes in a resealable plastic bag, and while it may lack a dedicated storage pouch, the price point, quality, and flexibility are unbeatable.

Rescue Essentials stuffed nothing but the best inside its Ziplock of awesomeness. It features everything necessary to meet MARCH treatment standards, including a CoTCCC-approved tourniquet of your choice and a twin pack of North American Rescue HyFin compact chest seals. The remaining equipment consists of Rescue Essentials and Dynarex components, including a survival blanket, one pair of nitrile gloves, and a miniature permanent marker.

With this kit, the adage “you get what you pay for” holds true. This kit skips more expensive items, such as hemostatic gauze, and instead opts for the bare necessities. As a refill pack, it also isn’t ideal for carrying outside of a backpack or similar low-friction storage spot. Then again, this makes it ideal for stuffing into your IFAK pouch of choice.

Contents:

CAT, SOFT T, or SAM XT tourniquet
Compressed Gauze (2x)
28Fr NPA with lube
NAR HyFin vent compact chest seal (twin pack)
Four-inch emergency trauma dressing
Survival blanket
Trauma shears
Nitrile gloves, large (one pair)
Mini permanent marker

Virtually no other IFAK on the market can keep pace with the small but mighty Medical Gear Outfitters Micro Trauma Kit. By definition, everyday carry is all about compromise, but thankfully, this med kit manages to minimize space and maximize functionality with as little compromise as possible, making it an incredibly capable EDC IFAK.

This affordable kit includes everything necessary to cover all the bases of emergency trauma care (albeit in the right circumstances). It boasts an incredibly efficient equipment roster, leaving out anything that might introduce unnecessary bulk. It includes one high-quality item designed to treat each of the five injury types described in TCCC’s MARCH treatment checklist. Everything is then vacuum-sealed inside an airtight, waterproof bag with tear notches for fast access. This 4.5- by seven-inch package measures a single inch thick, making for an impressively compact package.

Technically, this compact IFAK cannot truly meet MARCH treatment standards without a bit of luck. The single combat gauze pack can only treat one wound at a time, so treatment of massive junctional hemorrhaging and another major yet non-life-threatening bleed is not an option with this kit. Also, the SWAT-T, a compact and effective tourniquet, fails to meet CoTCCC standards due to the difficulty of self-application.

Contents:

SWAT-T tourniquet
QuikClot combat gauze (hemostatic)
28Fr pre-lubed NPA
NAR HyFin vent compact chest seal (twin pack)
Survival blanket
Gloves, large (one pair)

With so many options for battle belt IFAKs, it can be hard to sort through it all, but the Live the Creed Responder IFAK manages to provide the perfect package for virtually any loadout. Its non-traditional design and to-the-point equipment list covers virtually anything an operator (or mall ninja) could ever need.

Belt-mounted med kits must be compact, convenient affairs — something the Responder IFAK accomplishes with flair. In place of zippers, it features a single-buckle, sheath-and-sleeve design which allows fast access to life-saving equipment. This American-made kit includes all the MARCH essentials (minus a survival blanket), including an optional CAT tourniquet and holder mounted on the bottom. The backside features dual MOLLE-compatible mounting mounts with Maxpedition TacTie mounting clips that can double as belt loops, as well as a dedicated belt loop for mounting the pouch in a vertical position on up to 2.5-inch belts. The entire pouch consists of water-resistant, laser-cut laminate Cordura.

Unfortunately, the Responder is downright expensive, especially with the optional tourniquet and holder which are a package deal. Other drawbacks include the lack of a survival blanket, a potentially life-threatening omission for shock patients, and the fact that the tourniquet holster cannot be purchased and attached to the kit down the road. Users also reported that the buckle sometimes snags on the sheath during sleeve removal, although this is more a nuisance than an actual problem.

Contents:

CAT tourniquet (optional)
QuikClot combat gauze LE (hemostatic)
28Fr NPA with lube
NAR HyFin vent compact chest seal (twin pack)
Four-inch H&H mini Israeli bandage
Trauma shears
NAR Bear Claw nitrile gloves, extra-large (one pair)

North American Rescue is a legend in the tactical medicine world, so it fits that the North American Rescue Eagle IFAK (Advanced Life Support) earned a spot on this list. While certainly comfortable on a battle belt, this emergency medical kit feels most at home mounted on your plate carrier.

The Eagle IFAK employs a clamshell-esque prominent loop handle and dual zippers down the front panel. Once secured to your vest with the dual rear-mounted MOLLE strips, the pouch can be ripped open with a single hand, and the Velcro-secured removable insert allows you to transfer your medical gear straight into your workspace. The insert features a large red pull tab for a quick, secure grip and secures the included medical equipment into place with a crisscrossing shock cord. This kit comes with nothing but the best, including a CAT tourniquet and vented HyFin chest seals, and the advanced life support (ALS) version that we recommend also includes Combat Gauze (instead of non-hemostatic S-gauze), a nasopharyngeal airway, and a decompression needle.

The Eagle IFAK’s biggest drawback is that it lacks a survival blanket, an odd omission considering the low cost, minimal space reduction, and life-saving potential of such an item. If you decide to purchase a second Eagle for your battle belt, you may be disappointed to find that it cannot be mounted horizontally. Lastly, North American Rescue requires a Medical Device Authorization to purchase the ALS version of this kit, an understandable yet annoying inconvenience.

Contents:

CAT tourniquet
Four-inch emergency trauma dressing
QuikClot combat gauze (hemostatic)
28Fr NPA with lube
NAR HyFin vent chest seal (twin pack)
ARS needle decompression kit
NAR Bear Claw nitrile gloves, large (one pair)

Everyday carry is all about tradeoffs, but an IFAK like the Warrior Poet Society EDC Ankle Medical Kit offers more cargo space and fewer equipment compromises than its competitors. While it may not include everything necessary to meet MARCH treatment standards, it has more than enough extra room to allow users to achieve that milestone.

The WPS ankle kit has earned a reputation for being the most EDC-friendly ankle IFAK on the market. Users frequently comment on how comfortable it is for all-day wear. It features a breathable, antimicrobial (i.e., anti-stink) inside mesh lining, and to minimize hotspots, it uses a cuff design with pockets sewn onto (rather than into) it which pushes bulk (and discomfort) away from your leg.

Like any good IFAK, the gear that comes with this ankle med kit is high-quality. It boasts a CAT tourniquet and various components from North American Rescue. As a bonus, the cuff’s ends each sport small, hidden pockets underneath the Velcro panels, which are themselves secured with the sticky stuff and are large enough to store handcuff keys, lock pick sets, small flash drives, and other miscellaneous items.

The WPS ankle kit does disappoint in two main areas. Despite its ability to accommodate the extra equipment, this kit lacks critical components capable of making it a TCCC-level IFAK. On the flip side, a fully-loaded WPS ankle IFAK is bulkier than any of its competitors. While no one is likely to see it print, the kit’s girth may be a source of consternation for some.

Contents:

CAT tourniquet
Compressed gauze
28Fr NPA with lube
Four-inch emergency trauma dressing
Trauma shears
Nitrile gloves, large