This document describes my First Aid Kit builds. I've modeled mine after kits that professionals have demoed for me and off of commercial kits. Look for <span style="color:cyan">Deployed</span> for items that I've had to deploy in real life. While that isn't necessarily an endorsement or datapoint about a component's efficacy, the fact that it's been deployed and replaced is a good sign that it was useful. > [!tip] Training and Practice Over Gear! > While having the equipment is great, prioritize training/learning and practice over just buying a kit and throwing it in the back of your car or bottom of your bag. ## Off The Shelf (-ish) Too much stuff to read, just want to buy something? While building your own kit is great because it's often cheaper and you gain a better awareness of what things are in your kit, sometimes you just want to buy a kit rather than purchase from a few places. Below are two off the shelf kits that are good but may need one ore two additions. This section contains links to some decent kits that may be worth picking up. Kits may have things that you're not likely to be trained in and things that are worth adding, those items are listed under each. There's no perfect kit but the best kit is the one you have, rather than one sitting at home or in your shopping cart. >[!warning] Familiarize and Stage Your Kit! >Be sure to familiarize yourself with your kits; taking them apart and putting them back together is a good way to do this! You don't want to be figuring out what's in the bag or spilling things out on the ground when you're in an emergency. ### Kit Considerations When selecting your kit, think about where you will be storing or carrying the kit and the likely scenarios that you'll need to use it. A hiking kit is different than one for a backpacking trip, than one for a logging camp, than one for a newborn's bedroom. Most of us don't have the stamina or room to cary an entire ambulance worth of equipment with us at all time. ### Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) for Bleeding Control - [Rescue Essentials TCCC IFAK](https://rescue-essentials.com/tccc-ifak/) - Good starting IFAK with minimal space for addition - What to know: - Select the "CAT" tourniquet type - What you don't need: - Nasopharyngeal airway - you're not going to be trained in that unless you take ALS - What's worth adding: - Hemostatic gauze (see below) - [Rescue Essentials TCC IFAK Refill Module](https://rescue-essentials.com/tccc-ifak-refill-module/) - If you already have a bag that you'd like to add bleeding control tools to - What to know: - Select the "CAT" tourniquet type - What you don't need: - Nasopharyngeal airway - you're not going to be trained in that unless you take ALS - What's worth adding: - Hemostatic gauze (see below) ## Build Lists ### [[Shoulder Sling IFAK]] ![[Shoulder Sling IFAK#IFAK Components]] ### [[Backpack First Aid Kit + IFAK]] ![[Backpack First Aid Kit + IFAK#Components]] ### [[Range Belt IFAK]] ![[Range Belt IFAK#Contents]] ### [[Dangler IFAK]] My dangler pouch is intended for buddy-aid. ![[Dangler IFAK#Contents]] [[Car First Aid Kit]] ## Staging ### Staging Your Kit ### Staging a Tourniquet Correctly staging a tourniquet is _extremely_ important because deployments happen during instances of life-threatening bleeding and seconds count in those scenarios. You need to be able to access and apply your tourniquet as fast as possible without fighting to get it open. The main components of staging are: 1. Remove the plastic wrapping - Plastic wrapping will very likely be difficult to remove in the moment with shaking or wet hands 2. Ensure that the loop can be quickly deployed over an arm or leg - Being able to pull the tourniquet open with a large enough loop to access an extremity is important - Also, having the correct amount of "tail" in case you need to undo the tourniquet for a seated individual is helpful 3. Ensure that the windlass catch is open and available A great video on the topic:  ## Hemostatics - ## Other Resources - Look at other commercial kits and copy their contents. Often times you can get higher quality **or** cheaper depending on what you're looking for. - Advil, Tylenol, one or two of the ZAC non-drowsies, Mucinex, Tums, Pepto-bismol, triple abx ointment, calamine lotion, tinactin, sunscreen, bug spray(heavy on the deet). ## Equipment to Evaluate [[Tourniquet Research]] [[First Aid Feeder List]] > [!danger] Notice! > _I'm not your instructor, the information on this page is based on research I've conducted but is not to be taken as an authoritative source and is with no guarantee or certification._