Outdoor Ifaks / Medic Pouches SATAC

First of all, it is important to mention that an IFAK is an individual (personal) first aid kit, not a medical backpack, and is designed to hold the most essential items – for airsoft, don't hesitate to put small items such as charcoal, plasters, tweezers, painkillers or insect bite remedies in your IFAK. In the vast majority of cases, you will need these small items instead of a decompression needle, which is only used by a professionally trained medical professional for pneumothorax.

What is an IFAK? And do I need to carry one?

Individual first aid kits, sometimes called IFAKs (Individual First Aid Kits), are large pouches designed for quick first aid wherever access to professional medical care is limited. The abbreviation “individual first aid kit” comes from military terminology for first aid kits issued to soldiers during World War II.
The IFAK is primarily intended for our own use and not for others, and should be attached to our equipment in an easily accessible place.
Do not confuse the IFAK with a CAT – a CAT is a tourniquet.

Our tip:
The IFAK is definitely useful for ordinary airsoft events. You never know when you'll need to remove a pellet or a tick from your skin, when you'll cut yourself, or when you'll get a headache. Therefore, assemble your IFAK so that it makes sense to you personally.

Key aspects when choosing an IFAK

By carefully considering important factors, you will get the best IFAK for carrying all your important medical supplies and provide you with reliable access to its contents whenever you need it most.

Durability

Choose a case made of durable materials such as 500D or 1000D nylon, which can withstand abrasion, punctures, and harsh environments. There is nothing worse than your first aid kit tearing open in an extreme situation and medical supplies spilling out all over the place. Don't skimp on your IFAK, especially if you plan to carry it in extreme situations. 
Clawgear offers durable IFAKs, for example.

Size and capacity

Ideally, you should buy a medical pouch that is large enough to hold all the medical supplies you need, but not so large that it becomes a burden.

For classic airsoft, walks, or hikes, smaller sizes are suitable, which should fit ordinary items such as bandages, disinfectants, scissors, protective gloves, pain/allergy pills, and the like.
 

For multi-day events or more extreme environments, it is recommended to expand the kit with various bandages, tourniquets, and other equipment, which we will discuss later. This will increase the size of the IFAK itself.

Our tip:
Take items that you understand and know how to use or apply.

Method of attachment

Another factor to consider is where you will carry the IFAK. Common options include:
MOLLE: a system for attaching pouches to vests, belts, and backpacks.
Velcro: Offers a quick and easy way to attach and detach the pouch.
Belt loops: Provide secure attachment to a belt.

Good accessibility

Easy access to the contents of the pouch is essential. Make sure that the IFAK is designed so that its contents are easily accessible, especially in emergency situations. The ideal option is one where the IFAK can be “torn” from the base. We recommend purchasing an IFAK with internal organizational features such as elastic loops, pockets, or dividers to keep your supplies organized and easily accessible. Another person may need to handle the IFAK, and they need to know immediately where everything is.
The IFAK should hold medical equipment securely, even when upside down.

Water resistance

It is very important to have a case with water-resistant or waterproof features to protect your medical supplies from adverse conditions. There is nothing worse than having bandages, etc. ruined by water or other liquids.

What belongs in an IFAK?

You would think a tourniquet, right? Well, maybe. In general, it is better to have at least one tourniquet in the front line outside the IFAK so that you can reach it with both hands. 

The choice of IFAK contents depends on several factors, namely: the required level of training, where you intend to carry the IFAK, whether for hiking, airsoft, or extreme situations. Other factors include willingness to learn and where the first aid kit will be stored. Regardless of this, every medical bag should contain some form of the following products, but we recommend that you build your IFAKs in a way that makes sense for you and the situations you are preparing for. You definitely don't need loose hemostatic agents for gunshot wounds when hiking. On a trip, you will appreciate plasters and disinfectant more.

Nitrile gloves are the basis of every first aid kit!

If you find yourself in a situation where you need to treat a patient, yourself, or someone else needs to treat you, the first responder should take measures to limit exposure to blood pathogens. A few pairs of nitrile gloves are an excellent investment at a reasonable cost. Latex gloves are not suitable due to possible allergic reactions. Nitrile gloves are non-allergenic. We recommend purchasing high-quality gloves that will not tear when put on, ideally blue or lighter in color (so that any blood is visible).

Disinfection

High-quality disinfectant is essential, for example for abrasions, etc. There are countless options on the market; Betadine iodine disinfectant is excellent. Or liquid stitches for larger wounds.
We recommend disinfectant for every IFAK!

Thermal blanket

Keeping the injured person warm will help delay the onset of shock, which is a common consequence of serious injuries. Hypothermic patients have lower survival rates than patients in thermal comfort, so maintaining body temperature at the time of injury is essential.

Coil plaster

This plaster is suitable for securing medical devices and covering wounds. The plaster should be breathable, hypoallergenic, and easy to tear. It is also part of the basic equipment.

Plasters

In general, it is important to have all kinds of plasters in your IFAK! Both classic cushion plasters and blister plasters of all kinds are ideal.

Medicines

From over-the-counter medicines, it is ideal to have painkillers, allergy medicines, medicines for digestive problems, some medicines for insect bites, etc. It all depends on the individual, as each of us may have different allergic reactions. Medicines are again the basis of every medical bag.

Pressure bandages and bandages

Pressure bandages are designed to stop bleeding when a classic bandage is not enough. They work by further restricting blood flow from the wound by applying pressure to the injury and holding gauze directly on the wound. There is a wide range of products to choose from, from elastic bandages to more complex military-style bandages known as “Israeli bandages.” Bandages are used instead to secure other bandaging materials to the wound. Adhesive tape or clamps are used to secure them in place.

Medical scissors

Special rescue scissors make it easier for the rescuer to cut clothing to access the wound. These scissors are not to be used for anything other than cutting clothing or bandages, etc., otherwise they may become blunt and then be useless.

Tourniquets

In the event of massive bleeding, this is the most critical piece of life-saving equipment and probably the best investment in emergency medical equipment for any trauma kit.
Choosing the best tourniquet for your needs can be confusing. Tactical tourniquets such as the CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet) are the most popular in the military and law enforcement, while products such as the SWAT Turniket may be more intuitive and quicker to use by untrained personnel. Functionally, they all work by stopping massive bleeding, most commonly from a limb. Never buy cheap pieces that you plan to use in a real emergency, as they may break, not constrict properly, etc., which could result in the person bleeding to death or getting blood poisoning. On the other hand, these cheap pieces are perfect for practicing with tourniquets. A classic rubber tourniquet is a cheaper alternative to tactical tourniquets, which is also very effective, easy to use (even a layman can use it) and does not take up much space in an IFAK. Here we must pay attention to the quality of the material used. It is especially important to be careful with tourniquets that are long past their expiration date. They may break when used. The consequences would not be pleasant at all.

CAUTION:
Tourniquets such as CAT can cause more harm than good in the hands of a layman! It is a medical device for life-threatening bleeding – it is not intended for normal injuries!

Here is a short list of high-quality, proven tourniquets:
SOF Tourniquet
CAT
Sam XT Extremity Tourniquet
TMT – Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet

TIP:
Whichever one you choose, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the tourniquet and practice using it on others and on yourself under the supervision of a professional! And do this before you need it. Keep in mind that tourniquets are single-use devices, after which they may not work properly and could endanger the patient's life.

Wound dressing with gauze

Effective wound dressing involves pressing gauze into the wound and maintaining direct pressure on the wound until the bleeding stops. There are two types of gauze for wound dressing, known as compression and hemostatic.
Compression gauze relies on physical pressure to restrict blood flow—the more gauze wrapped around the wound, the less space there is for blood to flow.
Hemostatic gauze is impregnated with a hemostatic agent that accelerates blood clotting and can shorten the time that direct pressure must be applied to arterial bleeding. The disadvantages of hemostatic agents are their higher price and expiry date (usually five years). Excellent products include CELOX and ChitoSAM.

Equipment and training

We recommend that everyone undergo training on the proper use of these tools. Most of these products come with instructions and are not difficult to use, but it is necessary to familiarize yourself with them in advance and be trained in how to use them. When stress levels are high and time is of the essence, muscle memory can empower first responders to take quick and effective action.