Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)

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I used to do a lot of hiking and camping, though not so much lately. But I still get out to the woods now and then and I do take along a first aid kit, though not religiously. I participated in some long discussions on a couple of other forums about 1st aid kits and my conclusions about my own outfit were a little bit of a letdown. Remember, though, that I'm speaking of something to actually be carried on foot, not in the trunk of the car.

I ultimately decided that, although "handy" and sometimes useful, my 1st aid kit was unnecessary for what it was good for and inadequate for what it was really needed for. I almost decided to leave it out altogether but I still carry it with almost no change, even upon reflection on the injuries I've suffered in the last 55 years, which, without exception, have been falls. Of those, the serious ones have been at home. I therefore conclude that I'm safer in the woods than I am at home.
 
I used to go climbing with a buddy whose philosophy was a first aid kit would just result in an unsafe attitude, since you could fix what you hurt. While there is some truth in that, I spent 40 years working outdoors, often alone, and can tell you the injuries you are likely to have are :

Sprains, broken bones , and crushing from falls or impact,
Puncture wounds from impalement, I suppose this would include gunshot wounds,
Exposure to the elements.,
Deep cuts from cutting tools or edges.

Most kits contain nothing more than bandaids, some disinfectant, a couple of gauze pads, that kind of thing.

Your kit should include splinting material or the means to make it, support slings and wraps, plastic for suction wounds, large pads for head and abdominal injuries, butterfly closures and sutures.

More importantly, an itinerary, travel in groups of threes (one injured, one remains, one goes for assistance), communications, and being able to realize maybe you shouldn't be doing what you want to do go a long way to getting you home at the end of the day.

Getting pelted by rockfall when the sun hits the face tells you to forget about the summit. When a rock the size of your house falls right past you, it's time to get back down to the lake and spend the weekend by the campfire.
 
Just as important as the supply themselves, the knowledge and ability to use them is paramount. I encourage everyone to take an EMR class, or a basic EMT class. Another option is to take the wilderness EMT class which is phenomenal.
 
I agree completely. Although I mentioned that my most serious injuries have been from falls, both at home and in the woods, I also worried a lot (well, some, anyway) about falling on something sharp and causing a serious puncture. I think maybe in places where that was more likely, I was more careful.

If one uses sharp things a lot, especially an ax or chainsaw, one would be advised to have something on hand for a serious laceration or deep cut. Places that sell axes and chainsaws, like Bailey's, carry them. I never seem to use a knife in the woods in spite of owning a dozen or so but if you do use a knife, including at home, sooner or later you'll cut yourself but probably not seriously. Large Band-Aids are probably sufficient and for everything else, an army field dressing is probably the most practical thing to have on hand.

I read somewhere that falling trees and tree limbs cause more injury in the woods than anything but I've never actually read an account of that happening. But plenty of other things have happened to me in my almost 70 years and if I live long enough, they'll probably happen again. The Mississippi floods all the time, too, and it'll happen again.

Contrary to the advice given regularly, I am almost always alone in the woods. I imagine that if I keep going, someday I might not get back home in time for supper.
 
Where can one locate training in their state to use this type of equipment? I've considered getting some of it to carry (the way I see it, you're as likely to encounter a serious injury as you are to need a handgun) but obviously want to have some kind of serious training like you would with a firearm.
 
I'd say that you're more likely need 1st aid gear than a gun. You might need it even more with a firearm. But unless you have a very, very serious injury, a little common sense is all you need. Still, a basic first-aid course would be a Good Thing, especially for the more uncommon sorts of emergencies.

If the county where you live has adult education, that's a good place to look. The public school system where I live offers just about everything for everyone but not for free. The local fire department here also has CPR classes. The county also has a lot of information on emergency preparedness because if something bad has ever happened, you can be sure it will happen again. In fact, the county website has a long list of places to contact for first aid training, all in English, some in Spanish and a few also in other languages. Training is required for some types of employment.

Robert Service believed he was safer in the woods where the wolves and bears lived than he was in the city. He was probably right.
 
No bone saw?

Superglue has proven to be the most useful first aid supply in every environment I have spent time in. It is messy, especially in case of a serious injury where a medical professional then has to clean the wound out.
 
I love playing with my first aid kits.

I have a gun in case of emergency. The likelyhood, in my experience, of needing first aid for an emergency is MUCH more likely. I have used my hiking FAK a couple times, once for a fairly serious sprain in the boundary waters in MN (those not familiar, think miles of canoeing then miles of hiking, then miles of canoeing etc, no one around, its amazing)

I have used my bigger car FAK twice. Once was a fender bender I drove by, lady wasn't wearing a seat belt and didn't yield at a merge, guy in front did... Had a pretty nice cut on her head from banging the windshield. Cleaned and dressed before the paramedics arrived. Second time it was used was less fortunate, much bigger accident on the highway, my wife and I stopped (I always stop if I don't have my kiddos) and did what we could to help. Very bad accident. Thankfully there were medically trained people who stopped too, but they used my first aid kit to treat people until Paramedics arrived.

Most Important things to remember:
- Defer to medical professionals, get out of the way if they know more than you
- If you use something out of your FAK, replace it. It sucks when you need a gauze pad, or immodium :D and it's not there because you used it last time.
- If having ANY gun in a gun fight is better, I would argue having ANY FAK is better than none. Channel your inner MacGyver!

I have never used my gun for an emergency, thank God. Except for those deer that were in dire need of being eaten! And the varmints that were desperate to be stopped from committing acts of vandalism on my gardens...
 
My only other additional comments are that you will probably need to replace some of the contents periodically unless your kit is sealed in a hard box, which is sometimes recommended (even as far back as Kephart). But I use a nylon bag, partly because I access the contents surprisingly frequently and it packs a little easier. Over time, some of the items become a little shopworn, so to say, and probably aren't sterile. Although I've mentioned that it's not really that adequate for very serious stuff, it's still much too handy to leave behind. I take it on trips when we're on vacation, too, where it's just as handy. I've been carrying essentially the same outfit for over 40 years and I've gone through two or three nylon cases in that time. Hard plastic boxes seem ideal but I always end up going back to a soft bag or pouch.

If you actually have to physically carry it, there will be a trade-off over what to have in your kit, unless you don't mind carrying a lot of weight and there is also a space issue.

Some things are brought along like insect repellant and sometimes sunblock but I'm not sure if those should be counted as part of my first aid kit. I don't take them when travelling.
 
Where can one locate training in their state to use this type of equipment?
Click to expand...

I got my training at a local hospital. Also, check to see if your county sheriff's department has a Search & Rescue Team. There you can get wilderness emergency medical training, if your county has mostly rural land, and of corse search & rescue. Then check if there is a FEMA-CERT team, (Community Emergency Response Team). Lots of good training there. I'm involved in all three.
 
The 100% most common failure with first aid kits is expired components.
Check expiration dates & replace as needed.
I'll bet money some reading this have expired "stuff" in the first aid kit.
 
I was under the impression that it was considered traditional to bite on a bullet, not leather, although the latter maybe preferable.
 
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