Suggestion for a good IFAK kit with contents to keep in my truck?
Any standard first aid kit available anywhere plus QuickClot and a tourniquet. Add a first aid manual. No harm in going by the book. Unless you’re specifically trained. The tourniquet in your kit should not be used to practice with. It’s also best to take a course at your local Red Cross include CPR training.
How big a kit are you looking for?
I’m looking for something similar to an aid bag.
if you’re looking for individual (small carry) type kits, Dark Angel has good ones - but they’re a bit on the pricey side. You can probably put a kit like these together for a lot less, but they give you at least a place to start planning:
and
https://darkangelmedical.com/bleeding-control/
a couple different sized options here:
and here:
if you think you want to roll-your-own, there are a really nice set of pack options here to choose from, and then you could add your own components:
for my truck kit (which I wanted to be pretty comprehensive, since I teach), I ended up buying a STOMP bag, and then adding in the additional items I wanted:
I was on the ski patrol for 25 yrs. No matter what kit you get, you can always use a box of sterile 3x3 or 4or for covering the wound, they don’t put enough in the kit. Also, two to five corvats will cover the dressing in most cases fast, it is better than a ternicut that are put in the kit and can be put on very fast. Add disposable gloves for your protection and the other person!!! Band aids for the kids stari-strips, and suger packs in a dry zip lock will do most of the first aid you will come upon. For convenience, a knife with a seat belt cutter and glass beaker point and heavy surgical sizes will clear clothing out of the way. A bag that opens out flat and has elastic straps to hold everything in place when you open it, will make you a good troma kit to go in most any pack or car. Remember you are doing something to save a life or limb, not be a Doctor.
I build kits and sell them at shows. Demand is increasing rapidly such that I have to scramble now to find contents and suitable bags. It is not just for accidents at the range or hunting, on the road, etc. People are worried about “what’s coming.” Their words, not mine. Doctors, cops, nurses, firefighters and medics - all of them are stocking up and improving their kits.
What you carry will depend on your skills and whether or not you believe in carrying more for the licensed provider that stops to help at the scene. Give me a multi-victim roll-over and I won’t demand to see your credentials if you stop and tell me you are PA or an RN or a Paramedic. Grab what you need from my bag that I am not using at the moment and we can compare notes later. Been there done that.
Our bags - one in each vehicle - have QuickClot, combat tourniquets, BP cuffs, 'scopes, oximeters, a basic c-collar, basic airway provisions and CPR shields, lots of gauze pads, rollers and more. Also SAM splints and space blankets. Yes, there is some minor stuff as well but Band-Aids wouldn’t have helped that gal in the Wal-Mart parking lot - she went into cardiac arrest while I was beside her. A nurse came by and volunteered to assist. CPR goes better with 2 people performing. The patient survived, BTW. That was in California in 2011.
Sometimes other help is close, sometimes not. Last year it was a one-car/2-victim rollover on I-80 by the Bonneville Salt Flats in January. Closest EMS was 28 miles, helicopter well over 100. We like to travel and we come on accidents every year or so somewhere in the country. Sometimes EMS is there, other times we are the first responders and have to hold our own.
Given the times we live in being prepared is more than just a Boy Scout motto.
I base my kit on the STOMP bag. I put everything they have in mine then I add a bunch of additional extras. I know many Dr.'s and nurses, some combat, others private practice.
IN ADDITION TO WHAT COMES IN THE BAG I ADD*****
My combat buddies say you can never have enough tourniquets so I put an extra 4 of the CAT units in my bag. Plus an extra 4 quick clot bandages. A couple extra mylar blankets, knives, several suture kits and 2 different sizes of body staplers. Lots of provodine iodine swabs, a couple really good flashlights, extra pair of reading glasses, extra batteries for the flashlights, pulse oximiter and blood pressure cuff. Because I also shoot I keep an extra set of chest seals and a set of nasal breathing tubes in my kit. A couple extra magic markers for writing on the patient (ie: a big “T” on their forehead with the time of application). Also include some good rope (multiple uses) a waterproof writing pad, a couple extra bright calume sticks and a battery strobe (so I dont get hit if on the side of the road or to help rescue find you. Recently I started carrying an ACR ResquLink Emergency Locator Beacon. Many places I go do not have cell phone access. I also keep a full size 100% wool military blanket, a couple jackets, a sleeping bag and several clean rags in the truck.
I separate the kit into zip lock bags with labels that make sense to me. Like bag #1 has the protective gloves, a tourniquet, quick clot, bandages, breathing tube, magic marker, note pad, safety mouth to mouth kit, flashlight, … etc… things you might need first in a trauma type injury.
I may be a bit overboard with my bag. Everything included it pretty much takes up one passenger seat availability in my vehicle. I used to drive to work on a very dangerous road. Fatalities all the time. Two times I was first on the scene. I had one man die in my arms while I was helping the EMS crew.
I actually retired 2 years early because I became afraid of driving that road in the dark and rain every morning and evening. I didnt want to die. My night vision is not as good as it used to be. I couldnt afford to retire… but was afraid not to. I am still alive so believe it was a good decision. Because of the experiences I now keep all the medical supplies in my truck, in the car, on my ATV (a much smaller, dedicated kit since it never leaves the property, but it is very complete).
OK, enough rambling. You get the idea.
Yes, I added to and took away as time went by and I saw newer things that look like good additons. Like you said get training and learn to use whats in kit 
Not a fan of the powdered quick stop products. Look for numerous reports on them causing complications.
First : I think you are much better off with Hemostatic Gauze, Find a “Stop The Bleed” seminar, it is usually free and will really open your eyes on blood loss control.
Second: get a COMBAT APPLICATION TOURNIQUET (C-A-T). Easy to use (even one handed if need be).
Third: get a SAMs Splint. This is such a utilitarian tool for stabilizing so many injuries.
Fourth: get a mouth shield for mask for CPR. They work, and will mitigate any reservations you have about CPR
Fifth: Get a commercial sucking wound dressing and learn how to use it as well as how to improvise one.
Finally, check the inventory on most quality first aid kits and duplicate for use on everyday type injuries.
Misc. that may not be in commercial kit. Trauma sheers, Duct tape, Triangle slings, Nitrile Gloves (multiple pairs),
Antiseptic Towelettes,
Final tip if you include medications for yourself, make sure they are fresh (some meds have a relatively short shelf life). If treating others, be damned sure they have no allergies or tolerance issues (best advice just don’t).
Yeah, I study the work ability of products. Yeah allegies and such can be grave issues. My HH6 is my Med go to as she is in the Med field. I do wonder how many have stuff and are not practiced in the use of them
What glenn34 says. If you have those items you are way ahead of most people. Build from what he says. Great post.
You folks seem to know a lot more about this than I do. What would you suggest, for a small portable IFAK? As in small enough to carry on a Molle vest, just the very basic stuff for say a gunshot? Tourniquet, clotting bandage, …?
Scenario might be a gunshot wound, and EMT could be 20 to 40 mins away. And keep in mind, small, portable, and for the layperson. I realize that is not good odds, but, what is the minimum? Also assuming a larger pack could be carried in a car.
That said, I would be interested in some first aid trauma classes also.
Edit: @Glenn34 has good info. C-A-T ordered.
@Fred_G I do a lot of business with doom and bloom. ![]()
I would carry (and do daily, either in an ankle kit or cargo pockets) a tq that is tccc approved (cat gen 7 or soft-t wide) , z fold gauze, a vented chest seal (Hyfin or halo), a pressure dressing (Israeli bandage) and nitrile gloves. In lieu of trauma shears I carry the little seat belt cutter from bench made-it works well on clothes and boots. You can also add Celox or quick clot gauze. Tape is always handy-some sort of wide medical tape is great.
The biggest thing is get training. I took the emt classes because I live in the boonies and have a bunch of kids and I wanted to be able to stabilize anybody who needs help out here. Thus I also carry an npa (manual airway that goes through the nose and can keep someone able to breathe).
In my car med kit I also carry more trauma stuff (like above), a Sam splint, ace bandages, instant cold packs, triangle bandages, glucose tablets, many different gauze pads, a stethoscope, bp cuff, pulse oximeter, blood glucometer, water (loads of it-I live in south Texas) and a pretty solid booboo kit.
You know what gets used the most? Instant cold packs and booboo kit.