Characteristics and Components of the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)

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The Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)
Created By SSG Adrian Herzberger
10 FEB 07
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Facts

• For every 10 Soldiers who die from battle
  injuries, nine never make it to a field hospital.
  Statistics reveal these nine Soldiers either
  bleed or choke to death from lack of immediate
  care.
• About 50 percent of those who die on the
  battlefield bleed to death in minutes before they
  can be evacuated to an aid station.
• Army leaders have realized the need for immediate
  care and are demanding new training for all
  Soldiers as the first to provide immediate
  life-saving aid to buddies.
• The IFAK increases individual Soldier
  capabilities to provide Self-Aid/Buddy-Aid and
  provides interventions for two leading causes of
  death on the battlefield, severe hemorrhage and
  inadequate airway. These capabilities increase
  Soldier survivability during dispersed operations
  and the expandable pouch allows for METT-C
  specific add-ins.

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IFAK System Description Introduction

• Modular to MOLLE FLC, IBA, and ALICE
• Increases Soldier survivability by improving
  capabilities to provide Self-Aid / Buddy-Aid
  (SABA), especially during disbursed operations
• Provides the Soldier SABA interventions for the
  two leading causes of death on the battlefield
  extremity hemorrhage and airway compromise
• Requires training in the principles of Tactical
  Combat Casualty Care (TC3) to attain maximum
  effectiveness

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IFAK Overview
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Components of the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)

1. Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)
2. Exam gloves (4)
3. 2-inch surgical tape
4. Trauma dressing
5. Kerlix
6. Combat application tourniquet (CAT)
7. Modular lightweight load-carrying equipment pouch
   with retaining lanyard

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Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA)

• Maintain airway
• The nasopharyngeal airway, also known as
  trumpets, is inserted through one nostril to
  create an air passage between the nose and the
  upper part of the nasal passages

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Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA)Continued
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Exam Gloves

• Reliable barrier protection against infection and
  contamination from bodily fluids (i.e. blood)

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2 Surgical Tape

• Also known as medical tape
• Pressure-sensitive adhesive tape used as a
  bandage to hold a dressing onto a wound.
• Surgical tape is white because it contains zinc
  oxide, which is added to help prevent infections

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Trauma Dressing

• Also known as Israeli Trauma Dressing
• Bleeding/Hemorrhage Control

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Trauma DressingContinued

• Nine Steps to Apply the Israeli Bandage Properly
• Remove the emergency trauma bandage package from
  the casualty's kit
• Remove the bandage from the pouch
• Place the pad (dressing) on the wound
• Wrap the elastic bandage around the wounded
  extremity
• Insert the elastic bandage completely into the
  pressure bar
• Pull the elastic bandage back over the top of the
  pressure bar, forcing the bar down onto the pad
• Wrap the elastic bandage tightly over the
  pressure bar
• Continue to wrap the elastic bandage around the
  limb so that all edges of the pad are covered
• Secure the hooking end of the closing bar into
  the elastic bandage to secure the bandage

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Kerlix

• Hemorrhage Control
• Gauze roll
• Absorbent Material
• Sterile, safe, and helps control bacterial growth
  in moist and dry wounds

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Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT)
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Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT)

• One Handed Use
• Hemorrhage Control
• Use on arterial and venous blood
• For Moderate to Severe Bleeding only
• For use on Extremities only

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Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment Pouch
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QUESTIONS?