View Full Version : Small MOLLE First Aid Kit
I'm looking for a small MOLLE first aid pouch - something that could handle the basics of a IFAK/BOK (Tourniquet, Quik-Clot, etc) and not take up too much MOLLE real estate (preferably no more than two rows wide - a limitation of my rig). Any suggestions?
I like the USGI IFAK pouch... simple and cheap
https://www.entrygear.com/productimages/TA%20Army%20Improved%20IFAK.jpg
on TOS there's a tacked thread about medic pouches. Take a look at it also ;)
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=10&t=247358
Thanks - that might work. How wide is the IFAK pouch MOLLE-wise?
I use a PPM medical/utility for my meager "accident at the range/had a boo boo" which is three columns wide. No internal pockets or retaining straps though.
http://www.optactical.com/mffipo.html
I really like the look of the SOTech compact med kit that's only two columns wide. Although, it's a bit pricey really.
http://www.skdtac.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1320
For a pouch that takes up minimal MOLLE real estate I would recommend the HSGI Bleeder/Blowout pouch. Gene developed it at the request of a Navy corpsman if I remember correctly.
I have a tourniquet, Traumadex and an Israeli bandage in mine. There's a slot in the back for stowing EMT shears. It's a tight squeeze. It only takes up two columns of MOLLE webbing.
Like most things in life, there are trade offs. A smaller footprint means less capacity.
Fireguy275
11-27-08, 00:08
LMS Defense Outfitters med pouch, about the footprint of an M4 mag pouch
http://www.inetlocate.com/viewsalescartB2.asp?H3845=11139&5539=23893&912JH=38&36&728MM
http://www.inetlocate.com/inetlocate_upload/11139/medblk.jpg
Thanks - that might work. How wide is the IFAK pouch MOLLE-wise?
about 5'' wide, 7'' tall and 2.5'' deep
uscbigdawg
11-27-08, 08:10
Tactical Tailor has a super nice one with a MOLLE panel and the pouch velcros to it. Nice for tearing it away to hand off to someone and it will not come off your gear.
On a side note, go with Celox instead of Quick Clot. Works just as well without the burn side effects...and it's WAY cheaper. Yeah...I've used both in Iraq and Afghanistan and Celox is better.
Rich
Army Flight Medic
For a pouch that takes up minimal MOLLE real estate I would recommend the HSGI Bleeder/Blowout pouch. Gene developed it at the request of a Navy corpsman if I remember correctly.
... There's a slot in the back for stowing EMT shears. It's a tight squeeze. It only takes up two columns of MOLLE webbing.
Like most things in life, there are trade offs. A smaller footprint means less capacity.
...
On a side note, go with Celox instead of Quick Clot. Works just as well without the burn side effects...and it's WAY cheaper.
...Celox is better.
Rich
Army Flight Medic
+1 to both of the above. Also on the EMT shears (if you decide to carry some-BTW a good idea IMO), check out these:
http://www.narescue.com/liNAR-Trauma-Shearsli-C192.aspx
Failure2Stop
11-27-08, 14:04
The ATS Tactical Small Medical Pouch (http://www.atstacticalgear.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=ST-5320) is superb. It is small enough to have a reduced footprint, as well as being easily removed from the armor by the user. Traditional fixed med pouches suck when the user needs to access it, or when trying to get to the injured guy's med-pouch contents without moving him around a bunch- which is a big issue with many common battlefield injuries.
I like the ATS small on my back, accessible with my left hand. I also have an HSGI Bleeder pouch (as brougth up by stony275) on the front of my armor, accessable with either hand. I just have a tourniquet and a pair of shears in it to keep it as low profile as possible. The ATS stores the rest of my crap.
Also on the EMT shears (if you decide to carry some-BTW a good idea IMO), check out these:
http://www.narescue.com/liNAR-Trauma-Shearsli-C192.aspx
Which do you recommend- the 7.25 or the 5.5?
I bought the 7.5, but I'd have been happy with either.
telecustom
11-27-08, 20:54
I run the 5.5 on my kit and the 7.25 in the Zombie bag.
Failure2Stop
11-28-08, 13:03
No. 6, telecustom- Cheers.
OP- apologies for the hijack.
Being a "hobby shooter", how necessary would you gauge something like this to be? My shooting is matches and classes, where we have kits like this on site for general use and within close proximity. I figure my chances of grabbing a rifle and donning chest-rig and/or plates to be about nill.
Is there a real need for someone in my situation to get a personal kit like this and keep it on me? Good enough to rely on the known kits, or buy a larger off-body kit for classes and matches?
Sorry for the hijack.
Skintop911
11-28-08, 17:32
Being a "hobby shooter", how necessary would you gauge something like this to be? My shooting is matches and classes, where we have kits like this on site for general use and within close proximity. I figure my chances of grabbing a rifle and donning chest-rig and/or plates to be about nill. Is there a real need for someone in my situation to get a personal kit like this and keep it on me? Good enough to rely on the known kits, or buy a larger off-body kit for classes and matches? Sorry for the hijack.
Rob- I believe every shooter should have his own IFAK/BOK and know how to use the things in it. If it isn't on you, it should be in really close proximity.
I don't rely upon others for life support gear of any type, and unless I've stocked and maintained the kits on site, I wouldn't rely upon them.
There are a bunch of great threads at LF, and a couple here IIRC, on good IFAKs and BOKs.
Rob- I believe every shooter should have his own IFAK/BOK and know how to use the things in it. If it isn't on you, it should be in really close proximity.
I don't rely upon others for life support gear of any type, and unless I've stocked and maintained the kits on site, I wouldn't rely upon them.
Excellent point. I sent out an email to a local SWAT medic/firefighter that I'm friends with to ask his take on base kit and some guidance on usage.
telecustom
11-28-08, 19:06
I also keep a spare IFAK in my car....just in case.
Thanks for the replies and suggestions. The HSGI Bleeder seems well regarded - I'll be looking into it further. I also like the clamshell packs like the LMS and the ESSTAC Mini-Med. I currently have an Eagle Med Pouch - it is a large clamshell that I really like, but is just too big and bulky.
Just placed an order for the NAR shears - thanks for the advice. I'll be looking into Celox as well.
I also appreciate the discussion. My goal is not to re-create the 'EMT tackle box' on my rig, but to have a few essentials for immediate treatment of myself or a comrade. A more complete kit on site or in a vehicle is a natural progression.
What kind of tourniquet would fit in the HSGI Bleeder/Blowout pouch? The ones I've seen look like they'd take up all of the room in the pouch, leaving me no room for an Israeli bandage and anti-bleeding something-or-another (QuikClot or Celox-D).
-B
What kind of tourniquet would fit in the HSGI Bleeder/Blowout pouch? The ones I've seen look like they'd take up all of the room in the pouch, leaving me no room for an Israeli bandage and anti-bleeding something-or-another (QuikClot or Celox-D).
-B
I'm not qualified to speak to the implementation, and certainly not to the quality, but Cavarms (http://www.cavalryarms.com/medical/MISC.html) sells a tourniquet that looks to be rather compact.
Maybe someone can tell us about it?
I've been considering one of their kits that has this tourniquet included.
http://www.cavalryarms.com/medical/cav.jpg
Fireguy275
11-29-08, 18:09
I have used the CAT in real life and trained with the SOFTT, and both may be a little large for some personal kits.
I am ordering some SWAT tq's to try. They appear to be effective and take up less space. Here is a photo from their website (www.swattourniquet.com)
http://swattourniquet.com/ski2.JPG
I'm a medic in the army and I would only use a CAT (SOFTT is also nice). I have used them on many a goat and combat casualties and there is no substitute. As for Celox its a great product although I have never used it in combat I have used it in lanes and it preformed great.
For the pouch this is what I use:
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk221/bensimp/Photo_113008_001.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk221/bensimp/Photo_113008_004.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk221/bensimp/Photo_113008_003.jpg
It caries my airway kit and you could fit more. I combine this with my drop leg and I can treat just about anything.
The NAR leg rig
http://www.narescue.com/Products/ProductImages/80-0009a.jpg
Time to resurrect this.
Right now, I'm thinking for my purposes (I'm neither LEO or .mil, but I shoot enough that it's prudent to keep a kit like this on or immediately near me), something like the following would look suitable:
(1) Asherman Chest Seal or Hyfin Chest Seal
(1) Celox-D
(1) Cinch Tight Combat Dressing or Israeli Bandage
(1) NAR 5.5" Trauma Shears
(1) Pair of Nitrile gloves
(1) Tourniquet (TK-4 if in bag, CAT if out of bag)
None of this looks like it'll take up a whole lot of room. The ACS/HCS, Celox-D, and TK-4 are all pretty flat, and the gloves don't take up much room. The trauma shears could be snapped/strapped to the outside, as could a larger tourniquet (like the CAT). No idea how much space a Cinch Tight or Israeli bandage takes up.
Would I be on the right track with creating a list of what I'd need first, then finding the pouch that best fits it? I was thinking the HSGI pouch, but... need more experienced opinions on how much room the above stuff takes up first. ;)
-B
i have a eagle med. pouch, i think its 5"x7" i think i have a good list of what i want to put in it. any new suggestions of items that i might need?
1 QuikClot™ ACS™+ single dose
1 BDU Pocket Pouch (6"H x 4"W x 1"D)
1 EMT shears
1 Asherman chest seal
2 Pairs of nitrile gloves
1 Blood stopper
1 Vaseline gauze (3" x 9")
1 Co-Flex (2" x 5 yds)
2 ABD Combine pads (5" x 9")
10 Gauze pads (4" x 4", 12 ply)
2 Sani-Dex hand wipes
1 Tourniquet
Would I be on the right track with creating a list of what I'd need first, then finding the pouch that best fits it? I was thinking the HSGI pouch, but... need more experienced opinions on how much room the above stuff takes up first. ;)
-B
I picked up the HSGI pouch and I'm still trying it out. The HSGI pouch is a compromise - it is small so it doesn't take up a large footprint on your rig - but it also doesn't hold much. Since it loads from the top vice a clam shell design, it isn't the easiest pouch to extract just what you want.
I have a cinch-tight and a CAT in mine, along with gloves and the NAR shears, and that's about all I can get in there. I'd like to add a hemostat - perhaps a small celox package - but it's going to have to be on the really small side.
I look at the HSGI as carrying the bare essentials for self/buddy aid, but a more comprehensive kit in the bail out bag or vehicle should be nearby.
The Eagle kit can carry much more, but it is also larger. I also tried out the LMS pouch - its like a junior sized version of the Eagle kit. The HSGI pouch has a smaller profile, so I stuck with it, and I'm not crazy about the LMS pouch's mounting system. But it bears looking at. YMMV.
...
I look at the HSGI as carrying the bare essentials for self/buddy aid, but a more comprehensive kit in the bail out bag or vehicle should be nearby.
....
Exactly. I'm set up the same way. Just trying to have what is immediate somewhat covered and the rest just a sprint away.
I don't mean to resurrect a dead thread but I wanted to give my .02 on the choice of kit to fill the bag. I wouldn't worry about an asherman or a hyfen. Put a soft-t in there, a roll of 3 inch tape, some combat gauze, and an NPA. if you need anything other than that, there better be some help on the way anyway. The combat gauze decimates all competition as far as a hemostatic agent goes, being that it is easier to use than any powder and actually stops bleeding unlike hemcon. the packaging from the gauze can be used as an occlusive dressing in a pinch, then give them an NPA to hold the airway open. all this will fit in a very small pouch like the hsgi bleeder, with a pair of shears. I have been using this combo for several months, in theatre, and it has worked for me.
dyegator, I appreciate your feedback. Thank you.
Has anyone played with the ATS Small Medical Pouch (http://www.militarymorons.com/equipment/emerg.html) or Emdom BOMB (http://www.milspecmonkey.com/emdom.html)? They look like they're about the same height and depth as the HSGI pouch, but are a little bit wider (by an inch to two inches). Both of them also look like they are a little more internally organized and easier to get into, and look like they can actually fit the items I listed earlier. The one to two inch width shouldn't take up too much room, should it?
-B
I'm a little late to the thread, but did anyone get a chance to check out BlueForceGear's new trauma kit at SHOT? Ashley and Stephen both demo'd it for us and I have to say it's quite a slick little setup. Plus they offer filler kits as well (though I don't see it on their site).
Link to BFG site (http://www.blueforcegear.com/product.cfm?type=cat&cat_id=6&prod_id=119)
FWIW....
I'm actually getting together with a local firefighter/SWAT medic (and member here) this weekend to go over both IFAK and larger whole-range bags. We had a chance to chat about it a bit at SHOT.
One of the things we're looking to do is get a kit that will fit in an AR mag pouch. We're probably going to have to use a double, but we're going to see what we can do with a vacuum sealer and a bare essentials kit for an IFAK.
My goal is to lay out what he says we need and then start to look at how we can arrange it into the size/shape we need. Should be interesting.
I think that some people lose sight of their role in planning for these things. If you're looking for an all out end-of-the-world kit then I'd look harder at one of the full on military level kits, but for most of us what we're talking about is having the skills and the tools to hold on for 30 minutes or so until a fully equipment ambulance is on scene, or possibly even for that ambulance to have you to a fully staffed medical facility.
I'm a little late to the thread, but did anyone get a chance to check out BlueForceGear's new trauma kit at SHOT? Ashley and Stephen both demo'd it for us and I have to say it's quite a slick little setup. Plus they offer filler kits as well (though I don't see it on their site).
Link to BFG site (http://www.blueforcegear.com/product.cfm?type=cat&cat_id=6&prod_id=119)
Yep, awesome kit! It's the genesis for a lot of what I'm looking to do, and may be lucky enough to con them into making something sized more to my liking/needs.
militarymoron
01-22-09, 12:17
One of the things we're looking to do is get a kit that will fit in an AR mag pouch. We're probably going to have to use a double, but we're going to see what we can do with a vacuum sealer and a bare essentials kit for an IFAK.
something like that has been on the market for a couple of years:
http://www.militarymorons.com/equipment/emerg.html#tpack
it's a single-use trauma pack that's been vacuum sealed. there are different ones to choose from, but they're all very compact. you can fit one of these in a suit jacket chest pocket as it's very flat. it'll fit in a double M4 mag pouch.
Yep, awesome kit! It's the genesis for a lot of what I'm looking to do, and may be lucky enough to con them into making something sized more to my liking/needs.
Same setup in a slightly smaller package, and you can definitely put me down for one. The current version is pretty compact, though. I'll probably end up with one myself soon (I was stupid not to order one at the show but I was too busy paying for all the damn cab fare :p).
something like that has been on the market for a couple of years:
http://www.militarymorons.com/equipment/emerg.html#tpack
it's a single-use trauma pack that's been vacuum sealed. there are different ones to choose from, but they're all very compact. you can fit one of these in a suit jacket chest pocket as it's very flat. it'll fit in a double M4 mag pouch.
Yep, we talked to a company called ResQ-Pak (or similar) at the show. However, for one thing their labor costs are huge. Being able to vacuum pack them ourselves will save considerably in this regard. In talking with my medic friend, they may as much as double, or even more, the actual cost of the components themselves by packaging them that way.
For another thing, they're unable to focus on a specific user's need, which again we will be able to do by assembling the parts ourselves. Their general approach also prohibits them from being user-specific to work within a given system, and we're looking at this globally in terms of our home range, the events we host, etc. and tailoring the IFAK and larger range kit to compliment each other.
Same setup in a slightly smaller package, and you can definitely put me down for one. The current version is pretty compact, though. I'll probably end up with one myself soon (I was stupid not to order one at the show but I was too busy paying for all the damn cab fare :p).
Slimming down the package definitely means losing some functionality, and I don't think it would be applicable to s soldier-borne IFAK, but for our customized purposes and with the ability to carry some parts of the kit (like the tourniquet and/or scissors) outside the pack, we may gain some flexibility.
We're not looking to market anything, or rip off anyone else's ideas for a profit. We're just looking to generate a tailor-made system for our events at a given known location, and we can hopefully construct them in such a way that they can be expanded upon for events outside the given.
This is all about knowing my lane and my role, and tailoring a system and equipment accordingly.
Do any of you guy's that have a HSGI Bleeder pouch think that a Quickclot ACS, and a 6" Isreali Bandage would fit in it? I am consdering ordering one but would like to get a idea on what It can hold first.
shooter521
03-23-09, 15:58
Do any of you guy's that have a HSGI Bleeder pouch think that a Quickclot ACS, and a 6" Isreali Bandage would fit in it? I am consdering ordering one but would like to get a idea on what It can hold first.
I had one of those for a minute; it's tiny - pretty much the size of a single M4 mag pouch. I could cram a 6" IBD, needle cath, NPA and a couple other tall/thin doodads (Sharpie, penlight) in there, and that's it. It's a purpose-designed product, but within that purpose it is very well executed. Being that I wanted to carry a little more of a general purpose kit, I returned it from whence I bought it.
Thanks for the first hand advise Shooter, and everyone else that has posted about what they have fitted in one of these pouches. I have a dropleg pistol holster with 2-3 rows of MOLLE webbing on either side and I want a small IFAK pouch that will fit on it so it always be with me while hiking, training etc. I'll have a much larger and complex kit in my backpack. I think I'm going to go ahead and get one of these, I'll post back with what I can manage to get in it. Once again thanks for the help guy's.
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