hal_5555
04-27-13, 23:22
Ok, I dont post much but I have been reading a lot of "rate my IFAK" and "what should I have in my IFAK" threads that keep getting rehashed. Some of this info is awesome and some is very wrong or just dumb.
I will keep this short and simple but there are tons of information that is free and can directly translate into your IFAK and training. Don’t forget the "training" that is most important. There are several places that do this and do it well, check them out and learn!
Dark Angel Medical (http://www.darkangelmedical.com/Training.html)
Lone Star Medics (http://lonestarmedics.com/)
One of the best resources for what most gun people can use is the Army's Tactical Combat Casualty Care. It is doctrine and is not "dogma". Med information in this applies to ballistic trauma and not your general blunt force trauma (Car accidents, etc.). You want that, go elsewhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/HAL_5555/57.jpeg
Tactical Combat Casualty Care (http://www.health.mil/Education_And_Training/TCCC.aspx)
That is the link to the main page with a huge amount of info.
What it boils down to is that there should be different levels of dealing with injuries. These levels are (as I have been taught): Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care and Tactical Evacuation. In these levels one must understand that some injuries are not fixable and exposing yourself to that fire just takes one more out of the fight. If you are the one injured try and get cover and take care of you. Return fire if possible.
The best medicine in a gunfight is a superior firepower.
TCCC Guidelines (http://www.health.mil/Libraries/120917_TCCC_Course_Materials/TCCC-Guidelines-120917.pdf)
These are the note sheets for tasks that you should be familiar with for you and IFAK. Knowing these tasks is the difference between having a nice kit that does nothing to saving a life that may be your own.
An IFAK does not need to contain everything a surgeon’s office has. A great down and dirty kit that will handle the main causes for life-loss in a fight (Hemorrhage from extremity wounds, Tension pneumothorax, and Airway problems) are the following items:
-Oales 6" bandage or Izzy
-CAT Tourniquet
-S Gauze/Combat Gauze
-Decompression catheter 14gaX3.25"
-Nasal Airway sixe 28 with lubricant
-Petrolatum Gauze 3"x9"
-Combat medic tape/small roll of duct tape
-EMS Shears or I prefer a webbing cutter/strap cutter
-Mini Sharpie marker
-Med gloves
-Alcohol wipe/Iodine wipe
With these things you can rock and roll. If you want to add some HALO chest seals and extra dressings that’s cool, but the above is a good kit.
I carry two tourniquets on my gear and always at least one in my EDC. (think Boston there is relevance). There are some great kits already out there for both your kit and EDC.
Austere Provisions Company (http://www.austereprovisions.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=4)
Warrior Wound Care (http://www.warriorwoundcare.com/trauma-and-med-kits/)
ITS Tactical Medical (http://www.itstactical.com/store/?c=medical)
Try not to get caught up with the minutiae. I have heard “make sure to size your NPA to you” or “pre fab chest seals are the best” or “don’t ever do a chest decompression because you will get sued”. This is a sheep’s thought pattern. Why carry a kit at all if you are worried you are going to get sued if you use it. Displace the noise with common sense and carry what you need to carry to possibly save a life. You know what size NPA someone will stick in your nose at the ER? The same ****ing size as the next guy. If you treated someone for an open chest wound and you now think that they are suffering from tension pnemothorax then why would you not stick them to save their life? The point is to learn your tools and be more confident with them. With simple training you will know where to stick the needle. Will you be a super ninja combat medic? NOPE. But you will have an understanding and will to make a difference. Its all part of the Warrior Mindset.
Hope these tools help get you started.
Thanks to Doc S and the Health.mil for helping me with this. If you ever stop learning then its time to go.
I will keep this short and simple but there are tons of information that is free and can directly translate into your IFAK and training. Don’t forget the "training" that is most important. There are several places that do this and do it well, check them out and learn!
Dark Angel Medical (http://www.darkangelmedical.com/Training.html)
Lone Star Medics (http://lonestarmedics.com/)
One of the best resources for what most gun people can use is the Army's Tactical Combat Casualty Care. It is doctrine and is not "dogma". Med information in this applies to ballistic trauma and not your general blunt force trauma (Car accidents, etc.). You want that, go elsewhere.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/HAL_5555/57.jpeg
Tactical Combat Casualty Care (http://www.health.mil/Education_And_Training/TCCC.aspx)
That is the link to the main page with a huge amount of info.
What it boils down to is that there should be different levels of dealing with injuries. These levels are (as I have been taught): Care Under Fire, Tactical Field Care and Tactical Evacuation. In these levels one must understand that some injuries are not fixable and exposing yourself to that fire just takes one more out of the fight. If you are the one injured try and get cover and take care of you. Return fire if possible.
The best medicine in a gunfight is a superior firepower.
TCCC Guidelines (http://www.health.mil/Libraries/120917_TCCC_Course_Materials/TCCC-Guidelines-120917.pdf)
These are the note sheets for tasks that you should be familiar with for you and IFAK. Knowing these tasks is the difference between having a nice kit that does nothing to saving a life that may be your own.
An IFAK does not need to contain everything a surgeon’s office has. A great down and dirty kit that will handle the main causes for life-loss in a fight (Hemorrhage from extremity wounds, Tension pneumothorax, and Airway problems) are the following items:
-Oales 6" bandage or Izzy
-CAT Tourniquet
-S Gauze/Combat Gauze
-Decompression catheter 14gaX3.25"
-Nasal Airway sixe 28 with lubricant
-Petrolatum Gauze 3"x9"
-Combat medic tape/small roll of duct tape
-EMS Shears or I prefer a webbing cutter/strap cutter
-Mini Sharpie marker
-Med gloves
-Alcohol wipe/Iodine wipe
With these things you can rock and roll. If you want to add some HALO chest seals and extra dressings that’s cool, but the above is a good kit.
I carry two tourniquets on my gear and always at least one in my EDC. (think Boston there is relevance). There are some great kits already out there for both your kit and EDC.
Austere Provisions Company (http://www.austereprovisions.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=4)
Warrior Wound Care (http://www.warriorwoundcare.com/trauma-and-med-kits/)
ITS Tactical Medical (http://www.itstactical.com/store/?c=medical)
Try not to get caught up with the minutiae. I have heard “make sure to size your NPA to you” or “pre fab chest seals are the best” or “don’t ever do a chest decompression because you will get sued”. This is a sheep’s thought pattern. Why carry a kit at all if you are worried you are going to get sued if you use it. Displace the noise with common sense and carry what you need to carry to possibly save a life. You know what size NPA someone will stick in your nose at the ER? The same ****ing size as the next guy. If you treated someone for an open chest wound and you now think that they are suffering from tension pnemothorax then why would you not stick them to save their life? The point is to learn your tools and be more confident with them. With simple training you will know where to stick the needle. Will you be a super ninja combat medic? NOPE. But you will have an understanding and will to make a difference. Its all part of the Warrior Mindset.
Hope these tools help get you started.
Thanks to Doc S and the Health.mil for helping me with this. If you ever stop learning then its time to go.