View Full Version : Army Fielding New IFAK
coastwatcher42
12-23-13, 21:29
The Army has begun fielding a new IFAK which looks to be a significant improvement on the old ones.
http://kitup.military.com/2013/12/army-fields-new-first-aid-kit.html#more-27138
Well the good side for me is there should be plenty of the "old" kits available for sale now.;)
coastwatcher42
12-23-13, 21:52
Well the good side for me is there should be plenty of the "old" kits available for sale now.;)
I wonder how long it will be before "wayward" new versions begin popping up on eBay.
K.L. Davis
01-10-14, 17:53
I've been able to get hands on several versions of the new Flat IFAK kits over the past couple of years... they are (imho) a very solid design idea. Here is one I reviewed a little while back:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152292655788327
And thank you frorthe review, well done.
Eye shield... brilliant. Why didn't we think of this sooner? Eye trauma is not well covered in most TCCC. Seems like a simple addition current IFAKs.
I used one of these when they first came out. Great design and well thought out. I still have some issues with the packing list but it is an improvement to the way that it is carried.
I've been playing with the one I drew from RFI last month.
Definitely a step forward and I'm glad it was issued. (as was the Ops Core H-Nape)
I'm deploying soon, so I'll wait to give my opinion of its performance until I get back.
I still have some issues with the packing list but it is an improvement to the way that it is carried.
Could you expand on this? What would you prefer?
I am just not sold on the packing list. I make sure that there are a minimum of 2 chest seals. This is because I usually have to use at least 2 on everyone that I have had to put a chest seal on. I also think that for the regular Joe out there there does not need to have any gauze in there. Put bandages in it them and a package of Combat Gauze. I am not sure what the Big Army teaches for TCCC but I would also have a 14 gauge in there for decompression. It is a very simple treatment that can make all of the difference in the world.
14ga is in the issued IFAK. Tension pneumothorax treatment is taught in all CLS and you are absolutely right about NCD.
Combat gauze is issued in theater for Big Army and in my last unit we all carried 2 per IFAK. Our medics worked a drug deal and got us extras for use in Squad EMT bags. I was able to carry enough to pack a wound on every limb of an entire Fire Team.
I'd like to see a forcewide adoption of the SOFT-T in lieu of the CAT, but it will never happen. The issued tourniquet pouches are a great addition in that it keeps our CATs mounted where we can reach them quickly without exposing them to UV. We still need to rotate CATs out of service every few months, but supply and budget issues make that pretty much impossible outside of SOF.
The new IFAK looks great so far. So long as we can top off on the supplies we really need, I think it's a hell of an addition to the kit we draw from RFI.
I am just not sold on the packing list.
I make sure that there are a minimum of 2 chest seals. This is because I usually have to use at least 2 on everyone that I have had to put a chest seal on.
Is this due to entrance and exit wounds, or multiple entrance wounds? How do you position the patient once both seals are on? Does air escape both seals or are you simply need to apply an occlusive to the wound?
I also think that for the regular Joe out there there does not need to have any gauze in there.
You don't think Joe will pack a wound? Or, has no business packing wounds?
Put bandages in it them and a package of Combat Gauze.
When you say 'bandage' do you mean one of the many flavors of pressure dressings?
I am not sure what the Big Army teaches for TCCC but I would also have a 14 gauge in there for decompression.
Big Army teaches it only to Combat Lifesavers. SOF units teach it to everyone. Units I have been in like you to have 2 (NARP in hard case).
Is this due to entrance and exit wounds, or multiple entrance wounds? How do you position the patient once both seals are on? Does air escape both seals or are you simply need to apply an occlusive to the wound?
It is a combination of both. Not so much exit wounds with body amour as much as everyone we are shooting at these days only shoot on Auto using the "spray and Pray" method. Most of the people I have seen hit get a couple rounds. I am very conservative and from the chin to the navel I treat as a part of the chest. I use a lot of them.
You don't think Joe will pack a wound? Or, has no business packing wounds?
I am a big fan of keeping it simple. Most people do not practice it enough to be good at it. It is faster and there is less a chance to mess it up if you keep it simple and just stick to a TQ and a Dressing. If places wrong, packing a wound can keep it open and actually cause more bleeding.
When you say 'bandage' do you mean one of the many flavors of pressure dressings?
Yes, I am not a huge fan of any of them but I also do not dislike any of them. They are all about the same. I just wish that they were smaller. I do not use them. I stick with Kerlix and Ace Wraps only. I can pack the down into a small package and I have never had any issues getting hemorrhage control.
Big Army teaches it only to Combat Lifesavers. SOF units teach it to everyone. Units I have been in like you to have 2 (NARP in hard case).
OK, I have not worked with them in some time. I too make sure that my guys have at least 2 in their IFAK.
Does that answer all of your questions?
Thanks. Great food for thought. It has me rethinking a few things in my own kit. The problem with IFAKs is you are sort of dependant on the knowledge of the guy giving you buddy aid.
The problem with IFAKs is you are sort of dependant on the knowledge of the guy giving you buddy aid.
That is it in a nut-shell.....that is why i loose sleep at night wondering if I trained my guys as good as I could.....:dirol:
I wonder how long it will be before "wayward" new versions begin popping up on eBay.
Ill be patiently waiting...whats the deal with the generic sounding chest seal, did the Army try redesign the wheel and go generic or are we getting bolins in here?
Big Army teaches it only to Combat Lifesavers. SOF units teach it to everyone. Units I have been in like you to have 2 (NARP in hard case).
Granted my last deployment was in 2006-07', but it was a battalion requirement to have every deploying soldier through CLS before we left Schofield Barracks. I cant imagine why units today wouldn't follow this same practice.
Granted my last deployment was in 2006-07', but it was a battalion requirement to have every deploying soldier through CLS before we left Schofield Barracks. I cant imagine why units today wouldn't follow this same practice.
That generally tends to be the current standard.
Ill be patiently waiting...whats the deal with the generic sounding chest seal, did the Army try redesign the wheel and go generic or are we getting bolins in here?
I'm fairly confident it's the Hyfin Extreme, but I may be wrong. I'll be back at Bragg either tomorrow night or Wednesday morning and will inventory the "as issued" IFAK and post it here.
Does that answer all of your questions?
Which chest seal is issued in the kit?
Is the HALO an approved item? I find it a very good solution, as it comes with two large seals in each kit. You can either apply them both as they are, or cut one down to size if that is all that is needed.
I was also taught the same thing re "chin to navel" wounds treated as part of Breathing/Respiration (depending on which model you use).
Re NDC procedure, do you leave the catheter in, or discard it once pressure is relieved? The technique we are taught (Advanced medic) is to fill up a 5ml syringe with saline, remove the plunger and attach the syringe to the needle part of catheter. Insert needle, preferably midaxillary line, and get visible cue wether or not decompression was successful when saline starts bubbling. A lot easier to determine success than to rely on audible cue. Midaxillary is the preferred spot, as midclavicular has a higher "risk" of being unsuccessful, ie not puncturing deep enough on muscular pts.
Which chest seal is issued in the kit?
Is the HALO an approved item? I find it a very good solution, as it comes with two large seals in each kit. You can either apply them both as they are, or cut one down to size if that is all that is needed.
I was also taught the same thing re "chin to navel" wounds treated as part of Breathing/Respiration (depending on which model you use).
Re NDC procedure, do you leave the catheter in, or discard it once pressure is relieved? The technique we are taught (Advanced medic) is to fill up a 5ml syringe with saline, remove the plunger and attach the syringe to the needle part of catheter. Insert needle, preferably midaxillary line, and get visible cue wether or not decompression was successful when saline starts bubbling. A lot easier to determine success than to rely on audible cue. Midaxillary is the preferred spot, as midclavicular has a higher "risk" of being unsuccessful, ie not puncturing deep enough on muscular pts.
The HALO is in our inventory, at least it is in SOF. As for what is in the issued IFAK, I am not sure.
I never leave the catheter in. It is just easier to do another one if need be. The likelihood of the catheter becoming obstructed is very high. Most likely from blood clotting. That is a technique to use a 5ml syringe. What ever works for you. Just remember that you are graded on results and not style when trying to save a life.
The HALO is in our inventory, at least it is in SOF. As for what is in the issued IFAK, I am not sure.
I never leave the catheter in. It is just easier to do another one if need be. The likelihood of the catheter becoming obstructed is very high. Most likely from blood clotting. That is a technique to use a 5ml syringe. What ever works for you. Just remember that you are graded on results and not style when trying to save a life.
Yeah, agreed. I also remove the needle after successful decompression. Like you say, easier to just another one.
The HALO is what we started being issued in 2012.
The technique with the syringe and saline was taught to me by an 18D, FWIW, so not trying to score style points :p
The purpose behind the technique is to get better feedback on whether the intervention was successful or not, than just relying on an audible release of air.
Thanks for your feedback above. I've only ever decompressed in an ER setting, so we leave the catheter in until chest tube is inserted, then remove.
I like that idea, Arctic1. I've only ever NCD'd an ANA Soldier (I'm only an NREMT-B, not a 68W) and relying on an audible reaction is great in theory, but not so much in reality. I'll talk to our Company senior medic about it whenever the Army decides to stop having a snow day.
As for the IFAK, I just took pics of the contents and the layout of the pouch. It is in fact Bolin chest seals, not the Hyfin X. My old IFAK has the Hyfin and this is the first real time I've taken the IFAK II apart and checked it out.
I don't like how the chest seal is inside of its own pocket on the body of the pouch itself. You can only access that pocket from the rear (as worn), so if a Soldier mounts the pouch normally and is receiving care while on his back, you would have to roll him around to get to the casualty card and chest seal. The pouch can be removed quickly from the body by a velcro pull-tab on both sides.
Anyway, pics:
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/073387C3-8B41-4DC8-92D8-A7E721833D27_zpswzmc0y17.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/4F4E6145-2AC0-47EA-A7A0-F77682E6483A_zpsaeafivsl.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/8A7C3D24-8A2F-4A15-B1BA-5C1565E5F5A1_zpsbvr1ddh1.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/5934CA4A-9C66-4E26-B949-D84D0EAACEF2_zpsmwaoc2n6.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/4EB447BD-DAD7-42D5-BEE5-FC1F6A1EC4DE_zpswggvbso0.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/D6B4C822-85DC-423C-A4B0-06F0F0635F4E_zpshxttkujq.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/A49A5EB6-5EB7-497B-A70D-7BCA259DBF9C_zpsnf0qvqyv.jpg
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/42E68284-5F3C-47C1-8296-A044B0F55449_zps0r4qzqr4.jpg
The back of the tourniquet pouch doesn't just have traditional MOLLE. You can use the velcro tabs to mount it almost anywhere, including rigger belts.
http://i1219.photobucket.com/albums/dd421/GTF425/EE70CA26-E10F-4BE0-9651-D6B331145162_zps9yt22vla.jpg
Doc, PM inbound regarding the packing list.
ETA: Everyone already knows this, but just to clarify: the Combat Gauze is provided through RFI and is not a part of the IFAK II contents.
coastwatcher42
01-29-14, 20:14
Ill be patiently waiting
Here you go:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MILITARY-MULTICAM-INDIVIDUAL-FIRST-AID-KIT-IFAK-II-W-2-TOURNIQUET-2-TQ-POUCH-/231144800304?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d14dc030
We now have Olaes bandages issued in our med kits. They could easily fit in an IFAK also. It has a pressure cap that can double as an eye cup. This is a great bandage for any wound not needing a tourniquet. Will still have Stasolins but can't imagine needing to use one. Tactical Medical Solutions is a great resource for tactical medical products.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEwDZEVhjfs&feature=youtu.be
Here you go:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MILITARY-MULTICAM-INDIVIDUAL-FIRST-AID-KIT-IFAK-II-W-2-TOURNIQUET-2-TQ-POUCH-/231144800304?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35d14dc030
That did not take long.....
jrsteensen
02-05-14, 09:19
This looks ridiculously slick. Would have been nice to have in 06-07. My IFAK was always snagging on the turret ring.
I've been able to get hands on several versions of the new Flat IFAK kits over the past couple of years... they are (imho) a very solid design idea. Here is one I reviewed a little while back:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152292655788327
could we get a copy paste for those who can't access facebook?
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