The short version
IFAK stands for Individual First Aid Kit. It is a small trauma kit that each person carries for themselves, built to treat the injuries that kill quickly: severe bleeding first, then breathing problems and cold. A good IFAK holds a tourniquet, wound packing gauze, a pressure dressing, a chest seal, gloves, shears and a blanket, and very little else. It is not a box of plasters. Carry it on your body where either hand can reach it, keep the tourniquet outside the pouch, and learn to use what is in it before you need it.
This guide is for people who are about to buy or build an IFAK and want to get it right: police officers and security staff, shooters and hunters, and anyone who wants a real trauma kit in the car, the range bag or on the belt. It covers what the term means, what goes in the kit and why, which items need training, how to choose a size, whether to buy a complete kit or build your own, how to refill it and where to carry it. We sell Blue Force Gear trauma kits and the items that go in them, so we have an interest here. Where something is a manufacturer's claim, military guidance or our own opinion, we say which. Reading this is not training, and we would rather you took a bleeding control course than relied on us.
How we wrote this guide
- The order of the contents follows the MARCH sequence from Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC), the U.S. military's trauma guidelines. The kit contents come from Blue Force Gear and North American Rescue. Each source is linked at the end.
- Where we quote numbers from studies, we name the study. Where we could not trace a figure back to its source, we left it out.
- We are a shop, not a medical school. Our own advice on choosing and carrying a kit is marked as ours.
- The photos in this article are illustrations generated from our product photos, not pictures of real casualties or of our own kit in use. The product shots on the product pages are the manufacturer's.
The IFAK at a glance
| What | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Individual First Aid Kit | U.S. Army |
| Purpose | Self-aid and buddy aid for life-threatening trauma until help arrives | U.S. Army, TCCC |
| Order of treatment | MARCH: Massive bleeding, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia | TCCC guidelines |
| Core contents | Tourniquet, wound packing gauze, pressure dressing, chest seal, gloves, shears, tape, blanket | Blue Force Gear, North American Rescue |
| Items that need training | Nasopharyngeal airway, decompression needle | Blue Force Gear product notes |
| Where to carry it | On the body, reachable with either hand. Tourniquet outside the pouch. | Blue Force Gear, our advice |
What an IFAK is, and why it exists
The name comes from the U.S. military, where every soldier carries their own first aid kit for their own injuries. The idea is simple: the person most likely to treat you in the first minutes is you, or the person next to you, and they should use your kit, not theirs. The U.S. Army replaced its first kit with the IFAK II in 2013, adding a second tourniquet, a chest seal, an eye shield, a strap cutter, a casualty card and a marker. One of the Army officers behind it summed up the purpose as "life, limb, eye sight, immediate point of injury care".
The reason an IFAK looks so different from a household first aid kit is what kills people after an injury. In the largest review of U.S. combat deaths from Iraq and Afghanistan (Eastridge and colleagues, Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 2012), 24.3% of the deaths before reaching a hospital were judged potentially survivable, and 90.9% of those were linked to bleeding. Outside the military the message is the same. The American College of Surgeons' Stop the Bleed programme puts it plainly: "The number one cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding."
So an IFAK is built around stopping bleeding fast, with a few extra items for the next most common preventable problems. Everything else, from paracetamol to blister plasters, belongs in a different kit.
IFAK vs first aid kit vs AFAK
People use these terms loosely, so here is how we use them, and how most sellers do.
| IFAK | Everyday first aid kit | AFAK or medic kit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treats | Severe bleeding, chest wounds, shock and cold | Cuts, burns, splinters, headaches | Trauma plus wider medical care |
| Who uses it | The person carrying it, or whoever reaches them first | Anyone | A trained medic or advanced first aider |
| Typical size | Pocket to a small belt or carrier pouch | Box or bag | Larger bag |
| Training needed | A bleeding control or TCCC/TECC course | Basic first aid | Advanced, often professional |
"AFAK" has no single official meaning. You will see it used for an advanced first aid kit, an automotive kit, or the larger kit a team medic carries. When you compare products, ignore the label and read the contents list.
What goes in an IFAK: the MARCH order
TCCC teaches casualty care in the order MARCH: Massive hemorrhage, Airway, Respiration, Circulation, Hypothermia. It is a good way to pack and check a kit too, because it puts the items in the order you will need them.
M: Massive bleeding
- A tourniquet. For bleeding from an arm or leg. The C-A-T and the SOF Tactical Tourniquet Wide are both on the list of tourniquets recommended by the Committee on TCCC. Our CAT tourniquet guide covers how to apply one and how to spot a fake.
- Wound packing gauze. For wounds where a tourniquet cannot go, such as the neck, armpit or groin. QuikClot hemostatic gauze contains an agent that helps blood clot. TCCC names QuikClot Combat Gauze as its hemostatic dressing of choice. Plain compressed gauze also works for packing and costs less.
- A pressure dressing. An elastic bandage with a pad, such as the Emergency Trauma Dressing, often called the Israeli bandage, to hold packing in place and keep pressure on the wound.
A: Airway
For most people, the airway tool is knowing how to put an unconscious casualty in a position where they can breathe. A nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) is a soft tube that goes in through the nose. It is in many military and police kits, but it is only for people trained to use it, and Blue Force Gear sells it on proof of medical authorisation only.
R: Respiration
- A chest seal. A wound to the chest can let air in around the lung. TCCC guidance is to cover an open chest wound with a vented chest seal. The chest seals we sell come as a twin pack, because a bullet or a blade can leave an entry and an exit wound. Always check for the second one.
- A decompression needle. Used to relieve a tension pneumothorax. Blue Force Gear's own note on the 14 gauge needle is that it "should only be utilized by personnel trained and certified in its proper use". If that is not you, leave it out of your kit.
C: Circulation
For a kit, this means the things that let you keep working on bleeding and shock: a second tourniquet, nitrile trauma gloves (put them on first), trauma shears to cut clothing away from a wound, tape to secure dressings on wet skin, and a marker to write the time on a tourniquet.
H: Hypothermia
A casualty who is bleeding loses heat fast, and a cold casualty bleeds more. North American Rescue's own explanation is short: "As a patient gets colder and colder, they're going to bleed more and more." A foil hypothermia blanket weighs almost nothing. Blue Force Gear's version has the MARCH steps printed on it as a reminder.
Which size of IFAK do you need?
The best IFAK is the one you actually have on you, so pick the size by where you will carry it, not by how much you can fit in it. These are the Blue Force Gear kits we stock, from smallest to largest.
- Micro Trauma Kit NOW! Nano. Three items for bleeding only, small enough for a pocket. With the MOLLE Nano Sleeve it also mounts on a carrier or bag.
- Micro Trauma Kit NOW! About 6 x 3.5 x 2.5 inches according to Blue Force Gear, on a belt or MOLLE mount. Blue Force Gear designed it as an everyday carry trauma kit for police, prepared citizens and hunters. For police with basket weave duty gear there is a basket weave version.
- Micro Trauma Kit NOW! Plus+. A reshaped, larger pouch that takes a full-size pressure dressing and chest seal instead of the compact versions.
- Trauma Kit NOW! Small. Full-size components for the whole MARCH sequence, in Blue Force Gear's words "in the smallest footprint possible". A plate carrier or battle belt kit.
- Trauma Kit NOW! Medium. Originally designed to hold the contents of the U.S. Army IFAK. For carriers, packs and vehicles.
Essentials, Pro or Advanced?
Most of these kits come empty or with one of three fill levels. Using the Micro Trauma Kit NOW! as the example, Blue Force Gear lists them like this:
| Fill level | Contents (Micro Trauma Kit NOW!) | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | Gloves, QuikClot Bleeding Control Dressing, mini compression dressing, tape, hypothermia blanket | Anyone. Everything in it is aimed at bleeding. |
| Pro | Gloves, QuikClot Combat Gauze LE, mini compression dressing, tape, chest seal twin pack | First responders, police and security |
| Advanced | As Pro with QuikClot Combat Gauze, plus a nasopharyngeal airway and a decompression needle | Trained providers only. Restricted items need proof of authorisation. |
Our advice: most people should buy Essentials or Pro. If your job or your range puts you at risk of a gunshot or stab wound to the chest, choose Pro for the chest seal. Do not buy Advanced so the kit looks more complete. An item you have not been trained to use only adds weight.
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Micro Trauma Kit NOW! - Complete Kits
Price on request -
Micro Trauma Kit NOW! - Nano
Price on request -
Trauma Kit NOW! - Small
Price on request
Buy a complete IFAK or build your own?
You can do either. Here is how we think about it.
- Buy complete if you want a kit that works out of the box. A complete kit is designed around its pouch, so everything fits, sits in a logical order and comes out in one pull. You also know every item is from a real supplier, which matters most for tourniquets and hemostatic gauze, the two items most often faked.
- Build your own if you already own good items, need a particular layout, or your agency issues some of the contents. Buy the pouch empty and fill it from individual medical items. Check that what you choose fits the pouch: Blue Force Gear warns that the 6-inch Emergency Trauma Dressing is too big for its compact kits.
Whichever you choose, do not save money on the tourniquet and the gauze. A cheap pouch is an inconvenience. A cheap tourniquet that breaks is a death.
Refills
Every item you use, and every item that is past its date or damaged, needs replacing. Some items, such as hemostatic gauze and chest seals, have expiry dates on the packet. Blue Force Gear sells refill packs at the same three fill levels, for example the Micro Trauma Kit medical supplies and the Trauma Kit NOW! Small refill. A refill is also how you upgrade a kit from Essentials to Pro without buying a new pouch.
Where to carry an IFAK
An IFAK that is in the car when you are on the range is no use to you. Blue Force Gear designed its kits so the inner insert comes out with one pull of either side tab, which means you, or someone helping you, can get to the contents fast without opening zips.
| Where | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Belt, at the front of the hip | Police duty belts, battle belts, everyday carry. Reachable with either hand. | Keep it clear of the holster and the draw stroke. |
| Plate carrier or chest rig | Anyone who wears armour for work or training | The back of the carrier is the worst place: you cannot reach it yourself. |
| Pocket or ankle | Plain clothes, concealed carry, travel | Only the smallest kits fit, so carry a tourniquet as well. |
| Bag or vehicle | A second, larger kit for others | It is not on you when you need it. Treat it as a backup, not your IFAK. |
Keep the tourniquet outside the kit
This is the one rule we would not bend. Blue Force Gear's own advice is that "the tourniquet should be carried separately from the trauma kit so that it is readily available to the provider in case they are injured and have to self-apply the tourniquet". The Tourniquet Hammock does this without taking extra belt or MOLLE space: it hangs a C-A-T or SOFTT-W directly under a Micro Trauma Kit NOW!. A Tourniquet NOW! Pouch is the alternative if you want it covered.
The U.S. Army made the same choice. The IFAK II pouch was designed to sit on the back of the vest, space one of its designers called "low-rent real estate" because it otherwise goes unused, but its two tourniquets came in removable pouches that can be mounted anywhere. He added that many soldiers were already carrying their tourniquets in their pockets.
Where the IFAK goes depends on the rest of your kit. Our battle belt setup guide places medical gear at the front, and if you run a holster on a drop leg platform, keep the IFAK on the opposite side so neither gets in the way of the other.
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The Hammock
Price on request -
Tourniquet NOW! Pouch
Price on request -
Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T)
Price on request
How to choose an IFAK: a checklist
- Can you reach it with either hand? If not, move it or choose a smaller kit.
- Is there a tourniquet outside it? If not, add one, ideally two.
- Does it stop bleeding first? Gauze for packing and a pressure dressing should be the first things you find.
- Is there a chest seal? If you work around firearms or blades, there should be.
- Can you use everything in it? Remove anything you have not been trained on.
- Are the contents genuine and in date? Buy tourniquets and hemostatic gauze from real suppliers, and check the dates on the packets.
- Does it open in one move? Try it with gloves on and your weak hand.
Common IFAK mistakes
- Filling it with plasters and paracetamol. They take space from the items that save lives. Keep them in a separate first aid kit.
- Burying the tourniquet inside the pouch. It has to come out in seconds, possibly with one hand.
- Mounting it on your back. You cannot reach it for your own injury.
- Carrying items you cannot use. A decompression needle in untrained hands is a danger, not a capability.
- Using the kit for training. Train with trainers and practice packs. Keep the real items sealed.
- Never checking it. Open it every few months, look at dates and packaging, and replace anything worn or used.
- Buying the kit and skipping the course. The kit is the easy part.
Frequently asked questions
What does IFAK stand for?
IFAK stands for Individual First Aid Kit. The term comes from the U.S. military, where each person carries a small trauma kit for their own injuries.
What is the difference between an IFAK and a first aid kit?
A first aid kit is for everyday injuries such as cuts and burns. An IFAK is a trauma kit for injuries that can kill within minutes: severe bleeding, chest wounds and the cold and shock that follow.
What should be in an IFAK?
At minimum a tourniquet, wound packing gauze (hemostatic or plain), a pressure dressing, nitrile gloves, trauma shears, tape and a hypothermia blanket. Add a vented chest seal if you are at risk of penetrating chest wounds. Airway tubes and decompression needles are only for trained users.
Should the tourniquet go inside the IFAK?
No. Blue Force Gear and most instructors recommend carrying the tourniquet outside the kit, where you can reach it with one hand if you are injured. A tourniquet holder or a hammock under the kit keeps it close.
What is the difference between an IFAK and an AFAK?
There is no single official definition of AFAK. It usually means a larger advanced or medic kit with items that need more training. An IFAK is the small kit everyone carries for self-aid and buddy aid.
Where should I wear my IFAK?
On the front half of your body, on the belt or plate carrier, where either hand can reach it. Avoid the back of the belt or carrier, because you cannot reach it for your own injury.
Do IFAK contents expire?
Some do. Hemostatic gauze, chest seals and other sterile items carry dates on the packet. Check them regularly and replace them with a refill pack when they run out or after any use.
Is QuikClot necessary in an IFAK?
Not strictly. Plain compressed gauze, packed firmly and held with pressure, also controls bleeding. Hemostatic gauze such as QuikClot helps blood clot faster, and TCCC names QuikClot Combat Gauze as its preferred hemostatic dressing.
A note on safety and training
This article is general information, not medical training. A kit only helps if the person using it knows what to do. Look for a Stop the Bleed course, a first aid course with a trauma module, or your agency's TCCC or TECC training. Some items, such as nasopharyngeal airways and decompression needles, are sold only to authorised medical users and should only be used by them. In an emergency, call the local emergency number first or have someone call while you act.
About the authors
This guide was written by Matúš Koleják and Braňo Hrivňák of Combat Defender in Bratislava, Slovakia. We sell Blue Force Gear trauma kits, tourniquets and medical items and supply them to police, military and security customers in Europe. We are not medical professionals.
The kit sizes, fill levels and carry advice come from Blue Force Gear. The bleeding control kit contents come from North American Rescue and Stop the Bleed. The MARCH order and the hemostatic gauze and chest seal guidance come from the TCCC guidelines. The history of the IFAK II comes from the U.S. Army. The battlefield mortality figures come from the study named in the text. The illustrations were generated with an AI image model from our own product photos and checked by us for correct products and placement; they are not photographs. The buying and carry suggestions are our own judgement. If something here is wrong or unclear, tell us and we will correct it.
Last reviewed: October 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Army: New first aid kit includes eye protection, strap cutter (2013)
- Eastridge et al.: Death on the battlefield (2001-2011), J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2012
- American College of Surgeons: Stop the Bleed
- North American Rescue: What's inside a bleeding control kit?
- Defense Health Agency, Deployed Medicine: TCCC guidelines and training
- NAEMT: Tactical Combat Casualty Care courses
- Blue Force Gear: Micro Trauma Kit NOW! (dimensions, fill levels, tourniquet advice)
- CoTCCC: Recommended devices and adjuncts (2021)