Utilization and Characteristics of

the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)

Operational Casualty Care CourseOperational Casualty Care CourseIFAK TrainingIFAK Training

LCDR Fermin S. GodinezLCDR Fermin S. GodinezNaval Medical Center PortsmouthNaval Medical Center Portsmouth

Department of Emergency MedicineDepartment of Emergency Medicine

Learning Objectives

• Terminal Learning Objective

• Enabling Learning Objectives

• Old– 1-Eye Patch Dressing– 1-Battle Dressing with Tie Ends– 1-Bottle of Iodine Water

Purification Tablets– 1-Bottle of Wound Disinfectant– 1-Lip Balm– 2-Cravat’s– 10-Adhesive Bandages

• New– 1-Packet of Adsorbent Hemostatic

Agent (QuikClot)– 1-Package of Burn Gel (Water-Jel)– 1-Bottle of Iodine Water Purification

Tablets– 1-Bottle of Wound Disinfectant– 1-Tourniquet– 2-Pressure Dressings– 2-Bulky Gauze Rolls – 10-Adhesive Bandages– 5-Large Adhesive Bandages – 2-Triangle Bandages

Trauma Kit

• Trauma kit to be used only for major bleeding wounds only.

Minor Injury First Aid Kit

• To be used for minor injures, cuts, burns, and bruises

Components and Characteristics

• 1-Packet Adsorbent Hemostatic Agent– Granular mineral powder– Sterile – Stops high volume venous and arterial

bleeding through rapid absorption of liquid

– Clot remains in the wound until removed by medical personnel

– Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved

Components and Characteristics (Cont)

• 1-Package 4”x16” Sterile Burn Dressing (Water-Jel)

– Extinguishes white phosphorous burns– Cools burn area– Reduces chance for hypothermia– Prevents burn from further progression– Protects against infection and eases

pain – FDA approved– Do not use for other than intended use

Components and Characteristics (Cont)

• 1-Bottle of Iodine Water Purification Tablets– To purify non potable

water for consumption– After handling the

tablets, wash hands thoroughly. If eyes come in contact with the tablets or residue, it could cause temporary blindness

Components and Characteristics (Cont)

• 1-Bottle of Wound Disinfectant– Betadine solution– Cleansing of Minor

Wounds

Components and Characteristics (Cont)

• 1-Tourniquet– One Handed Use– Use on arterial and venous

blood– For Moderate to Severe

Bleeding only– For use on Extremities only

Components and Characteristics (Cont)

2-Pressure Dressings– Vacuum Packed– 8” x 10” Absorbent Pad– 4” Wide elastic wrap with

Velcro strip on both ends– Coated Steel tension hook

for individual application

Components and Characteristics (Cont)

• 2-Bulky Gauze Rolls– Gauze roll– Absorbent Material

• 10-Adhesive Bandages

Components and Characteristics (Cont)

• 2 Non-Sterile Triangular Bandages - 40” × 40” × 56”

Life Saving Steps

• Restore the Breathing

• Stop the Bleeding

• Treat for Shock

• Protect the Wound

Treating Minor toModerate Wounds

• Stop the bleeding

• Remove clothing from wound (If Necessary)

• DO NOT remove penetrating objects from wound

• Remove pressure dressing from IFAK

Treating Minor toModerate Wounds (Cont)

• The size of the wound dictates whether the wings of the pressure dressing are folded in.

Treating Minor toModerate Wounds (Cont)

• Place absorbent pad over wound

• Wrap the elastic wrap around the limb and anchor the Velcro strip

• Note If there is a protruding object from the wound, pack gauze around object and secure. The elastic wrap is wrapped over the gauze and around the object

Treating Minor toModerate Wounds (Cont)

• Feed elastic wrap through the tension hook.

• Pull elastic through tension hook and reverse the direction of the wrap to secure the bandage in place

Treating Minor toModerate Wounds (Cont)

• Continue wrapping the elastic bandage around the wound.

• Once you have reached the end of the elastic wrap, rotate it to secure the Velcro strip to the wrap.

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds

• Cut clothing from area

• Locating the pressure point in the groin, apply pressure to slow or stop the bleeding from the wound

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• Pack wound with the gauze roll

• Place absorbent pad of the pressure dressing over gauze and wound

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• Wrap wound as previously explained in the Minor to Moderate Wound section

• Monitor wound for excessive blood loss. If bleeding continues, apply direct pressure to pressure dressing and pressure points for 5-10 minutes.

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• If the bleeding has stopped, splint the leg, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• If the bleeding continues, as a last resort remove tourniquet from the first aid kit.

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• Apply tourniquet 2 to 4 inches above wound, so that tourniquet is between wound and heart

• Wrap tourniquet once around

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• Run end through hook and pull in opposite direction

• Continue to wrap until bleeding stops and secure with other s-hook

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• Remove pressure dressing and gauze from wound.

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• Wipe up excess blood with gauze

• Pour hemostatic agent into the wound immediately wiping any excess that falls onto surrounding tissue

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

Hemostatic AgentCaution and Warnings

• CAUTION – – Extreme heat

• WARNING – – Sterility– Dust– Ingestion– Storage

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• Pack wound with the gauze roll

• Place absorbent pad of the pressure dressing over gauze and wound

Treating Moderate toSevere Wounds (Cont)

• Splint the leg, mark casualty with time and date the tourniquet was applied and seek medical attention.

• Do not remove tourniquet

Treatment for Burns

• Evaluate type of burn

• Apply burn dressing to burned area

• If needed, cut burn dressing to fit burned area

Treatment for Burns (Cont)

• Wrap gauze loosely around hand to secure burn dressing

• Leave approx 6”-8” of gauze overhang. Cut down center until there are two tails to secure dressing.

Treatment for Burns (Cont)

• Wrap tails in opposite directions

• Using a square knot tie tails to secure dressing

• Monitor the casualty for signs of hypothermia and/or dehydration

Questions?