I keep essentially the same. REI backpacker med kit (with extra Star Wars and super hero band-aids for the kids) and a small emergency preparedness kit. I'll put in a 5 day survival kit if going for an extended trip (more than a weekend). In reality the most used in the kit are the Star Wars/Super hero band aids on the kids "boo boos".

If you're going to carry any sort of advanced IFAK, i.e. chest seals, clotting agents, tourniquets, it would be a good idea to take some sort of medical class as well. I did mine primarily for the event that something bad happens at the gun range.

we just keep a basic FAK in both of our vehicles.

Great thread. I have 3 small first aid kits, 1 came with the 4runner and 2 others were gifts. I really haven't check what's inside of them and will do so this week and upgrade accordingly.

I carry an IFAK along with a tourniquet and stop clot, and lots of Motrin!

I've see a lot of articles and videos on what people carry for first aid kits and a lot of it is overkill for the general public and even potentially dangerious. Youtube is filled with videos on IFAKs and you'll notice that most of these guys pretend like they're in the local militia and are preparing for end of the world situations or some battle zone is going to breakout in the middle of the street. I've seen kits that include needle decompression kits and laryngoscopes. For the love of god if you don't know how to recognize a pneumothorax or even use needle decompress do not get one for your kit. If you've never intubated anyone don't get a laryngoscope. BLS is a good skill to have but keep in mind that after 5 minutes of cardiac arrest mortality is like 90%. So consider if this is for your off-roading and outdoor adventure you're not gonna be able to get EMS transfer for hours, days or not at all depending how remote you are. In a catastrophic event like that chances are the person is dead. Do what you can but don't try to be a hero and either put yourself at risk or do more harm to the patient. Point is to keep your IFAK to simple things that you can handle like minor cuts, burns, sprains, basic fracture care, and maladies like allergies, headaches, diarrhea. Anything beyond the basic should be left to a medical professional or you need to get them to the ER asap.

I've also found that the pre-made kits are way overpriced. You can piece meal a kit off amazon for not too much and it will be tailored to what you need. There are some decent pouches on there and you can buy most of the bandages, gauze, trauma shears, tapes etc etc off amazon too.

https://www.amazon.com/Condor-Rip-Aw...&keywords=ifak

https://www.amazon.com/Vanquest-FATP...nquest+fatpack

I have two bags. One is my Blue Ridge small IFAK pouch for basic first aid and since I'm a sports med doc I have a dedicated game day/sideline coverage bag which works for off-road trips too. I simply raid the supply closet if I need things. Shhhh don't tell the hospital

https://www.blueridgeoverlandgear.co...p/21ifak-v.htm

I run 1 ifak in my vehicle (more like a afak), 1 duplicate Ifak on my plate carrier (for gun games) and a fullblown trauma kit at home.

The Ifak (or afak) I have in my vehicle are as follows:

1. medical shears
2. tweezers
3. medical scissors.
4. quick clot
5. israeli trauma bandage
6. hemorrage pads
7. tourniquet
8. chest seal
9. roll of ace bandage
10. roll of gauze
11.. roll of medical tape
12. assorted bandaids
13. assorted antiseptic wipes/alcohol
14. motrin, benadryl, and allergy eye drops (opcon or napcon).
15. cpr plastic sheet
16. gloves
17. clothe mask
18. nasoesophogeal tube
19. oral airway opening kit
20. decompression syringe
21. space blanket

Yes its overkill, but the kit is small enough to compress into a basic IFAK pouch (so its small), as in tiny. Obviously, this is a kit that isn't designed for small cuts or things like that. The kit is designed to expand quickly at the pull of a tab, so repacking it is a pain in the butt. I have a altoid sized container i keep in the glove box for those life threatening paper cuts.

Point is don't buy stupid premade crap at your pharmacy or hardware store that won't save you from anything other than a papercut. Piece things that you need, and skip the stuff that you don't need.

Everyone should take a BLS course (its inexpensive and takes only a few hours). I'd still carry carry gear designed to keep airways open (nasoesophageal tube/oral airway kit/decompression syringe) even if you aren't trained to use it b/c you never know who might come to your rescue that does have training. Obviously, if you don't know how to use it, don't use it unless you want to potentially kill someone.

FYI my medical credentials are as follows:

PharmD
ACLS certified
and a bunch of other useless certs that are required to work in a hospital (inpatient pharmacy).

Real life experience: 0/1 on a cardiac arrest patient in a grocery store. The dood was pretty much dead when I got there, nobody else in the whole damn building had BLS training, and no AED available, so his odds of being resusitated where less than 1 percent. Anyways, I did BLS until EMT arrived which was 15 minutes later. What I learned in that situation, the general public are morons in general, don't listen to them in a panic situation. IF you are trained in BLS or ACLS just focus on what you were trained to do (it will come to you fast). If you aren't trained, back the F@ck up and STFU in those situations, or be useful and do crowd control. Sorry I have to vent, b/c a huge crowd formed before I arrived and they did nothing but shout at each other and take pictures....@#$# losers.

I realize that this thread is a couple of years old, however, I have a first aid kit that I made. For me, I am allergic to many types of common medicines, so I bought a pelican case that has the padded dividers. I have the stuff that I am not allergic to and filled it with items that benefit me the best.

When I buy a first aid kit from the store, the only thing I can really use are the bandaids (provided they are not medicated), the guaze, the gloves, and the bag it came in.

Some kits are very detailed, but I don't know how to use many of the things that are in them.

Side note, one thing that I keep in my truck at all times is blue Dawn dish soap. It works great for cleaning and will even remove the oils from poison ivy.

Any good videos that show how to use the blowout kits? Have one from a deal but would take some figuring out, and naturally that’s not the time to figure that out.

post the contents of the kit. Video's won't help you b/c everybody's kit is different unless you going by some standard (US army).

My 4Runner came with the $30 Toyota first aid kit option. It has the basics, could use some more supplies in there but at least the case looks good. I'll supplement it with my kit from the Army.

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if you are looking for true emergency supplies, that take up a small amount of room, look at north American rescues (narescue.com). this is where police, swat and even some military get their stuff from. they are surprisingly well priced on most items. I got my compact bvm from them along with a cat 7 and a bunch of other things

PIck up stuff over time, dont forget to refresh stuff like benydrll and such. a Here is a start. I Have a few different kits depending on activities or length I'll be away.


Basic,
Take a class
First aid manual
Gloves
Bandaids
Ointment
wraps
tourqnet-
Liquid bandage
benadryl
gauze
splint
soap
wipes
antiseptic wipes
antibiotic ointment
antiseptic solution (like hydrogen peroxide)
hydrocortisone cream (1%)
acetaminophen and ibuprofen
extra prescription medications (if the family is going on vacation)
tweezers
sharp scissors
safety pins
disposable instant cold packs
calamine lotion
alcohol wipes or ethyl alcohol
thermometer

Pretty much my kit and this guy gets it. Oh, and I’m 0/4. CPR is really for the family to give some hope.

Our protocol calls for continuous chest compressions. Many studies are showing its more about legit early compressions, then defib, ALS, ED that make it happen.

I always find store bought first aid kids really lacking with quantity of 4x4s, Klingon and other bleeding control staples. Also make sure to get and train on some good tournaquets.