1. Utilization and Characteristics of the Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK)
Operational Casualty Care Course
IFAK Training
LCDR Fermin S. Godinez
Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Department of Emergency Medicine

2. Learning Objectives Terminal Learning Objective
Enabling Learning Objectives

3. Old New 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

4. Trauma Kit
Trauma kit to be used only for major bleeding wounds only.

5. Minor Injury First Aid Kit
To be used for minor injures, cuts, burns, and bruises

6. 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

7. 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
The gel combines ingredients that are safe, biodegradable, bacteriostatic and water soluble and is saturated into a unique woven material.
When Water-Jel is applied to a burn, it immediately:
Eases Pain
Helps to prevent Burn Progression by Removing Excess Heat
Protects Against Contamination and Infection
Cools the Burn Area by Heat Transference reducing risk of Hypothermia
Lowers and Stabilizes Skin Temperature
Will stop White Phosphorous (WP) burning
Do not use for other than intended use.

8. 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

9. Components and Characteristics (Cont)
1-Bottle of Wound Disinfectant
Betadine solution
Cleansing of Minor Wounds

10. 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
One-handed tourniquet made to stop arterial blood flow quickly and efficiently. Tourni-Kwik features a strong elastic latex band with two steel s-hooks fastened to it, making it easy to use yet durable enough for even the most traumatic injuries. It’s simple yet intuitive design is perfect for use by the individual in front line combat environments, easily applied with one hand.
Injuries can be administered to immediately, stopping the blood loss and trauma an individual experiences while enabling him to survive until proper medical attention arrives. It is developed and engineered specifically for combat self-help: full one-handed application, quick and direct. Tourni-Kwik is packaged in a compact vacuum-sealed poly-plastic bag, ensuring long shelf life and providing easy storage. Simplicity and effectiveness are the characteristics which make Tourni-Kwik the tourniquet of choice for the individual in the field.

11. 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
Cinch Tight, the new universal combat compression bandage specifically designed for ease of use and one hand operation by self-help/buddy-help/Corpsman. Available with an 8” x 10” absorbent pad, the Cinch Tight is packaged to be small enough to be carried anywhere, rugged enough for even the most extreme environments, sterile and ready for immediate use with a minimum amount of training

12. Components and Characteristics (Cont)
2-Bulky Gauze Rolls
Gauze roll
Absorbent Material
10-Adhesive Bandages
Crinkle Cotton Fluff Bandage Rolls (Gauze rolls) are used for protection of minor wounds and to hold the water jel burn dressing in place. Also, used for direct pressure of medium and severe wounds and to wipe away excess blood prior to the application of QuikClot Hemostatic agent.
Band-Aids are utilized for minor scrapes and cuts.

13. Components and Characteristics (Cont)
2 Non-Sterile Triangular Bandages
- 40” × 40” × 56”

14. Life Saving Steps Restore the Breathing Stop the Bleeding
Treat for Shock
Protect the Wound

15. Treating Minor to Moderate Wounds
Stop the bleeding
Remove clothing from wound (If Necessary)
DO NOT remove penetrating objects from wound
Remove pressure dressing from IFAK

16. Treating Minor to Moderate Wounds (Cont)
The size of the wound dictates whether the wings of the pressure dressing are folded in.

17. Treating Minor to Moderate 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

18. Treating Minor to Moderate 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

19. Treating Minor to Moderate 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.

20. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds
Cut clothing from area
Locating the pressure point in the groin, apply pressure to slow or stop the bleeding from the wound

21. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
Pack wound with the gauze roll
Place absorbent pad of the pressure dressing over gauze and wound

22. Treating Moderate to Severe 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.

23. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
If the bleeding has stopped, splint the leg, and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

24. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
If the bleeding continues, as a last resort remove tourniquet from the first aid kit.

25. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
Apply tourniquet 2 to 4 inches above wound, so that tourniquet is between wound and heart
Wrap tourniquet once around

26. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
Run end through hook and pull in opposite direction
Continue to wrap until bleeding stops and secure with other s-hook

27. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
Remove pressure dressing and gauze from wound.

28. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
Wipe up excess blood with gauze
Pour hemostatic agent into the wound immediately wiping any excess that falls onto surrounding tissue

29. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
Hemostatic Agent Caution and Warnings
CAUTION –
Extreme heat
WARNING –
Sterility
Dust
Ingestion
Storage

30. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
Pack wound with the gauze roll
Place absorbent pad of the pressure dressing over gauze and wound

31. Treating Moderate to Severe Wounds (Cont)
Splint the leg, mark casualty with time and date the tourniquet was applied and seek medical attention.
Do not remove tourniquet

32. Treatment for Burns Evaluate type of burn
Apply burn dressing to burned area
If needed, cut burn dressing to fit burned area

33. 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.

34. 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

35. Questions?