The IFAK Blow-Out First Aid Kit is a compact and low-profile IFAK (individual first aid kit) designed to contain lifesaving gear for massive bleeding injuries. Choose from basic contents to more combat ready based on your needs. An NPA and or Decompression needle may also be added if required. Made with a Military MultiCam OCP IFAK pouch to offer rapidly accessible for deployment. The pouch opens easy with one hand and durable twin sides, zippers, and has an inner shock cord panel for ease of use. Some items in this kit require specific combat medical device training. Life-Assist has proudly served First Responders with emergency medical products and equipment since 1977. Originally founded as a family-owned business, we celebrated becoming an Employee-Owned company in 2022 through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), giving every employee a vested interest in delivering exceptional service. Our team shares a deep commitment to Helping Heroes Save Lives, and we set ourselves apart by ensuring you always reach a knowledgeable, friendly Customer Care Specialist-not an automated system or outsourced call center. Thank you for considering Life-Assist for your product and equipment needs. Built to Serve.
I was recently asked to write about what is commonly referred to as a blow out kit. The term refers to an individual medical kit carried to treat immediately life threatening extremity hemorrhage, tension pneumothorax (collapsed lung), and airway obstruction. These three things are responsible for most traumatic battlefield deaths. Rather than discuss how to use the items in a blow out kit, I’m going to instead focus on the components that should be in the kit. More to the point, if you’re not sure how to use a specific item in a kit, I’m going to recommend that you seek out appropriate training, whether it’s a weekend class (such as the Dark Angel Medical class attended by Robert), Red Cross First Aid, or perhaps even an Emergency Medical Technician course. There are any number of blow out kits or Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs) that come already assembled and packaged from several vendors. For the average person, this is probably the best and easiest way to get a kit. Trying to assemble your own can be a more difficult and less efficient option than it may initially seem. Dark Angel Medical, ITS Tactical, Cavalry Manufacturing, North American Rescue, Chinook Medical Gear, and many other manufacturers and vendors offer kits ranging from low profile options that will fit in a cargo pocket to more comprehensive kits designed to handle multiple traumatic scenarios.
Do not be shocked by the cost of such kits. One excellent option that is ideal for range and training environments or perhaps car or bag carry is the Direct Action Response Kit from Dark Angel Medical. When purchasing, you can tailor your individual kit options to match your preferences and level of training. My own D.A.R.K. has been augmented with a chest decompression needle, but is otherwise the generic civilian kit. As to specific components, let’s start with hemorrhage control, as it takes precedence over other concerns in the modern paradigm of trauma care. The ubiquitous pressure dressing included in many kits is the either the Israeli Bandage or a variation thereof, a multipurpose compression trauma dressing that has a decades long established track record of success and versatility. Many other analogues exist and serve just as well. Some common examples are the H&H Mini Compression Bandage, the OLAES Modular Bandage, and the H-Bandage. The next step up is hemostatic gauze. Hemostatic agents initially gained widespread popularity as powders that could be poured into wounds to promote clotting prior to bandaging the wound. The effectiveness of early versions of these powders was hindered by the potential for burns due to an exothermic reaction, the possibility of creating a thrombosis (blood clot in the vasculature), and because they were difficult and dangerous to use in windy conditions. While the powders are still available and the harmful exothermic reaction has been mitigated, the modern iteration of this concept has gauze pads and gauze wraps impregnated with the clotting agent, allowing for rapid and targeted application in the form of wound packing and bandaging. Popular choices include QuickClot Combat Gauze and Celox Gauze. Either of them are good choices to include in a blow out kit; however, Celox Rapid gauze may be more appropriate for the civilian blow out kit, as its mechanism of action is not hindered by prescription anticoagulants or hypothermia. Finally, the definitive and quickest way to control life threatening extremity hemorrhage is application of a tourniquet. No longer considered a “last resort,” the tourniquet may indeed be the primary intervention immediately used to control life threatening extremity hemorrhage. I own and am familiar with three specific options. While there is some controversy concerning its efficacy and endorsements, I also keep a few R.A.T.S. Tourniquets around as a low profile backup or for self-aid. They are inexpensive enough to keep one in each of my vehicles and in my range bag. After all, if you’re going to carry one tourniquet, then you should probably carry two. Most of us have four extremities and multiple victims are possible. R.A.T.S. Another low profile and inexpensive tourniquet is the Cavalry Medical Slick. Another good reason to carry either a R.A.T.S. or a Slick Tourniquet is if you are frequently around either children or K9s. Other tourniquets are often difficult if not impossible to sufficiently tighten around the extremity of a child or dog. There are two kit items to consider regarding the management of tension pneumothorax. The first is the chest seal, an adhesive and occlusive bandage designed to cover a “sucking chest wound” that left untreated, could potentially progress to tension pneumothorax. There are several different commercial seals available, and while nice to have, are not necessarily mandatory. I say this because quite frankly, an occlusive chest seal is easy to improvise from plastic packaging in your kit or even duct tape! The other item that is intended for management of tension pneumothorax is the chest decompression needle. However, unless you’ve received specific accredited training in needle decompression, I’m going to advise against including a needle in your kit. Again, tailor your kit to your level of training. I’ve trained with physicians that keep IV and surgical supplies in their range kit. But just because somebody else does doesn’t mean you should! If you’ve never stuck a needle in somebody, then immediately after a traumatic event probably isn’t a good time to start. Furthermore, tension pneumothorax generally takes time to develop and rarely requires immediate intervention in typical civilian emergency medicine time frames. Finally, we need to address airway obstruction. Most of the time, this is due to a patient being unable to maintain their own airway due to a decreased level of consciousness. Note that patients who have sustained significant facial or throat trauma can often maintain their airway if conscious and positioned correctly. For those that can’t, one simple solution is an airway adjunct such as the nasopharyngeal airway often included in blow out kits. Basically, this tube is inserted in either the nostril or even the mouth to provide for an unimpeded airway. Some kits will also have trauma shears and almost all will include nitrile gloves. Invariably, these gloves will be of XL size to fit everybody. One last item to consider adding to a kit is a Sharpie marker. Blowout kits can be carried in a pouch on the belt or attached to webbing on duty gear. Most kits have their main contents vacuum packed in an insert that may fit into a spare magazine pouch on gear. The D.A.R.K. D.A.R.K. If you carry a gun for a living, then the tourniquet should be kept somewhere immediately accessible on your gear. Blue Force Gear makes an excellent device specifically designed to hold a tourniquet on MOLLE webbing called the Tourniquet NOW! Strap. Other vendors offer a variety of belt or vest mounted pouches to hold a tourniquet. Most blow out kit pouches will have a provision specifically for keeping the tourniquet accessible. When training, I personally prefer a comprehensive blowout kit such as the DARK kept somewhere in or on my gear with a smaller minimalist kit carried in my right cargo pocket. In my day to day life, I will confess that I often don’t carry much in the way of medical gear on my person. At most, I may have one of the minimalist kits described above in a cargo pocket.
- Article updated February 23, 2018 with insights on training, equipment, and practical placement of kits.
- Blowout kit contents emphasize hemorrhage control as the top priority in trauma care.
- Discussion covers both civilian and tactical contexts, including police and military applications.
With the threats currently facing today’s law enforcement officers, the need for basic tactical emergency medical skills and equipment cannot be overstated. Having the basic skills and necessary equipment to treat a life-threatening penetrating injury such as a gunshot or stab wound is crucial. It only takes between two and four minutes to bleed to death from an injury to a major artery. Even EMTs and paramedics with the best intentions (and skills) may not be able to render aid in time. For an unspecified amount of time, you will be on your own. It will be your personal skills and available equipment that will likely be the difference between life and death. Training and preparing to prevail and not merely survive is a responsibility that falls squarely on each of us. There are numerous companies out there that are producing high-quality individual immediate action medical kits (or blow out kits as the military refers to them). Many of these kits are offered preloaded or can be loaded to suit your own specifications. However, some kits can be prohibitively costly for many police officers. An alternative is to build your own blow out kit. First aid training Prior to assembling a blow out kit, ensure that you have received the training and certifications required by law and department policy and procedure for the components that will be included in your kit.
Assembly of the blow out kit is relatively simple and inexpensive, and should include (as a minimum) all of the items necessary to treat life threatening injuries caused by penetrating trauma such as gunshot or stab wounds. Basic items for a personal blow out kit include a compression dressing, trauma shears, nitrile gloves, a Sharpie marker, a small Ziploc bag, a tactical tourniquet, tape, and a roll of paper masking tape. Advanced items for a personal blow out kit add two 14-gauge Angiocath needles, a Nasopharyngeal airway, hemostatic agent, and a military triangular bandage with tongue depressors. An improvised tourniquet can be created from a windlass using a military triangular bandage in some cases, but reliability depends on materials. Whichever items you choose, make sure you train regularly with them.
Blowout kit placement should balance accessibility and practicality. Keep the kit in a cargo pocket or in an easily accessible place in your vehicle, such as the side pouch on your driver’s side door or center console. Positioning multiple kits around a vehicle increases access during critical moments. If faced with a critical injury, you can prevail. The concept of a blow out kit originated in military settings to provide the minimum equipment needed to save a life without a medic. We all know that in an emergency situation the only one you can count on is yourself. Treat hemorrhage first with direct pressure, then consider a hemostatic agent or a tourniquet if needed. For tension pneumothorax, a chest seal can be improvised, and a chest decompression needle should only be considered by those with accredited training. Airway management often relies on a nasopharyngeal airway to maintain an unobstructed airway in unconscious or semi-conscious patients.
There are many companies offering quality products. Assembling your own kit comprised of components that meet or exceed tactical criteria remains a popular option, or you can purchase a pre-loaded kit from a reputable tactical medical supplier. Training, certification, and adherence to legal and departmental policies are essential for responsible use and effectiveness of any blow out kit.
<태gimg>Infographic: Key components of a tactical IFAKStop-the-Bleed: How to Apply a Tourniquet to a Trauma Wound
| Component | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Compression dressing | Control hemorrhage | Israeli Bandage or similar |
| Hemostatic gauze | Enhance clotting | QuickClot Combat Gauze or Celox Gauze |
| Tourniquet | Control limb hemorrhage | R.A.T.S. Tourniquet or Cavalry Slick |
| Nasopharyngeal airway | Maintain airway | Only if trained to use |
| Chest seal | Occlude sucking chest wound | Can be improvised if needed |
Training and preparation are the responsibilities of every responder. The concept of a blow out kit is being prepared. You must be mentally prepared to come out of a critical incident with a life worth living, not merely surviving where your quality of life has been irreparably damaged. EMS may be a phone call away, but in many situations you are on your own for precious minutes. The goal is to deliver rapid, informed care to maximize survival and minimize complications through informed choice and practiced execution.
