Bifalgorithm post

The world's best trauma kits are useless if they're so big and bulky that you don't have them with you when a medical emergency arises. Sometimes when we focus on maximum capability, we actually create a liability. When building out an IFAC or individual first aid kit, it's easy to start overpacking, overanalyzing and thinking that you're going to be performing surgery out in the field when that's not the intended purpose. And before you know it, yes, you have some big giant kit that can do quite a bit. But nine out of 10 times, you leave it in your vehicle or at home, which isn't going to do anyone any good. And that's why my kit is pretty compact with only four items in it, being four inches by four inches by one inch in diameter. I like this little pouch because it has two little pass throughs for a belt. I could put it through Pows webbing, but it's compact enough that I can put it in any cargo pocket. So what are those four supplies inside? Well, I build out every single one of my kits with a SWAT T tourniquet to start. Now I know that that a dedicated CAT-T tourniquet is the better solution. It's way more compact. This is basically a giant rubber band that can work as a compression bandage or as a tourniquet. And years ago, I actually had to use this on a friend of mine. We were out camping and in a freak accident, he accidentally stabbed his thigh, giving himself a serious bleed. Of course, we were freaking out. I applied this and then we had a one hour drive to the closest fire station where EMTs were waiting. They observed how I applied this, said we're going to just leave it alone and keep an eye on it. He had to drive another hour in the ambulance. So two hours with this on his leg to get to the doctor when the doctor observed it, saw the wound. He said, if you hadn't had this on, you would have probably bled out before you made it to the fire station. Now guys, to be clear, I am not a medical professional. I am just an average Joe sharing my experiences with you. You need to take on your own responsibility, learn, get training and know the pros and cons of every medical device when you're using it on yourself or someone else. Now I also carry a cellox coagulant bandage. This is a Quagulant that will stop arterial bleeds, but again, pros and cons with that know what you're doing. Then I always have some rubber gloves and a little boo boo kit with a few band-aids and a few antibiotic cream pouches. So it's important to have different size medical kits with different capabilities. But when it comes to my personal, I make sure it's compact and small enough so I will have it with me everywhere I go.

The world's best trauma kits are useless if they're so big and bulky that you don't have them with you when a medical emergency arises. Sometimes when we focus…