The individual first aid kit (IFAK) is quickly becoming a key piece of everyday carry gear — and rightly so. Whether you need a dressing or a tourniquet, the ability to access the right gear quickly becomes critical. The keys to successfully tending to those who are in need of that level of care include not only having the right gear nearby, but also being able to deploy that gear quickly and intelligently.

MyMedic has some excellent first aid kits available. The Shield ($199.95) is the company’s kit meant to care for one person long enough for advanced medical help to arrive (or long enough for you to care for yourself and make it to a medical facility).

The Shield includes several supplies. For airway management, the kit includes a twin pack of a HyFin chest seal and a 28 French nasopharyngeal airway by Dynarex. For bleeding control, the kit includes a hemostatic dressing, a R.A.T.S. Tourniquet, a QuikClot and a 4-inch PerSys Medical Israeli bandage. The kit also includes EMT shears, latex-free gloves, NPA lube, a R.A.T.S. pouch and a rescue blanket.

All of this gear comes in the Shield bag, a very tough, dual-zippered pouch. When it is attached to your belt or backpack, you can open it with one hand and get immediate access to all the gear inside. The R.A.T.S. tourniquet is contained in its own external pouch, which attaches with a hook-and-loop closure, and the entire kit can be affixed to you or your gear with two MOLLE sticks. You can also wear the pack by using the included strap. Once open, the bright orange interior helps you see the contents. The most accessible items are the gloves and the 4-inch trauma dressing. The shears are also readily accessible. All the rest of the gear is easy to grab, and you can arrange it all however you want. There is even a bit of space to add a couple extra items if you want.

The Shield measures just shy of 8 inches long, about 5 inches wide and about 2.5 inches deep. As such, it is easy to stuff into the corner of a backpack or into the glove box of a car.

The Shield travels with me wherever I go along with my gun, a reload, a folding knife, a tactical flashlight and a tactical pen. While the Shield does not always travel on my person, it is at least nearby in a bag. It’s an IFAK that’s become EDC gear.

More info at: https://mymedic.us/