First Aid & Safety
Choose a military first aid kit sized for how you carry it, from a pouch on a belt to a full platoon leader's kit for the truck or base camp. This category also includes the field repair kits that keep uniforms and gear in service.
First aid options include the Rothco military zipper first aid kit and its pouch, general purpose first aid kits (including an adaptable version without alcohol prep pads or cold pack), the Platoon Leader's first aid kit, an M-1 jungle first aid kit pouch, and a MOLLE tactical first aid kit that mounts to PALS webbing on a vest, belt or pack. For bleeding-control gear there is the Rothco tactical trauma kit and a fast action tourniquet pouch, plus a surgical kit.
For field repairs we carry G.I. style and MultiCam sewing and repair kits, a BDU sewing repair kit, and the Speedy Stitcher sewing awl and awl kit for heavy canvas, webbing and leather.
Product pages list what each kit contains, so compare contents rather than size alone. A kit with plenty of adhesive bandages is built for everyday scrapes; a kit with a tourniquet and pressure dressings is built for serious bleeding.
A note for service members: these are commercial kits, not the issued Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK). Your unit issues the IFAK and decides what goes in it and where it is mounted, so use a commercial kit as a personal or vehicle supplement unless your leadership approves something else. Nothing on this page is medical advice; get hands-on training before you rely on any trauma item.
How to Choose a Military First Aid Kit
Start with two questions: what injuries do you expect, and where will the kit ride? A hiker, a range officer and a squad leader need different kits, and a kit that's too bulky to carry stays in the car when you need it.
Everyday First Aid Kits vs. Trauma Kits
Most injuries in the field are small: blisters, cuts, splinters and scrapes. A general purpose or zipper first aid kit covers those with bandages, gauze, tape and cleaning supplies. A trauma kit has a narrower job: controlling serious bleeding and other life-threatening injuries until help arrives. Many people carry both, the small-wound kit in a pack and the trauma kit where either hand can reach it.
MOLLE First Aid Pouches and Mounting
A MOLLE first aid kit attaches to PALS webbing on a plate carrier, belt or pack. Mount it where you and the people around you can find it, and keep the placement consistent across your gear. The zipper and M-1 jungle pouches clip to a pistol belt in the older issue style.
What Is an IFAK? How It Differs from a First Aid Kit
IFAK stands for Individual First Aid Kit, the trauma kit issued to each service member. It isn't a general first aid kit. According to the Army, the IFAK II, fielded in 2013, added a second tourniquet, a tactical combat casualty card, a marker, an eye shield, a vented chest seal and a strap cutter to the earlier kit, with empty pockets for hemostatic gauze that is issued separately because of its shelf life. Army medical officials describe its purpose as immediate point-of-injury care for life, limb and eyesight.
Military IFAKs are generally organized around Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) guidance and its MARCH sequence, which starts with massive bleeding. That's why tourniquets come first in these kits, and why minor-injury supplies are usually left out.
Commercial Trauma Kits and Your Unit
Our tactical trauma kit and MOLLE first aid kit are commercial products, not issue IFAKs, and we don't claim they match any military kit's contents. For duty use, your unit decides what you carry. Off duty, a commercial kit is a reasonable item for a vehicle, range bag or home, provided you know how to use what is in it. A tourniquet is only useful if you have practiced with it, so take a hands-on course from a qualified instructor.
Field Sewing and Repair Kits
Safety in the field also means keeping your gear working. A torn uniform seam, a blown-out pack strap or a loose button can end a trip early. The G.I. style and BDU sewing kits include needles, thread and buttons in uniform colors for quick fixes. For heavy jobs, the Speedy Stitcher sewing awl makes a lockstitch through canvas, webbing and leather, which makes it useful for repairing ruck straps, boots and holsters.
Keeping Your First Aid Kit Ready
- Inspect the kit before each trip and replace anything used, wet or damaged.
- Check expiration dates on ointments, medications and wipes.
- Add personal items your doctor has told you to carry, such as prescriptions.
- Keep a small kit in each vehicle and bag rather than one large kit in a closet.