Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) for service members: composition and compliance with international standards

The state ensures that each service member is equipped with a full set of tools for self-aid and buddy aid. The individual military first aid kit (IFAK) is a mandatory component of standard issue gear and equipment.

The composition of the kit is governed by the Ministry of Defence Order No. 506 dated 24 July 2024, which establishes the transition to tactical medicine standards grounded in the best international practices and Ukraine’s wartime experience.

Functional composition of the IFAK

In accordance with established standards, the kit includes a full range of items to provide care following the M.A.R.C.H. algorithm (the standardized sequence for prehospital and medical care in high-threat environments):

Hemorrhage control:

●       Tourniquets: Two windlass-type tourniquets for controlling life-threatening extremity hemorrhage.

●       Hemostatic agents: Two hemostatic gauze dressings impregnated with a chemical agent, intended for tourniquet conversion and control of junctional hemorrhage.

●       Compression dressings: An elastic pressure bandage with an absorbent pad (at least 14 cm wide) and compressed gauze rolls.

Care for chest and eye injuries:

●       Occlusive dressings: A pair of gel-based chest seals (at least one vented) for the management of open pneumothorax.

●       Rigid eye shield: A rigid eye shield for protecting the eye in cases of penetrating injury, preventing additional pressure and deformation of the eyeball.

Pharmacological support (combat wound pill pack):

●       The kit includes an antibiotic (moxifloxacin or levofloxacin) and oral analgesics (paracetamol and meloxicam). This reflects an internationally accepted standard for pain management on the battlefield when a qualified medical provider is not immediately available.

Auxiliary items:

●       Trauma shears, a thermal blanket, nitrile gloves, and cloth-backed adhesive tape.

Casualty Card (Form No. 002/o): Why it matters

The Casualty Card is an essential component of the individual military first aid kit (IFAK). It is a specialized medical form produced from moisture-resistant synthetic material, resistant to mechanical damage and liquids.

What it is used for:

●       Documentation of interventions: The Card is filled out with a waterproof marker (included in the kit) directly at the point of injury.

●      Information tracking: The Card documents the time of tourniquet application, injured anatomical sites, and medications administered.

●       Foundation for digital records: Information from the Casualty Card (Form No. 002/o) serves as the primary source for creating the electronic Primary Medical Record Card (ePMC) during the stabilization phase. This eliminates data loss during evacuation and provides legal confirmation of injury for subsequent access to social benefits.

The composition of the individual first aid kit (IFAK) is closely aligned with the international IFAK standard adopted by the armed forces of NATO member states. The kit’s contents comprehensively address all phases of care defined by the TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) protocol, from massive hemorrhage control to hypothermia prevention. The inclusion of two tourniquets and two hemostatic dressings reflects the experience of modern conflicts, where multiple injuries require a greater quantity of medical supplies than earlier standards anticipated. Requirements for size and performance characteristics (including bandage length and the inclusion of a valve in occlusive dressings) fully correspond to those established by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care. The inclusion of Form No. 002/o represents a direct implementation of the NATO triage tag principle, which requires mandatory casualty marking and documentation of care delivered to maintain continuity of medical care.