Summer Combat First Aid Kit — How to Prepare Your IFAK for the Heat

Content

What changes for the military in summer
What a summer first aid kit should be like
Requirements for storing first aid kits in summer

The hot summer on the front lines is a serious challenge to the health of military personnel. High temperatures, increased humidity, dehydration, and active sweating create additional risks and differ from being in cold or rainy conditions. That is why it is so important that in such conditions, the tactical first aid kit is adapted to the season. This way, it will not let you down at a critical moment.

Despite the fact that many basic components of a standard medical kit lose their effectiveness, the topic of summer first aid kits is often overlooked. A military first aid kit is not just a set of medical supplies, but a means that can save lives. Therefore, in summer, this kit must take into account the effects of temperature, humidity, and changes in human physiology.

What changes for the military in summer

The main problem is that high temperatures accelerate the deterioration of the contents of the first aid kit. Some medicines can lose their effectiveness at temperatures above +25°C. In addition, plasters or occlusive stickers can lose their adhesiveness. Even a decompression needle, if not protected from heat, can lose its seal.

Therefore, tactical first aid kits should be reviewed with the arrival of summer. For example, it is worth paying attention to the availability of antiseptics, sterile wipes, and spare gloves. After all, active sweating increases the risk of infection. At the same time, all instruments and medicines must have heat- and moisture-resistant packaging.

What a summer first aid kit should be like

Each component must retain its properties even at high temperatures: this is a key requirement that a first aid kit for the front line must meet if you are preparing it for summer.

We recommend adding a CAT/GEN7 tourniquet — a model that has been tested in extreme conditions and proven effective even at temperatures of +35°C. You should also add cooling bandages or hydrogels, which will be indispensable for burns or overheating.

You can never have too many sterile wipes, which can be used to clean wounds in the field. Therefore, they should always be available.

Also, keep in mind that in high temperatures and humidity, you will need to change gloves more often, so we recommend that you always have spare nitrile or latex gloves on hand. It is also extremely important that the decompression needle has airtight packaging that is resistant to heat.

TCCC or MARCH first aid kits should be updated for the summer season, as even a slight loss of component effectiveness can be critical.

Requirements for storing first aid kits in summer

To ensure that all components of the first aid kit for the Armed Forces of Ukraine remain effective during the summer, it is important to store it properly. The first and simplest rule is to avoid direct sunlight: it is better to keep the first aid kit under the seat or in special backpacks. You can also use heat-resistant covers to help protect both medicines and instruments.

An IFAK or combat first aid kit should be compact, but at the same time protected from overheating and moisture. Therefore, when assembling a first aid kit, pay attention to a number of characteristics:

What material was used for production. It should not deform or change its structure under the influence of high temperatures.
Study the information about the manufacturer. Choose those whose products are tested in combat conditions. You can purchase such a kit at TacMed.
How easy is it to access the first aid kit in stressful conditions? In addition, the contents of the first aid kit should be intuitive.

You must understand that a tactical first aid kit is not just a piece of equipment, but a potential chance for life. In the summer, a combat first aid kit must be adapted to heat, high humidity, and new challenges. Review your first aid kit now: make sure it is ready for summer.