The Lifeline: Volunteers re-certify individual first aid kits

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Senior Airman Brandon Jones, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron and native of Canton, N.C., checks the expiration date on a combat gauze packet in an individual first aid kits here Feb. 14, 2012. After the contents are checked and any necessary parts are replaced, the IFAKs are sealed with a tag and service receipt to show guarantee the IFAK was not tampered with prior to new issue. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon)

The Lifeline: Volunteers re-certify individual first aid kits

SOUTHWEST ASIA – A volunteer updates an individual first aid kit with the correct expiration date for items inside the IFAK here Feb. 14, 2012. The IFAKs are issued to all service members who deploy to Southwest Asia and other locations around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon)

The Lifeline: Volunteers re-certify individual first aid kits

SOUTHWEST ASIA – The contents of an individual first aid kit sit on a table here Feb. 14, 2012. Items like the minor module, which includes lip moisturizer, anti-bacterial ointment, bandages, and other basic items and QuickClot bandages must be replaced at least one year prior to its expiration date. This ensures that service members have functioning first aid equipment in case they need it while deployed. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon)

The Lifeline: Volunteers re-certify individual first aid kits

SOUTHWEST ASIA – Senior Airman Letichia Blue, 379th Expeditionary Medical Group medical logistics technician and native of Alexandria, Va., explains how to pack an individual first aid kit to volunteers here Feb. 14, 2012. The medical logistics warehouse depends on volunteers, who recertify about 35,000 IFAKs every year. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon)

The Lifeline: Volunteers re-certify individual first aid kits

Published Feb. 20, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Nathanael Callon
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The first item service members reach for when someone needs immediate medical care is the individual first aid kit, which includes items that allow lives to be saved.

Fourty-seven volunteers dedicated their day here to re-certify these life-saving kits Feb. 14.

"The IFAK is standard issue for all service members who deploy, regardless of occupation," said Senior Airman Letichia Blue, 379th EMDG medical logistics technician. "It has many things in it that could possibly save their life."

Each kit includes two tourniquets, a minor treatment kit for small injuries, a trauma module for critical injuries, and combat gauze. Before the units are re-issued to new deployers, some of the items must be replaced, while others are checked for use or wear.

"If it weren't for the extra help, we would have to spend every day working on IFAKs," said Staff Sgt. Abraham Mireles, 379th Expeditionary Medical Group Medical War Reserve Material NCO in charge and native of Chicago. "This way we can get all of them done in one day and give others a chance to contribute to this great mission."

Every IFAK must be certified through medical logistics before it can be issued to deploying service members.

"With the tempo of people coming through this base, there are a lot of IFAKs that get issued every month," said Mireles.

More than 35,000 kits must be certified every year, which means attention to the little details is very important, said Blue, who is a native of Alexandria, Va.

"The main piece of the re-certification process is ensuring items like combat gauze and the minor module is not expired," she added.

All items in the kit must have an expiration date at least one year past the certification date, or else the item must be replaced.

"Some items lose their effectiveness after a time," said Blue. "The minor module contains items like lip moisturizer, anti-bacterial ointment, bandages, and other basic items."

The quality of the product begins to degrade beyond the expiration date, and service members may depend on those products with their life, Blue explained.

"[The IFAK] is the first line of help until they can be treated by a medical provider or someone who can take care of them," she said. "If they have no other resources at that time, the IFAK is their lifeline."

Volunteers said that contributing in this way was a small but important way to help those downrange.

"What I'm doing here today could save someone's life," said Senior Airman Brandon Jones, 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron and native of Canton, N.C. "That in itself is very humbling."