My Medic First Aid Kits
First Aid Kits. It's a complex subject for those of us uninitiated in the medical arts. What to put in one? How big should they be? How much should they cost? Do you buy a pre-made one or build your own?
There is the easy way, and it's the route we've chosen for ourselves, and that is to purchase high-end pre-made kits from My Medic.
We'll explain our reasoning, and why we suggest you consider doing the same for your emergency kits.
Benefits of Pre-made First Aid Kits
Whether you want to roll your own, or buy a kit made, both have can benefits & downsides.
The first reason to buy a pre-made kit is money
Believe it or not, ordering a pre-assembled kit can save you cash as long as you buy the right kit and only need a few FAKs (First Aid Kits.)
This is because most medical supplies come it rather large quantities. You can't order a couple of rubber gloves, you need to order a box of 100. This is just one example; for most of the items in the kit you will need to order much more that you will need for 1-2 kits.
If you are making 20 kits, than this is the way to go to be sure. Make a list of the items you need for each kit and go out and purchase in bulk. Or even if you would like to have the extra supplies around and have the space for it.
But if you only need a few (or one) then only get the quantities you need by purchasing a pre-made First Aid Kit.
The second reason is experience
We knew we needed a few good first aid kits for our emergency survival gear, but wanted to get the right gear. We started to do research about it, and the amount of information out there was immense, and often contradictory.
So what to do? We looked for a company we could trust who knows how to build the right kids of kits because that's what they do all the time. We wanted a company that worked with and was endorsed by First Responders.
That led us to My Medic.
After talking with the great folks over there we knew we we're going to be in good hands.
So we ordered 5 kits from them: (3) MyFAKs (Pro and Standard) and (2) Solo (no longer available) kits.
(Update 3/24/22) We've also added the MYFAK Large and TFAK to our supplies.
The third reason is convenience
Got lots of time on your hands? Great! Make your own FAK's. You'll learn a lot along the way and maybe even have fun doing it.
Check our our article about how-to build an EMT & Paramedic First Aid Kit for some ideas if you want to DIY.
But if you are like us, and time is at a premium, then getting a First Aid Kit from a trusted supplier is the way to go.
You're getting the right stuff, the first time, and can easily attach it to or stick it in a Bug Out Bag or Get Home Bag.
Do you still need to do homework to learn how to use it? Yes! But that is a story for another day...
How Much Kit Do You Need?
This is a key question; how much first aid equipment should you carry with you in an emergency survival kit?
It's easy to go overboard, and also easy to not have enough.
So the question breaks down to a few factors:
- How many people is the kit for?
- What type of kit are you including this in (GHB, BOB, INCH?)
- How much can you afford to spend?
Based on those criteria, we will look at the current options from MyMedic and where they would be most useful.
The MYFAK First Aid Kit
The MyFAK kit is the kit you want to get if you have the space and the money for it. The Standard Kit will set you back $130 and the Pro kit $250.
That may sound like a lot of money, and it is, but you are getting the one and only First Aid Kit you would ever need in either case.
These FAKS are essentially well rounded out trauma kits. The Pro Kit can temporarily treat gaping wounds, amputations, deep cuts and infections, sucking chest wounds, obstructed airways, and more.
Standard or Pro?
If you can swing it, get the Pro. It has more product and includes the heavy trauma gear you'll really want to have along.
If you are just looking for a really good, all around boo-boo kit for you and the family then the Standard does the job.
One thing we really like about the MyFAK: the velcro on the back of it sticks directly to carpeting used in many cars and trucks if you remove the MOLLE backing.
One of our basic kits lives in our cars at all times and stays nice and snug attached to the wall of the trunk.
Or you can use the backing that comes with it, and attach it to the back of a headrest. When you need it, you can tear it right off of the retaining strap and get into it in seconds.
Pro Tips
- When you first get your kit and open it up you will noticed that it is packed very tight (especially the Pro.) Do yourself a favor and snap a few photos of the inside of the kit so you'll know where to put everything back before pulling the stuff out. Re-packing the kit the way it was can be a tricky affair if you do it too quickly (as we did..!)
- Throw some extra band-aids and alcohol wipes in there. These are what we are reaching for 90% of the time we open ours so you can't have too many, and they don't take up any space.
- Also make sure the shears and tourniquet (if you have one) are the easiest to grab because the types of wounds you would need then for require quick action. You don't want to be digging around looking for them.
- If there are any medications you take daily, or if you wear disposable contacts, put some of both in there as backups.
Here's a walk-thru video of the MYFAK:
Where to Get One
BTW If you buy anything with the links we provide on this page we might get a small percentage of the sale. For more info click here.
We're a family run business. When you purchase via the links below it really helps us out, and we take our cut from the sellers end, your cost doesn't change. Your support is greatly appreciated!
MyMedic MYFAK | First Aid Kit
Typical Price: $130 Standard | $250 Pro
The best first aid kit on the planet! Equipped with high-performance life-saving supplies, so you’re prepared, confident, and protected.
- Made from high-quality nylon Cordura for utmost durability and functionality
- Multi-use pack
- Over 100 quality first aid and trauma supplies
- Tear away pouch inside can be used as an additional mini first aid kit
$120Standard$240Pro $120Amazon
The MYFAK LARGE
If you are preparing for a larger group of people, or you are well trained, or just want to have a bigger, better kit then the MYFAK large is the one your want.
Actually, it is my preferred kit. If you a purchasing something for the house or a vehicle, and you have the space, this is the way to go.
I really love this kit, it's really well organized, has nearly everything you could think of already in there, and it's easy to expand the capacity thanks to the MOLLE on the front.
As they say in the video below, it covers you from boo-boos to blow-outs.
That means in the PRO kit you can deal with:
- Massive bleeds
- Wound cleaning, packing, suturing
- Fractures
- Diabetic incidences
- Chest / Neck wounds which require occlusive dressings
- Boo-boos of all shapes and sizes
- Medical stuff like headaches, allergy, stings, etc
- Shock
The MYFAK LARGE is only a few steps away from a fully featured EMT / Paramedic kit. There's not much space to add too much in the kit itself but you can attach more bags to the outside.
There are a few things you'll want to add that fit inside the kit:
- More bandaids and ointment (what we use more than anything)
- SWAT-T: backup tourniquet / pressure dressing
- Any personal medications you might need on the regular
On the outside of the kit, I added two important components:
1: A Condor EMT Glove Pouch. You need fast access to gloves, they should be outside your kit and you want a bigger supply of them in my opinion than the 3-4 MYFAK puts in the kit.
I just slide in the hook thru the MOLLE on the back of the glove pouch, that way it's right there and the first thing I can grab - also it serves as a reminder to put gloves on should I forget in the heat of the moment.
2: An AIRWAY kit which has the following:
- A pocket mask
- OPA kit (Oropharyngeal Airway)
- NPA kit (Nasopharyngeal Airway)
With the AIRWAY Kit, I can keep an open airway with unconscious (OPA) and conscious (NPA) patients and provide good positive pressure ventilation with the pocket mask. If you want to go next level, get a Pocket Bag Valve Mask instead.
I put it all into a spare Maxpedition 12" X 5" Bottle Holder which I hold onto the bag with the strap on the MYFAK.
A note about NPA and OPAs: they need to be sized to the patient. I pre-measured the NPA and OPA in our kit for each of our family members and labeled them - so I don't have to size them during an emergency event. Just an idea.
Also adding a BP cuff and a stethoscope allows you to get really important information: lung & heart sounds, along with blood pressure (knowing BP can help you determine many things, most importantly if shock is happening) but that's up to you. If this is the main kit in your house, you'll want those tools.
KIT UPDATE:
We've changed the outside of our MyMedic Large, as the function of this kit has turned into half training kit / half response kit.
We swapped out the Maxpedition bottle holder with a smaller Condor H2O bottle holder, and it now houses a Pediatric Bag Valve Mask, with the Pocket Mask now living on the front of that. NPA's live along the side of that (not shown) and we removed the OPA's.
(We use the Pediatric BVM because of its small size, and we are often showing kids how to use it in our 4H Basic First aid classes.)
Also on the front are (2) North American Rescue CAT Tourniquet Holders which each hold a blue training CAT Gen 7.
We've also added a Leatherman Raptor Rescue set of folding trauma shears.
Here's a walk-thru video of the MYFAK LARGE:
Where to Get One
MyMedic MYFAK LARGE | First Aid Kit
Typical Price: $250 Standard | $380 Pro
The best first aid kit on the planet, now larger! Equipped with high-performance life-saving supplies designed for easy accessibility.
- Twice the size of the original MyFAK, equipped with over 200 items
- Easy way-finding for quick access to life-saving tools
- Shoulder/waist strap for portability
The TFAK: TRAUMA FIRST AID KIT
My Medic makes a small kit they call the TFAK. It's interesting to us for a few reasons:
- It's portable, so can be worn on belt or put on a backpack
- It is capable of dealing with major trauma such as massive bleeds
What it isn't really is a boo-boo kit. You can add some band-aids to it if you want, and you probably should but that isn't the point.
You can convert it to a TCCC IFAK if you want to pretty easily. Check out our tutorial on Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (aka TCCC for Civilians.)
This was designed essentially as a combat medical kit, so it can help with the penetrative wounds from bullets and shrapnel, as well as handle sucking chest wounds or neck wounds.
I've added a Condor EMT Glove Pouch to one side, and a CAT Gen 7 Tourniquet in a North American Rescue CAT Tourniquet Holder on the other.
I'll keep the RATS Tourniquet on there as a secondary.
This kit is pretty perfect as it comes. Only thing I could see changing would be the Quick Clot for CELOX, if you have any family members who take anti-coagulants like coumadin - since Quick Clot wont stop the bleeds in them - it has a different method of action then the CELOX.
Is this the right kit for you? It depends - are you willing to train to learn how to use it? Do you know when or how to use the occlusive dressings (chest seals)? Do you know how to perform CPR?
If you are looking for an IFAK that goes conforms with TCCC guidelines, this is pretty close, you would need to make a few modifications / additions:
- Change the RATS tourniquet to a CAT or SOF-T (or just add a CAT to the side as I have)
- Add (2) 10 GA NAR Decompression Needle
- Remove the Zips, CPR shield, Pen Light, Super Wash & Whistle (not necessary, but not part of the "standard" IFAK kit)
This makes a great range or hunting kit.
Where to Get One
MyMedic TFAK | First Aid Kit
Typical Price: $160
A micro trauma kit packed with essential life-saving supplies. Designed by medical and firearm professionals, a first aid kit perfect for hunting, the gun range, your car, and more.
- Contains over 35 quality supplies, including 15 trauma items, such as chest seals and a tourniquet
- Packable, all-in-one medical kit for the range
- HSA/FSA approved
Alternative Kits
If you are looking for a similar FAK to the Large MyMedic FAK that has nearly all the same gear but is half the price, we recommend looking at the Surviveware Large First Aid Kit. For $125 you get a huge amount of items in a well organized, easy to use kit.
It's a little bit larger than the MyMedic FAK and doesn't have some of the trauma equipment, but is a better choice for those not super familiar with first aid equipment and gear. All the items are laid out and labeled in a way that makes them easy to find when time is of the essence.
The Solo First Aid Kit
UPDATE 3/25/22
The Solo FAK is no longer available and MyMedic currently isn't offering a direct replacement. Check out the TFAK instead.
The aptly named Solo kit is designed for 1, and is small enough to include throw in a commuter pack, a get home bag, or in the car. The Solo is also TSA friendly, so take in on a plane with you without issues.
It was designed to be a boo-book kit, to treat minor, non-life threatening aliments. So scrapes, burns, small cuts, bites, those kinds of things.
Basic or Advanced?
Like all MyMedic Kits it comes in two flavors: Basic for $50 and Advanced for $90.
The Advanced Kit holds nearly all the same items as the basic, but adds a Rats Tourniquet, Liquid Skin, and a Survival Card.
All good additions, but in this case, given the kit size and what it is mainly designed to do, I would recommend the Basic Solo.
The Solo also comes in two styles of case, a soft and hard case. Although the soft case isn't waterproof in the same way the plastic case is, I recommend the soft case. It has MOLLE straps and can be attached to the outside of a backpack.
See a list of what's included in both here.
MyMedic The Solo | First Aid Kit
Typical Price: $50 Basic | $100 Advanced
Small, water resistant and lightweight... this First Aid Kit comes in 5 colors so you can match it to any outfit! Fits perfectly in most backpacks and it's even safe for carry-on wherever you fly.
Up Next
