Even outside of the tactical and sports-shooting world, people need access to a solid Emergency First-Aid Kit. Accidents happen around us all the time, be they vehicular, or back-country mistakes. I believe the exact term is, “Sh!t Happens,” and that is not just limited to people in the shooting world. Being prepared with a first-aid kit can go a long ways towards saving a life. That’s why everyone needs something.
While there are a plethora of EDC options in first-aid kits coming to the market, some of which we’ve already covered, what options exist out there for the average person? Well, we got our hands on the MyMedic MyFAK, and think it deserves a review. As a result, here we are today. Let’s get into it.
Why Everyone Needs an Emergency First-Aid Kit.
First and foremost, we need to preface this article with a simple statement. Everyone needs a full-blown emergency first-aid kit. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, or what you do for a living. As stated previously, bad things happen at random times. There is simply no controlling how the dice will fall on any single day of the week. Those who are prepared will stand the best chance of making it through the situation. Those who are not, well they’ll be caught with their pants down and at the mercy of an injury.
It’s up to you to make yourself prepared. As an individual writer, I cannot force you to buy something you don’t want. I also cannot force you to learn skills like emergency trauma care. We live in America, where everyone is free to make their own decisions. That said, not owning a first-aid kit and knowing its basic functions could be the last mistake you ever make in your life. It could also be the last mistake you make in the lives of a loved one. I personally know that I won’t be that individual should I ever find myself in the type of situation that requires these basic skill-sets.
You should strive to be the same way. Especially if you consider yourself a member of this community.
They Also Need Basic First-Aid Training.
Owning a first-aid kit is also not where this ends. Everyone in the shooting world knows that practice and training are a requirement. If you possess the tools required to save a life, you need to seek out proper training from professionals. This training, while sometimes mundane and boring, could eventually become a matter of life and death for yourself, a loved one, or a total stranger. You can own ten of the best tourniquets in the world, and one of the most expensive suture kits on the market, and it won’t make a lick of a difference if you never got outside of your comfort zone and learned how to properly employ them under stress.
Here’s a great video from SkinnyMedic on the subject of medical training. Videos alone won’t make a perfect substitute for real world training with professionals, but something is better than nothing.
MyMedic’s MyFAK Emergency First-Aid Kit.
The MyMedic MyFAK was designed with the intention on giving people the ability to conduct first-aid anywhere they may need to. As a result, from the pouch up, it was designed to go anywhere, on anything, and be next to indestructible in the process. It features a hook and loop backing that tears off through the use of a handle. This gives the user the ability to strap it to the backseat of their vehicle, and easily rip it away from the attaching point in an emergency situation.
On top of this tear-away feature, it also bolsters large zipper pulls, and has a tri-folding pouch design. Due to the nature of the tri-folding pouch, a lot of gear can be stuffed inside of this small pouch. That means, you get everything listed below, inside of a pouch that will easily go wherever you need it to.
Contents.
Airway Management. | Burn Protection. | Sprain and Fracture. | Emergency Hydration. |
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Bleeding Control. | Bleeding Control Continued. | Medicine. | Outdoor Survival. |
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My Uses For the MyFAK Emergency First-Aid Kit.
The MyFAK Emergency First-Aid Kit is an excellent tool with many uses. Due to the modularity of the platform, there’s a variety of places that it can be stored or mounted for easy access. Personally, this is the medical kit that I keep in my vehicle at all times. While on the range, I carry the Range Medic from My Medic inside of my range bag, and I have the ability to quickly get to the MyFak from my truck should the situation be serious enough.
I choose to keep this under the front-seat of my vehicle for a couple of reasons. First of all, the likelihood of coming across a car accident is always decently high. Should there be serious injuries, the MyFAK gives me the ability to act as a pseudo first-responder until Paramedic and Law Enforcement arrive on the scene to take over. On top of this, having the MyFAK inside of my truck also is great for when I go out on long weekends to be off-grid. You never know when you’ll need to do some form of first-aid in the back country, and the MyFAK is great to have in those circumstances.
The MyFAK in Use.
Fortunately, I have not had to use the MyFAK in any actual emergency situations as of the time of this writing. While I certainly hope it stays that way, that doesn’t mean I haven’t done some basic training with it. On my first training session, I familiarized myself with the layout of the contents inside of the First-Aid Kit. This is an important step, because while under stress, the last thing you want to be doing is searching for a tool. You simply need to know where the tool is.
Throughout all of my training with the MyFAK, no serious issues with the kit itself came to light. The medical kit is laid out in a very standard and easy to access fashion. All of the pouch zippers, pulls, and wraps work exactly as intended. None of those items hinder the users ability to access the items they need in an expeditious manner. You may find that you want to re-organize the MyFAK if you have prior experience with other FAKs, but for me this thing was perfect the way it was straight out bag.
Final Thoughts on the MyFAK from MyMedic.
This is well and truly a no-brainer. The MyFAK Advanced from MyMedic will set you back about $250 after shipping and handling, and if you buy while the item is not on sale. For $120, you get a kit that’s a bit less stuffed and has room for you to add your own items. Either way, the price should not be a major deciding factor for you. Life-saving equipment can seem expensive, but at the end of the day it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a funeral.
That’s just the opinion of one independent reviewer though. Let me know down in the comments what your go-to emergency first-aid kit is. Do you use something as complex and complete as the MyFAK, or do you have a smaller medical kit with more basic supplies. We want to hear from you, because together as a community we can always come together to make the best possible buying decisions!