S-IFAK Insert: What to Include in Your Medical Kit
By Savotta – Load carrying equipment and sustainment systems | Published: 2026-10-27
Category: Buying Guides
Learn how to fill your Savotta S-IFAK insert with essential trauma and first aid supplies. Get practical advice on organizing a personal first aid kit that works under pressure.
Quick answer
Fill your S-IFAK insert with a trauma dressing, chest seal, tourniquet, compressed gauze, and gloves — items that fit the insert's elastic webbing and folding design. Skip bulky non-trauma items to keep the kit flat and accessible.
Why the insert design matters for what you pack
The S-IFAK insert folds closed with hook-and-loop and has elastic webbing on both sides. That layout works best with flat, stackable items. Round bottles or rigid containers will bulge the insert and make it harder to slide into a mount or pouch.
Because the insert has pull-out tabs on both ends, you can access it from either side. That means you should organize contents so the most urgent item (like a tourniquet) is always at one consistent end, no matter how you grab it.
Trade-off: full trauma kit vs. everyday first aid
The insert is sized for a full set of trauma supplies — think hemorrhage control, airway, and chest seals. If you pack everyday items like band-aids, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers, you'll crowd out the life-saving gear. Keep a separate small pouch for boo-boo kit items and reserve the S-IFAK insert for trauma only.
One compromise: add a single roll of medical tape and a permanent marker. They take almost no space and let you mark a wound or secure a dressing without adding bulk.
Decision rules for packing your S-IFAK insert
- Start with hemorrhage control: Pack a tourniquet (SOF-T or CAT) and hemostatic gauze first. The elastic webbing holds the gauze flat; the tourniquet can be folded and secured with the hook-and-loop flap.
- Add chest seals and a pressure dressing: Two vented chest seals and an Israeli-style pressure bandage fit side by side in the webbing. This covers the two leading preventable causes of death on the battlefield: tension pneumothorax and external hemorrhage.
- Include airway and gloves: A nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) with lubricant and a pair of nitrile gloves fit in the remaining elastic slots. The NPA tube sits flat; gloves fold into a small pouch or the flap. Test the fit before you seal the insert — everything should close without bulging.
- Mark your kit for quick ID: Use a permanent marker on the pull tab or attach a small label that says "TRAUMA" and the date you packed it. This helps you (and anyone else) grab the right kit in a high-stress moment. Check expiration dates every 12 months and replace any opened packaging.
Product facts
- S-IFAK insert: Full size IFAK insert with folding hook-and-loop closure, pull-out tabs on both ends, and elastic webbing organization for a full set of medical supplies. No medical supplies included. You decide exactly what goes in — no wasted items, no missing essentials — but you must source and organize the supplies yourself.
S-IFAK insert
Who should use the S-IFAK insert
Best for
- Anyone who wants a dedicated trauma-only insert that fits Savotta S-IFAK horizontal and vertical mounts
- Users who prefer to choose and replace their own medical supplies rather than buy a pre-filled kit
Not for
- People who need a pre-assembled, ready-to-use IFAK with supplies included
- Users who want to carry everyday first aid items (band-aids, ointments, pain relievers) in the same insert
