The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
The state provides every servicemember with a complete set of supplies for self-aid and buddy aid. The Individual General-Purpose Medical First Aid Kit (IGMFAK) is a mandatory element of equipment issued to every defender.
This was reported by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on December 29.
The contents of the kit are regulated by Order No. 506 of the Ministry of Defense dated July 24, 2024, which formalizes the transition to tactical medicine standards based on best practices of foreign partners as well as Ukraine’s own wartime experience.
Functional composition of the IGMFAK
According to regulations, the kit contains a full set of supplies to provide care under the M.A.R.C.H. algorithm (the sequence of actions for pre-medical and medical care in extreme situations):
Bleeding control:
- Tourniquets: 2 windlass-type tourniquets to stop critical limb hemorrhage.
- Hemostatic agents: 2 packing gauzes impregnated with a chemical agent for tourniquet conversion and control of junctional bleeding.
- Compression supplies: an elastic bandage with an absorbent pad (at least 14 cm wide) and compressed gauze bandages.
Care for chest and eye injuries:
- Occlusive dressings: a pair of gel-based thoracic seals (at least one with a valve) for treatment of open pneumothorax.
- Rigid eye shield: for protecting the eye in penetrating injuries, preventing further pressure and deformation of the eyeball.
Pharmacological support (“pill-pack”):
- The kit includes an antibiotic (Moxifloxacin or Levofloxacin) and pain relievers (Paracetamol, Meloxicam) in tablet form. This is a global standard for battlefield pain management in the absence of a qualified medic.
Auxiliary supplies:
- Atraumatic scissors, a thermal blanket, nitrile gloves, and fabric-based adhesive tape.
Casualty Card (Form №. 002/o): Why Is It Important?
An integral component of the IGMFAK is the Casualty Card. It is a specialized medical form made of moisture-resistant synthetic material, resistant to mechanical damage and liquids.
Its purpose:
- Recording interventions: The card is filled out using a waterproof marker (also included in the kit) directly on the battlefield.
- Information continuity: It records the time of tourniquet application, anatomical injury sites, and administered medications.
- Basis for digitization: Information from Form 002/o serves as the primary source for creating an electronic Primary Medical Record (ePMR) at the stabilization stage. This prevents data loss during evacuation and provides legal confirmation of injury for further receipt of social guarantees.
The IGMFAK configuration is максимально aligned with the international IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit) standard used by NATO member states’ armed forces. The kit fully covers all stages of care under the TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care) protocol — from massive hemorrhage control to hypothermia prevention.
The presence of exactly two tourniquets and two hemostatic dressings reflects the experience of modern conflicts, where multiple injuries require more supplies than earlier standards anticipated.
Requirements for dimensions and characteristics (for example, bandage length or the presence of a valve on an occlusive dressing) are identical to those of the TCCC Committee.
The inclusion of Form 002/o is a direct implementation of the NATO Triage Tag principle — mandatory casualty marking and documentation of provided care to ensure continuity of medical treatment.
“A modern first aid kit of a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier is not just a set of supplies, but a high-tech tool that meets the best global practices of military medicine”, — the Ministry of Defense stated.
