For your everyday carry, or EDC, basic medical supplies are always useful – but your IFAK contents will depend on your job or daily routine. The EDC pouch contents will vary for a traveller and a construction worker, for instance, which demonstrates the importance of building your kit from the ground up. While trekking through the wilderness, it makes sense to carry a trauma kit that you can count on while bleeding out on the side of a mountain. The best EDC pouch will be compact and specific so that you are covered in an emergency without lugging around excess supplies.

Everyone should have some form of IFAK pouch in case of emergency, but the best EDC pouch contents must be determined individually. There are, however, some items that are valuable across the board.

Ask yourself: What is the worst-case scenario and how can I prepare for it?

If you mean to carry your IFAK on your person, there is one keyword to remember: accessibility. You, or someone else, need to be able to reach your kit in an emergency. A belt is one good place to store your kit. If you want to keep your kit in your bag, put it in an easily accessible pocket, or ideally, have it attached to the outside of the bag for visibility. Some people like to store an IFAK pouch in their vehicle, in which case a backseat will suffice as long as it is always within reach, not buried under a mountain of gear, or in my case, beef jerky. Even the best IFAK pouch is worthless unless you can reach it in time.