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Gunshot Wound Kit

Contents of the Gunshot Wound Kit.
Contents of the Gunshot Wound Kit.

1) Introduction

I was told that gunshot wounds sometimes cause mortalities which could have been avoided, if the proper tools and skills had been available. A frequently quoted statistic is that the three leading causes of preventable combat deaths are extremity hemorrhage (60%), tension pneumothorax (33%) and airway obstruction (6%).

I have no medical training, but the contents of this "Gunshot Wound Kit" is supposedly appropriate to reduce such preventable fatalities.

2) Contents

I'm sorting as far as possible in decreasing importance:

4" Israeli Bandage with Pressure Bar and Second Mobile Pad (quantity = 2). Replaces single "30204 - Olaes Modular Bandage, 4 inch, Flat" in picture above. I can't claim one is better than the other. I do prefer to have 2 such bandages, and they were a bit smaller. Next time, I think I would prefer the 6" over the 4" bandages (4" seems a bit small after unpacking an expired one and making a few tests in 2021).
Combat Application Tourniquet
Celox Hemostatic granules 15g.
Halo Chest Seal
TPAK Chest Decompression Needle (14 gauge x 3.25 in.)
Nasopharyngeal Airway, Adj Flange 28 Fr
Trauma Shears, 7.25", BK blade
Gloves, Nitrile, 2 Pairs, Large

3) How to use the contents

Don't forget the ESSENTIAL oils!

I repeat, I have no medical training, and I insist on this web site's Disclaimer. That being said, such a Kit is useless without the know-how to use it. Here's the best I was able to find by digging a bit on YouTube (not my favorite watering hole for knowledge...).

Israeli Emergency Bandage
ARS For Needle Decompression (very professional video)
HALO Seals (more like an infomercial, but better than nothing)
Celox Rapid Z Folded Gauze
ACLS NPA nasopharyngeal airway Insertion (not very good)

A more theoretical article seems to be: Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC): Guidelines For The Provision Of Prehospital Trauma Care In High Threat Environments

4) Errors

Pouch for the Gunshot Wound Kit.

I wanted to order the "Tactical Operator Response Kit - TORK" from North American Rescue, but they told me their Canadian distributor was CTOMS, who themselves told me that for Health Canada red tape reasons, I couldn't directly import the TORK, but that they could order the TORK pouch, and fill it with an equivalent content. (In 2016, I ordered some things from Israeli First Aid (www.israelifirstaid.com), and they send everything from Israel, without going through Health Canada.)

When the box arrived, I was surprised to see the contents was not in the pouch. Actually, after many efforts, I gave up fitting everything into the pouch, it was just too small (or I have the I.Q. of a tea bag!). Fortunately for me, the first aid pouch #386808 of the MEC costs 14$ rather than 77$, and everything fits into it.

If I had to do it again, I think I wouldn't take the scissors (they are of poor quality, and they can be found everywhere), but I'd take two or even three "Olaes Modular Bandage" or equivalent, not just one. Also, I think the tube for the nasopharyngeal airway should have had water-based lubricant included in the package.

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