Jackal Firearms - Trauma Kits and knowing how to use them

Initially posted - 31st January 2018 

 

At some point I'll have a long ramble about how I came to form this company, build this website and why I've now got a load more work to do because of those two things. But for now I'll cover one of the more pressing things that I again find myself sharing with others because....well to be honest....I needed one for myself first.

I've been fortunate to have some top quality first aid and trauma training over the years, en gratis, because I didn't try too hard at school and landed myself in a job where they gave me a loads of really practical skills. What then happened is that I got heavily into the shooting/hunting/fieldcraft game and often found myself in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by heavily armed individuals, none of whom had the first idea of basic first aid, let alone the care required to deal with catastrophic injuries.

I built myself several kits, each serving a specific purpose and they have now found themselves onto a shelf available for your good selves. I carry these kits on a daily basis as I became alive to the fact that I was INCREDIBLY vulnerable in the circumstances and scenarios I often found myself.

I stalk dear extensively in the UK, travel overseas to shoot boar (and the odd Red) and spend a significant amount of time on one of a number of ranges both local to where I live and up and down the country.

One thing is common in all of these locations, they are all rural and some are very much out of the way.

To suffer a catastrophic injury, from a fall or gunshot wound would be most likely fatal without rudimentary trauma/advanced first aid kit and training. No guarantees of it saving a life but the odds increase significantly by having both.

 

THE KIT

The below three kits are based on items I own and use, carry with me, or have in the boot of the car on a daily basis. There are 3 primary levels, a 4th comes into play later on, but for now:

 

Level 1 'Blow-Out' Kit

This is a self-serving, SHTF kit, that you would use to deal with a major bleed, resulting from a number of scenarios/injuries but ultimately having one priority, stemming the bleeding. These are items you can use on yourself, so no airways or chest-seals, and is simple and to the point. Kit like this is carried by most modern, forward thinking military forces for self treatment on the battlefield for good reason.

An appropriate case, I like the 5.11 3.6 med pouch of all the various ones I've tried. A decent CAT Tourniquet, some CELOX and an Israeli Bandage. You won't have time to put gloves on but its worth having them. A pair of trauma sheers or a safety cutter (fish) are also worth carrying. There are other things you could have in there but thats all I recommend as a starter for ten. My experience tells me that away from the battlefield, the average shooter/hunter/stalker is going to see a compound fracture as the most likely injury resulting in a catastrophic bleed, to this end a tourniquet is by far the most important item I carry. CELOX works well as a clotting agent in a wound and and Israeli Bandage will serve as a quality bandage to hold together whatever injury you are trying to fix whilst also being a very clever piece of kit itself in terms of offering haemorrhage control.

Lets not forget the most important thing, the Sharpie! Trust me, you put a tourniquet on a casualty and don't draw a big 'T' on their forehead then the doctor receiving them in the emergency room at the Hospital will make sure you know about it! That's a free one from me!

There are other options out there and by no means am I saying this is definitive, but anyone getting into this this from a standing start will be better off just having all of the above at their disposal

 

Level 2 'Trauma' Kit

This does all of the above yet gives you options for dealing with other casualties as well. Add in NPA's (NasoPharyngeal Airways) a set of chest-seals for supping chest wounds, eye wash for contaminants in the eyes (even more relevant with increasing number of acid attacks) and a bit more space for any extras you may want and you have a great little kit that can do an awful lot for you and your nearest and dearest. I carry one like this everyday, at work, the range and when out hunting in remote areas.

     

I have tried several cases but really like the Bulldog Tactical CMT Medic case due to how it opens and the fact that it doesn't have fiddly zips inside, like some other brands do. It comes in several colours and is possibly the wisest money you will ever spend on shooting kit. You may never use it, but it if you have the misfortune of watching the 'wheel come off' in front of you then there will be no doubt as to its value. Everything packs away nicely and is easy to get to when needed.

Again, other people sell these, change things about etc, but this one works for me, has been used in anger and gets my wholehearted recommendation.

 

Level 3 Group 'Trauma' Kit

A bit of a recurring theme here. There is a lot here that we see in the previous packs but what changes here is numbers. The bigger kit has several tourniquets, Israeli Bandages and the addition of a general first aid kit (boo-boo kit) with plasters and dressing etc, a full selection of Oral and Nasal Airways, a face mask (one way valve type for bag) and offers extra space for items you may need specific to your location or activity.

These are very much bespoke and made up to order. We have produced them for Shooting Clubs and professional hunters/groups who want something very portable, capable and discreet. I love the medium 5.11 bags, this one being their 'Bug-Out Bag' but their '4Banger' works well too.

Further advanced kits (Level 4 Advanced Trauma), with O2, burns kit and large storage space can be made up on request and typically stay static on a range or in a club house etc. These are very much bespoke items and are made up following detailed discussion and assessment.

 

All the gear and no idea

Its one thing having the kit you need but knowing how to use it, safely, effectively and within any relevant legal framework makes all the difference.

I have been fortunate to have been both trained to use advanced first aid kit & techniques but also to have had first hand experience in a live environment.

My experience tells me that no-one knows how they will react when trying to use kit/skills for the first time in a pressure environment but training hard allows you to fight easier!

We will be running the first of a number of bespoke training courses in 'Field Care' utilising advanced first aid/trauma kit of 2018 for a couple of large groups of clients over the next few weeks. These courses will offer subject specific guidance, overseen by trainers both correctly qualified and vastly experienced, tailored to the shooter and the environments they often find themselves in. Following on from this we will look to offer this service to the public, on an individual (booked as open session) or to a group of students and more detailed information will follow in due course.

The above Med kits will also be available to purchase on the site and, whilst I accept that you can get similar things elsewhere I can guarantee you one thing that no-one else can:

 

We will give you the training to know how to use it properly!

 

Follow the links and watch this space..............

 

Thanks, Big Jackal