The North American Rescue bleeding control kit is widely recognized for its comprehensive contents and effectiveness in managing severe bleeding. However, it isn’t the only option available.
Exploring alternatives is beneficial for individuals with differing needs, budgets, or specific preferences. Knowing the best products on the market will help you equip yourself with the best tools for facing life-threatening bleeding emergencies.
True Rescue
True Rescue provides expertly designed bleeding control kits to treat injuries caused by various emergency situations. Their kits offer high-quality, life-saving equipment at multiple price points to suit all budgets.
True Rescue offers three kit levels: standard, intermediate, and premium. These options come with rising levels of specialism, with the premium kit offering the widest range of medical equipment to face even the most serious bleeding emergencies.
A key feature of all True Rescue kits is the choice of three different tourniquets: the SWAT-T, SAM XT, or C-A-T Gen 7. Premium kit customers also have a choice between the NuStat and QuikClot hemostatic dressings.
This range of equipment options and price points gives customers the flexibility to select a kit that best meets their specific needs and budget. The ability to choose preferred tourniquets and hemostatic dressings is particularly beneficial for those with prior experience using specific brands.
Carrying a comprehensive bleeding control kit that empowers bystanders to respond to a medical emergency is a key factor in reducing preventable deaths caused by trauma. The average time it takes to bleed out after a serious trauma is 3-5 minutes. However, the average response time for first responders is 7-10 minutes. This makes bystander action—and the tools they carry—critical in saving lives.
True Rescue Bleeding Control Kits Explained
True Rescue’s bleeding control kits come in three configurations: standard, intermediate, and premium.
True Rescue’s Standard Kit
True Rescue’s standard bleeding control kit provides life-saving medical equipment to cover most bleeding emergencies. The standard kit comes with:
- A choice of tourniquet (SWAT-T, SAMXT, or C-A-T Gen 7) to stem blood flow from the extremities
- A high-quality wound-packing gauze to wrap injuries and pack wounds
- A 6″ emergency trauma dressing for larger wounds and applying direct pressure to an open wound
- 2 pairs of nitrile trauma gloves to protect the rescuer
- A rescue blanket (W 51″ x H 82″)
- A permanent marker
- Instruction card
Intermediate Kit
True Rescue’s intermediate trauma kit includes all the equipment included in the standard kit and adds two HyFin® Vent Compact Chest Seals. Chest seals are important medical equipment for treating penetrating chest wounds caused by a gunshot or shrapnel.
Premium Kit
The premium kit includes all the equipment in the standard and intermediate kits along with a choice of hemostatic gauze. Hemostatic gauze enhances the body’s natural blood clotting abilities, leading to faster bleeding control than standard gauze. Customers can choose between a QuikClot Bleeding Control Dressing or a NuStat 4×4 Hemostatic Gauze.
Specs
Dimensions: 7″ H 5″ W 2″ D
Weight: 2 lbs
Price
True Rescue’s bleeding control kits are among the most competitively priced without compromising on quality. The price of all True Rescue kits varies depending on the tourniquet chosen; the premium options also vary depending on the hemostatic gauze you add.
The True Rescue standard kit ranges from $59-$70, with the intermediate kit coming in at $72-$83. Premium kits containing the NuStat hemostatic gauze range from $92-$103 while kits with the QuikClot hemostatic gauze vary from $101-$112.
Summary
True Rescue offers an excellent alternative to NAR. Their trauma kits are compiled using only the best equipment and reflect founder Brian Graddon’s experience as a firefighter and SWAT medic.
True Rescue is a licensed STOP THE BLEED® retailer and offers the best price-quality ratio for bleeding control kits. Consumers can be safe in the knowledge that a True Rescue bleeding control kit provides the highly effective medical supplies required to save lives in traumatic bleeding situations.
SAM Medical
SAM Medical’s bleeding control kit is another great alternative to NAR’s bleeding control kits. This kit is popular for its simplicity and ease of use.
SAM Medical is known for designing products that are intuitive and easy to use, even under stress. This is particularly evident in the SAM XT tourniquet, which is designed for rapid application with minimal training. This focus on user-friendliness is a significant advantage in high-stress situations.
SAM Medical bleeding control kits are designed to be compact and lightweight, making them easy to carry and store. This is important for individuals who need to carry a kit with them at all times, such as first responders, outdoor enthusiasts, and people who work in high-risk environments.
SAM Medical bleeding control kits offer a cost-effective option compared to NAR kits. This makes them accessible to a wider range of individuals and organizations without compromising on quality.
While perhaps not as widely known as NAR, SAM Medical has a strong reputation for producing high-quality, reliable medical products. Their products are used by military, law enforcement, and civilian medical professionals worldwide.
SAM Medical Bleeding Control Kits Explained
SAM Medical offers one standard bleeding control kit. Customers can choose between the regular or vacuum-sealed options. This compact kit includes:
- SAM XT Extremity Tourniquet with permanent marker: SAM Medical’s own tourniquet is designed to standardize tourniquet application between users and require fewer adjustments. Its innovative design makes applying tourniquets easier, faster, and more intuitive.
- 1 pair of nitrile gloves
- 1 pair of shears
- 1 compressed gauze
- 6″ emergency bandage
Specs
Dimensions: H 7” x W 3.2” x L 9.7”
Weight: 10.9 oz
Price $52.99
Summary
SAM Medical offers a highly effective kit to control bleeding in many life-threatening situations. Its strength lies in its compact nature, making it perfect for stopping life-threatening bleeding on the move.
The main drawback is that this bleeding control kit only comes in one, standard configuration and contains less equipment than some of its competitors’ trauma kits. For this reason, this bleeding control kit should be considered a bleeding control kit for individuals.
SAM Medical’s bleeding control kit includes the brand’s own tourniquet and the kits aren’t customizable. Though this life-saving kit is ideal for single casualties, it may not be the best option for individuals or organizations looking for a kit that covers multiple injuries.
Rescue Essentials
Rescue Essentials has put together a wide range of highly competitive bleeding control kits to rival NAR. Their range of bleeding control kits includes a TCCC IFAK, Flat IFAK Vehicle Kit, and an Ankle Medical Kit. They also offer a Public Access Bleeding Control Kit designed to fit into an AED. The brand’s large range of trauma kits is what makes Rescue Essentials stand out.
Rescue Essentials offers a wide array of medical equipment that consumers can add to a standard kit. This modular approach enables users to tailor the brand’s kits to their specific needs, whether it’s for individual carry, vehicle kits, or large-scale deployments.
Rescue Essentials is actively involved in promoting bleeding control education and training. They provide resources and support for individuals and organizations seeking to improve their preparedness for bleeding emergencies. This commitment to education complements their product offerings.
They are an official partner of the Stop the Bleed® campaign, a national awareness campaign to empower bystanders to take action in bleeding emergencies. This association reinforces the brand’s commitment to providing effective bleeding control solutions.
The Rescue Essentials CFAK (Compact IFAK) includes:
- 1 C-A-T Tourniquet
1 Naso Airway, 28Fr
1 Hyfin Vent COMPACT Chest Seal (Twin Pack)
1 rescue blanket
1 compressed gauze
1 4″ emergency trauma dressing
1 pair shears
1 Sharpie marker
1 pair of nitrile gloves
Specs
Dimensions: 7″ H x 5.1″ W x 4.5″ D
Weight: 1 lb 4 oz
Price: $86.82
Summary
The Rescue Essentials Compact IFAK is a great alternative to NAR’s bleeding control kit. The Compact IFAK offers a more comprehensive range of bleeding control equipment for different types of traumatic injuries. However, equipment like the Naso Airway and the chest seal may require more than basic bleeding control training to use effectively.
Rescue Essential’s strength as a brand is its wide range of bleeding kits that come in different sizes and with distinct uses in mind. This makes it a great option for people looking for a more specialized trauma kit.
Choose the Best Bleeding Control Kit to Save Lives
While North American Rescue (NAR) bleeding control kits offer a robust and well-regarded solution for managing severe bleeding, exploring alternatives can be crucial for finding the best fit for individual needs and circumstances. The three alternatives presented offer distinct advantages, whether it’s a focus on affordability, portability, or specialized components.
Ultimately, the most effective bleeding control kit is the one that is readily available and familiar to the user. It’s also important to remember that proper training in bleeding control techniques is paramount, regardless of the specific kit chosen.