Paramedic

Tactical Tailor Intermediate Threat Bag: Best medical bag I have used

Tactical Tailor Intermediate Treatment Bag: Best medical bag I have used

I’ve never used any Tactical Tailor products, so I was very eager to try out their new intermediate threat bag. I have had buddies tell me that they have trusted Tactical Tailor products during multiple tours overseas, however, I had never had experience with any of their products until now. The Intermediate Treatment Bag is the perfect size for carrying vital medical supplies into a hazardous area.

The Intermediate Treatment Bag features a large center compartment which is great for large items such as SAM splints, small suction devices, or other similarly sized equipment. The lid of the main pouch has two smaller zipper pouches on both the outside and inside of the lid. Each side of the bag has two smaller pouches that run the length of the bag. Each pouch has elastic loops to help secure smaller items such as medical tape.

Additionally, the bag comes with two smaller removable pouches that fit inside the main compartment. Each of the smaller pouches features elastic loops to secure equipment inside of them. They also open all the way so they can be laid out on a flat surface for easy access to contents. I actually used one of the smaller pouches as its own first aid kit on a trip out of town, and it worked great.

One of the first thing I noticed about the bag was the high quality that YKK zippers used. The zipper pulls are metal and very large for easy use while wearing gloves. However, it would have been nice for the zipper pulls to have a rubber coating on them to help get a secure grip in the event you have blood or other liquids on your hands.

The bag includes a fixed carrying handle at the top and has both a fully removable shoulder strap and waist belt. The lid for the main compartment has a field of velcro for attaching patches. I personally would have liked to see a system of shock cord for external mounting of tourniquets instead of velcro, but that’s just me. Overall the Intermediate Treatment Bag is an excellent choice for anyone needing to carry medical supplies, whether down range or around the house.

Author – Cameron Paidousis is a former Police Officer and is a current member in the Air National Guard where he serves in Security Forces. For his civilian job he works as security contractor for the U.S. Government. When not working he enjoys spending time with his family along with kayaking, hiking, and traveling.

EMT who’s seen it all talks about the night he wishes he could forget

People often ask me: “What was the worst thing you ever saw on the ambulance?”

I think they are expecting some gruesome story about a decapitation or something. I’ve seen dead kids, people shot in the head, chest, and legs, burns, and stab wounds to the heart. I’ve seen strokes, heart attacks, cardiac arrests, overdoses and a multitude of illnesses and injuries, but nothing stands out in my mind more than the piano man.

I was working the 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. shift with a paramedic named Brett. He was a damn good medic and the two of us always had fun working together. We ran our calls and tried out new restaurants in the city, watched goofy T.V. shows and just generally had a good time. I genuinely liked working with Brett.

It was sometime after midnight, we were posted downtown, near the university, when the radio crackled.

“Medic 24, respond for a male with lacerations.”

It was a pretty vague description of what exactly we were going to, but you learn not to rely too much on the dispatch information. It’s not that 911 dispatchers are bad at their jobs (they are incredible professionals who act as our lifelines), but situations change, and they are not always able to get all the information.

The call was in an apartment complex that was primarily inhabited by college students. We pulled up and saw a few kids standing outside in the dark. They looked panicked.

We got out of the truck and were lead into an apartment by a 20-something woman. I remember she was upset, but she didn’t seem like a typical party-goer. In fact, none of the people on scene seemed like the type. They seemed more like nerds.

Once in the apartment, we found a man face down in the kitchen in a small puddle of blood. I bent down and tapped him on the shoulder and shook him a little bit, asking if he was okay.

He rolled over and looked at us. He smiled and said he was okay and cut his hands.

He held up his hands in the light. His palms were utterly shredded. They looked as though they had been caught in a meat grinder. We could see all the way to the bone, and muscle and flesh were hanging off in shreds.

We walked him to the ambulance and sat him down on the stretcher. Brett took a position next to him on the bench and prepared to start an IV line. I sat behind the patient with our laptop in my lap, and began asking him the questions we always ask.

“So what happened?” I said.

The man explained his friends were celebrating his upcoming graduation, just a few weeks away. They had been drinking, and at some point, he thought it would be funny to jump and hang from the awning which covered the parking spaces outside the apartment. He said when he jumped up, his hands got caught in the metal roofing, and when he fell, his hands were ripped apart.

Well that sucks, I thought. But he didn’t seem to be in much pain and was a pretty friendly guy. I kept the conversation going, and told him I had just graduated a few months ago myself, and asked him what his major was.

“I’m a music major,” he said.

My heart dropped, and Brett and I shared a dreadful glance. All I could think was that I hope he was a singer because he wasn’t playing anything with his hands anytime soon. But I already knew what was coming next, almost as though I could feel it.

“What, uh, instrument do you play?” one of us asked.

“Piano,” the patient said. “I have my final recital in two weeks.”

I think I said something like, “That’s cool,” but in my head, I knew he wouldn’t be able to play piano for a long, long time — if he was ever able to play again.

I drove us to the hospital with Brett in the back. I don’t know what they talked about, but Brett had an easy way about him which patients liked. In the front, all I could think about is how this one decision could have possibly — had likely — ruined this kid’s life.

We dropped him off at the Emergency Room and went back to work. I have no idea what else we did that night.

That call and that patient have always stuck with me, and for some reason, I think it’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen. Not because it was gruesome, but because it was the first time I ever saw someone ruin their life in one night. Although he didn’t die, I’m sure at some point he wished he had. I can only hope the plastic surgeons were able to piece his hands back together, but you never know.

This article was written by Joseph LeFave for NEWSREP

Feature image courtesy of the author

Emerson Knives N-SAR: The Navy search and rescue knife

When I think of a rescue knife, I think of an overbuilt, purpose-driven tool. By saying “overbuilt”, I don’t mean heavy, thick, or tons of gadgets; I mean a tool that can take a beating time and time again, and come back for more. It has to have a good balance and “feel” in the hand, and it has to be capable of exactly what its name implies: rescuing.

Over the years as a paramedic, I’ve had and used rescue hooks, friends rescue knives and “tacticool” tools. But my search for the perfect “rescue” tool/knife didn’t end until 2015 when my wife gave me the Emerson Knives N-SAR (Navy Search and Rescue) as a gift after graduating fire academy. In reality, up until two years ago, I didn’t fully appreciate exactly what I had in my “toolbox” (actually, my right-front pocket). Being a first responder, there is an importance to having the right tools for the job, because when seconds count, it can literally mean the difference between life and death.

“To provide a little bit of a background on the NSAR, in 1999 the United States Navy came to Ernest Emerson, the owner of Emerson Knives, Inc., and asked him to build a knife with certain specifications after a tragic helicopter crash. Six marines and one sailor were killed, due to being unable to free themselves from their webbing. The “rescue knives” that were initially issued to the members of the Special Boat Units (SBU’s) failed them and contributed to this tragic accident. In 2005, the “line cutter” on the spine of the blade was added at the request of the Navy. When I said purpose driven, the latter is exactly what I meant.” – Courtesy of Wikipedia

I have used this knife countless times on scene to remove a patients clothes, and speaking from experience, the N-SAR is way quicker and more efficient than a pair of trauma shears or any rescue hook. Some of you may squirm when I tell you that I have cut the clothes off of a patient that had been vomiting after a severe head injury, or blood-soaked clothing from being in a terrible car accident. The truth is though, I’m in the business of saving lives. I make seconds count. At the end of the call, the N-SAR gets cleaned and disinfected, and if it was heavily soiled, it gets broken down and thoroughly cared for. That’s the beauty of an Emerson knife; there are no fancy tools required to disassemble it. A Phillips and a flat-head screwdriver are all that is needed to get this tool back up to par and back in my pocket where it sits waiting for the next call.

The Emerson Knives N-SAR is one of three variations of Emerson’s rescue line. Made of 154CM steel, the blade is Cerakoted black, with Dragon’s Teeth serrations. The safety tip is rounded and blunted so as not to puncture a patient when using it to cut someone free from their seatbelt or webbing. The spine of the blade is notched out with a zero ground line cutter, capable of slicing through t-shirts, jeans, and (from experience) leather boots with ease.

The knife can be deployed using the thumb disc, or by Emerson’s patented Wave Feature, which is lightning fast; arguably faster than an automatic. As with all Emerson production models, the handles are made of grippy black G-10 and fits in your hand with a comfortable and natural feel. The liner lock is made of titanium for strength and durability.

Something that you won’t find on a production N-SAR is the backspacer that was made by my friend, Steve Kyle. At my request, Steve designed the backspacer out of titanium, notched the butt of it out to use as an oxygen wrench, and included a replaceable carbide window punch. If you get a chance, check out some of his work on Instagram @steveg30_knife_pimper.

If you are looking for the last rescue knife that you will ever NEED to buy, look no further. The Emerson Knives N-SAR is it. Functionality, durability and built with purpose.

For more information on the N-SAR and to purchase

Guest Author – Tony Kuhn

A Paramedics use of the Surefire Sidekick

There is no doubt that you will find article upon article on why the need exists to carry a dependable flashlight; one that you will actually carry and not leave at home. But this isn’t one of those.

I’m one of those guys that always has a flashlight on me. No matter what light I pick out to carry for the day, I can say that I have had the Surefire Sidekick with me at ALL times since I purchased it on Black Friday last year (2017). It sits on my keychain waiting to be used. I can go days without employing this great little light, but when I need, it is within arms reach. All too often though, when I use my Surefire Sidekick, I don’t give a second thought about how it was used.

The idea to share what is becoming one of my favorite ways to use the Surefire Sidekick came to me the other day when I was working my second job. I’m a glorified paramedic that starts IV’s for CT and MRI contrast studies. One thing that you should understand, is that when patients come in for these studies and need an IV, it is WAY different than what would be considered “acceptable” while working on the rescue at the FD. When you get a patient that is a “hard stick”, there is no bone drilling that you can do, no external jugulars… So, I do what any other fireman would do; get creative.

I don’t have the money to go out and get me one of those neat “vein finders” that have hit the market in recent years. But I’ve found that turning out the light in the room, placing the Surefire Sidekick on the patients arm at the highest setting (300 lumens), will make their veins stand out. Kind of like when you were a kid and shone the flashlight on the palm of your had to illuminate everything that’s in your hand (who am I kidding, you do this every time you get a new light). I move the light around, up and down their arm until I find what I think is a suitable vein. I’ve started the IV in both the dark or with the lights on, but I find it easier to do in the dark, as weird as that sounds. Make sure you are cleaning both the light and the IV site with alcohol prior to starting the IV. It helps to have another set of hands there to turn the light on when you get it started, but it is not necessary.

Just the other day, I had a patient that was to have a coronary study done. On this particular study, there needs to be a large bore IV so the contrast can flow at a very fast rate without blowing the vein. She had a right shoulder replacement the week before, and a history of left breast cancer (no IV’s on the left side due to issues with her lymph nodes). She was overweight (making it harder to find her veins), and the poor lady could only use her right arm for IV’s. She had told me that the hospital usually has to have a “specialist” come in and start an IV in her neck. Out came the Surefire Sidekick, and we went to work. Within seconds, the IV was started and the patient was amazed. In fact, the IV was so good, that the technologist only used a fraction of the contrast normally used in the study. In the end, the patient was happy, and I felt like a superstar.

Hope you enjoyed one of my experiences and uses for this magnificent light. If you have one, share yours.

**Make sure to use caution when holding the light on the patient’s skin for too long. This light is very bright and the lens can get hot. If you’re searching for awhile, give the light a second to cool off a bit, and go to work. Remember, “Do Know Harm, Do No Harm”.

Author – Tony Kuhn

Hey First Responders: Chris Has Got Your Back!

Everyday New York City’s first responders answer to thousands of calls for help around the city. From caring for the sick and elderly, to preventing crime, and fighting the cities worst fires. Our heroes work day in and day out, never holding a normal sleep schedule and putting strains on their bodies and minds that most people could not comprehend. Putting this strain on their bodies often increases a first responders risk in injury, illness and disease. It’s time to start helping those who help us, and Chris Torres from Brooklyn NY knows just the way to do it.

After being an athlete for most of his life and studying biology and education in college, Chris made the decision to take the FDNY test in 2012. He immediately began prepping himself and his body for the academy knowing the physical challenges that lie ahead of him. After joining his first Crossfit gym, his love for the sport quickly drove to advance and eventually become a personal trainer. After passing FDNY Probie School, Chris was assigned to Engine 242 in Brooklyn where he was introduced to other civil servants, including the emergency medical technicians, paramedics and police officers who he often responded to calls with. Torres realized just how important physical fitness and health was to all of our first responders.

This past month, Torres launched N.Y.C. I Got Your Six, a fitness academy tailored to the physical and mental stressors these careers have. “What’s the point in giving 25+ years of your life and beating your body if you can’t enjoy it when you retire?” According to the CDC, physical overexertion is the cause for most injuries to fire fighters and first responders. Physical fitness is something we all, as first responders can improve on and Chris is making sure of that.

I decided to check out his opening class, which was located at Crossfit STEED in Coney Island, Brooklyn. The workout was modeled after a typical Crossfit WOD that included functional fitness, functional strength training and metabolic conditioning. As someone who doesn’t generally work out as often as I should I found that Chris was able to tailor each part of the class to individual needs. I wasn’t able to do a traditional pull-up, but was shown an alternative which worked out the same muscle groups as well as building a foundation to eventually be able to do a traditional pull-up. That’s what this is all about, building your strengths and learning how to use your body to avoid injury when on the job.

Walking into the gym we were immediately met with the white board, which displayed the workouts we’d be doing that evening. As Chris went through each stage he explained and demonstrated each workout so that we all knew what we would be doing to avoid any injury and to keep us all in pace. Throughout the workout, he and some of the other experienced athletes would help those, like myself who were not as experienced. Everyone was willing to help, coach, and cheer each other on to finish each round.

“It takes someone who deals with the grind on a daily basis to understand what someone needs” Chris expresses after his first class. Being able to have a personal trainer who understands exactly what your body is going to go through is the ultimate benefit. “The guys who run this gym are very, very good at what they do,” Torres says about the owners and trainers at Crossfit

STEED. “The owners were unbelievably receptive to start the program and interested in the operation of the program. Considering a large amount of the current members are already civil service, we now have a home centered around them”. Torres uses his certifications in Crossfit Level 1 and 2, Crossfit Anatomy, Crossfit Weightlifting 1 and NASM to create his own workouts that will most benefit our first responders.

As Torres says “It’s time for … A CHANGE OF MINDSET”. Traditional workouts and gym routines are not enough to keep our first responders healthy and injury free. They need to do more to prep for these academies and the job that lies ahead. You can find more information on N.Y.C. I Got Your 6 by going to Facebook or Instagram @igotyour6nyc or E-Mail: [email protected]

Cave Testing the Blauer Tactical Pants

There’s only one way to know if a pair of tactical pants are worth owning. Put them on and then go beat the crap out of them. So when Blauer sent me a pair of their B.DU Tactical Pants that’s exactly what I did.

Cave Sliding Pants Testing

Of course, the pants meet all of the tactical requirements for this category. They’re complete with:

Breathable rip-stop fabric: Don’t sweat your ass off
Stretchable waist band: Go ahead and eat that second Mountain House
10 Pockets: Stuff your trash, blowout kit and all the spare cell phone batteries you want
L-Pocket: Carry a killer knife with you.
Silicone shirt gripper: Ya – it’s nice to have to keep the shirt tucked in

But all this doesn’t matter if they blow out when you take them to the field. I only had a few weeks to test them out so I thought I’d take them into some local caves and do so some crawling, climbing and sliding with them.

The verdict? No rips or tears!

They’re light weight

This might have something to do with having been at SEAL Team 3, a desert team in my day, but I like pants to be lighter weight. They help keep you cooler and they dry faster after swimming in them.

Well Thought Out – except one little thing (which I fixed)

It’s clearly been awhile since I’ve worn any tactical pants so at first, I wasn’t sure what the “L-Pocket” was, but I was pleasantly surprised to see how well it was designed and built to take my knife. No more wearing out pocket edges!

My only critique here, or anywhere, was that the clip of my knife went past the available space. I ended up using said knife to cut through the seam and was successful in making the extra space required.

I Made Sure I Sweat In Them

Okay, I get that might sound a bit nasty, but I’ve suffered too often in too many pants not take these things out for a spin. It was a pretty warm day out, and I don’t wear any underwear, so they got their fair share of… well, lets just call it use.

Again because of their light design they performed well. I sweat, they dried I sweat again and they dried again.

Zip it

These pants differed from most cargo type pants by using zippers instead of buttons or velcro. I actually prefer zippers over velcro because they don’t make all of that noise when you open them. You just need to make sure the zippers don’t get hung up with salty wet sand.

Overall

I like the pants. They’re simple, light weight, perform well and comfortable to pack and wear.