What is included in the TacMed™ Basic Airway Kit and what does each item do?
The TacMed™ Basic Airway Kit (SKU: MEDTAC0736) contains 8 components covering the full range of basic airway adjuncts: 1x Nasopharyngeal Airway 28F (NPA — CoTCCC-recommended size for adult trauma casualties, maintains nasopharyngeal passage in breathing or partially obtunded casualties); 1x Surgilube sterile lubricant jelly (for NPA insertion); 1x Tape Cloth 1-inch (device securing); 1x Berman Airway 90mm size 4 and 1x Berman Airway 100mm size 5 (oropharyngeal airways for deeply unresponsive patients with absent gag reflex); 1x King LTD Kit size 4 (supraglottic airway for unconscious patients requiring airway device maintenance); 1x CPR Pocket Mask adult/child (barrier-protected rescue breathing); and 4PR Blackmaxx Gloves Large.
Is the 28Fr NPA in this kit CoTCCC-recommended?
Yes — the 28 French NPA included in this kit is the CoTCCC-recommended size for adult trauma casualties. The CoTCCC-recommended NPA for most adults is 28Fr, providing an appropriately sized nasopharyngeal channel to maintain airway patency in breathing or partially obtunded casualties without requiring mouth opening. The NPA is one of the most important basic airway adjuncts in the TCCC framework and is included in individual first aid kits (IFAKs) and advanced medical kits across military, law enforcement, and EMS applications.
Why does this kit include two different OPA sizes?
The kit includes both 90mm (size 4) and 100mm (size 5) Berman oropharyngeal airways to accommodate varying adult airway anatomies without requiring the provider to stock multiple separate items. Size 4 (90mm) is typically appropriate for average adult airways, while size 5 (100mm) is used for larger adults or those with longer oral cavity depth. OPAs are used only in deeply unresponsive patients with absent gag reflex — if the patient has any gag reflex, the NPA is the preferred adjunct. Including both sizes maximizes the kit's utility across adult patients without adding significant weight or bulk.
When should the King LTD supraglottic airway be used versus the NPA or OPA in this kit?
The NPA 28Fr is the first-line adjunct for any breathing or partially obtunded casualty with reduced consciousness — it is tolerated with reduced but present gag reflex. The Berman OPA (size 4 or 5) is appropriate for deeply unresponsive patients with completely absent gag reflex when the provider needs to maintain airway opening during BVM ventilation. The King LTD supraglottic airway is used in unconscious patients without airway reflexes who require definitive airway device placement — providing a secure supraglottic seal that allows for passive airway maintenance or positive-pressure ventilation without laryngoscopy. The King LTD is CoTCCC-recognized as an SGA option for trained providers and can be placed without a laryngoscope.
How does the TacMed™ Basic Airway Kit compare to building an equivalent kit from individual components?
The TacMed™ Basic Airway Kit is pre-assembled by Tactical Medical Solutions as a complete, matched component set — eliminating the time and risk associated with sourcing individual airway adjuncts separately. Pre-assembly ensures the correct sizes are included together (e.g., matched NPA size + lubricant, matched OPA sizes for adult range, King LTD size 4 for adult supraglottic placement) and reduces the risk of arriving at a patient without a critical component. For medical directors stocking ambulance bags, IFAK kits, or training kits, the pre-assembled format simplifies inventory management and restocking. The kit is available from MED-TAC International at tactical-medicine.com/collections/airway-management-kits-and-supplies.
