What is a 'throw kit' and when is it used?
A throw kit is a compact trauma kit designed to be physically thrown, slid, or handed to a casualty who cannot be reached by a responder due to ongoing threat, terrain obstacles, or tactical positioning. The casualty or a nearby bystander uses the kit for self-directed hemorrhage control. The TacMed™ Casualty Throw Kit includes bi-lingual instructions (English/Spanish) to enable use by untrained individuals.
Does the Casualty Throw Kit include a CoTCCC-recommended tourniquet?
Yes. The TacMed™ Casualty Throw Kit includes the SOF® Tactical Tourniquet-Wide, manufactured by Tactical Medical Solutions. The SOF-T Wide is a CoTCCC-recommended windlass tourniquet validated for one-handed self-application. It is one of the two most widely recommended tactical tourniquets alongside the NAR C-A-T®.
Why does the Casualty Throw Kit include an emergency blanket?
Hypothermia is a leading cause of preventable death in trauma casualties, particularly during prolonged field care. Active hemorrhage rapidly depletes the body's heat generation capacity, and in any environment below body temperature, a casualty will lose heat quickly. The inclusion of an emergency blanket allows a self-treating casualty to initiate hypothermia prevention while waiting for extrication — addressing the H phase of the MARCH protocol even without trained responder presence.
What is the Control™ Wrap and how is it used?
The Control™ Wrap by TacMed Solutions is an elastic pressure bandage used for wound coverage and secondary hemorrhage control. It can be wrapped around extremity wounds, used as a pressure dressing over packed wounds, and applied as a self-adherent dressing without clips or fasteners. Its elastic stretch applies consistent circumferential pressure, making it easier to apply correctly under stress than traditional gauze wraps.
Is the Casualty Throw Kit suitable for mass casualty distribution?
Yes. The compact size and single-configuration design make the TacMed™ Casualty Throw Kit well-suited for mass casualty distribution — staging multiples in patrol vehicles, emergency command posts, or building safety kits for rapid deployment to multiple casualties simultaneously. The bi-lingual instructions support self-treatment by bystanders with diverse language backgrounds.
What is inside the TacMed ARK Casualty Throw Kit?
Each ARK Casualty Throw Kit contains: 1x SOF Tourniquet, 1x 4-inch Control Wrap, 1x Krinkle Gauze, 1x Emergency Blanket, 1x 2-inch Surgical Tape, 1x Bilingual Instruction Card, and 1x Casualty Marker Panel. The kit weighs 14.2 oz and packs to 8 inches by 6 inches.
Can the ARK Casualty Throw Kit be used by someone with no medical training?
Yes — the kit is specifically designed for deployment to untrained bystanders. The included bilingual (English and Spanish) instruction card provides illustrated step-by-step guidance for tourniquet application and wound management. The TacMed Control Wrap's anti-unroll brake system prevents application errors common with standard elastic bandages under stress.
How does the Casualty Marker Panel in the Throw Kit help evacuation teams?
The Casualty Marker Panel is a high-visibility panel placed near a treated casualty to mark their location for incoming evacuation and rescue teams. In chaotic active shooter or mass casualty scenes, casualties may be behind barriers, in corridors, or in areas inaccessible to early responders. The marker panel ensures that TCCC-trained RTF members and EMS can systematically locate and extract all treated casualties without leaving anyone behind.
