Tension pneumothorax is the second-leading cause of preventable death in trauma. Trapped pleural air builds pressure, shifts the mediastinum, and shuts down venous return in minutes. The intervention is needle decompression — performed only by a provider trained and authorized to do it.
Does your protocol carry the CoTCCC-recommended decompression device — in the gauge and length your medical director authorizes?
The ARS is the device the standard is built on. A capless flash chamber gives immediate visual confirmation of pleural entry with no cap to remove; a rugged protective tube with textured twist-top and pocket clip survives carry and opens one-handed. The 3.25″ length meets the CoTCCC specification for reliable chest-wall traversal, and both the 14 Ga. (baseline) and 10 Ga. (added in 2018 for greater airflow) are CoTCCC-recommended — stock the gauge your protocol authorizes.
Built For The Provider Who'll Use It
Capless Flash Chamber
Immediate visual confirmation of pleural entry — no separate cap to remove under stress.
3.25″ (8.25 cm) Length
Meets the CoTCCC standard for chest-wall traversal, where shorter 2″ needles fail to reach the pleural space in a large share of adults.
14 Ga. or 10 Ga.
14 Ga. is the recommended baseline; the 10 Ga. (added 2018) offers a roughly 60% larger lumen and greater airflow.
Rugged Protective Tube
Textured twist-top and pocket clip for one-handed, glove-on access; protects the catheter through carry.
Sterile, Single-Use
Each unit individually packaged for sterility.
Field-Proven Design
Developed with prehospital providers and combat-trauma data.
Controlled medical device — licensed providers only. Needle chest decompression is an invasive procedure restricted to clinicians trained and credentialed to perform it under medical-director authorization or standing protocol. This device is supplied for qualified medical professionals and agencies; it is not a consumer first-aid item, and this listing is not a substitute for hands-on training or medical direction. Use only within your scope of practice.
The Device Is Half The System
Decompression outcomes turn on training and medical direction, not just the catheter. Site selection, indications, and technique are taught in TCCC, TECC, and provider-level courses and governed by your protocol — not learned from a product page. Stock the recommended device, train to your scope, and operate under medical direction.
Who Stocks It
Combat & Tactical Medics — team-level decompression capability for penetrating and blast torso trauma.
EMS Paramedics & Critical Care — protocol-driven NDC capability for the prehospital environment.
Physicians, PAs & Agencies — stocking the CoTCCC-recommended device in the authorized gauge.
Provider Training Programs — the standard device used in TCCC/TECC instruction.
Round Out Thoracic Care
Pair decompression with occlusion and the broader kit:
The ARS, Up Close
Stock The Standard — For Credentialed Providers
Genuine North American Rescue, CoTCCC-recommended, in 14 Ga. or 10 Ga. Shipped from a clinician-founded, veteran-led team.
Key Specifications
| Manufacturer | North American Rescue (NAR) |
| SKU — 14 Ga. | ZZ-0056 | NSN 6515-01-541-0635 |
| SKU — 10 Ga. | ZZ-0298 | NSN 6515-01-673-1701 |
| Gauge Options | 14 Ga. × 3.25″ | 10 Ga. × 3.25″ |
| Weight | 0.6 oz |
| Sterility | Sterile, single-use |
| CoTCCC Status | Recommended device for needle decompression (both gauges) |
| Controlled Item | Licensed-provider use only |
| Price | $9.99 (14 Ga.) / $15.99 (10 Ga.) |
When to Choose the ARS for Needle Decompression
Available Gauge Variants:
14 Ga. × 3.25 in. (SKU: ZZ-0056, NSN: 6515-01-541-0635) — $9.99
- 1× 14 gauge × 3.25 in. needle/catheter assembly
- Rugged protective tube with textured twist-top and retention clip
- Capless flash chamber — immediate visual confirmation of pleural entry
- CoTCCC SEL# 09MS-02-THOR | Default choice for most adult patients
10 Ga. × 3.25 in. (SKU: ZZ-0298) — $15.99
- 10 Ga. × 3.25 in. — same length as 14 Ga., ~60% larger lumen bore
- Greater airflow rate on decompression; reduced kink risk due to thicker catheter wall
- Added to CoTCCC recommendations in 2018 for high-BMI and heavily-muscled patients
- CoTCCC currently recommends 10 Ga. for anterior (2nd ICS MCL) approach in updated protocols
- TCCC M-MARCH Respiration (R) — tension pneumothorax decompression — the ARS is CoTCCC-recommended (SEL# 09MS-02-THOR); its trocar tip penetrates the chest wall more reliably than a standard IV angiocatheter. Both 14 Ga. and 10 Ga. are CoTCCC-listed.
- 14 Ga. (ZZ-0056) — default for most adult patients — at 3.25 inches, reliably reaches the pleural space at the 2nd ICS MCL and the 4th/5th ICS AAL insertion sites in the majority of adult patients. $9.99.
- 10 Ga. (ZZ-0298) — high-BMI, muscular, or protocol-specified patients — ~60% larger lumen than the 14 Ga., reduced kink risk, faster air evacuation on decompression. CoTCCC now recommends 10 Ga. for the anterior (MCL) approach in many updated TCCC cards. $15.99.
- Many medics stage one of each gauge — 14 Ga. as the primary, 10 Ga. as the follow-up if the 14 Ga. fails to decompress. Total cost: $25.98 for both.
- TCCC-trained providers only — ARS is for medics, paramedics, PAs, and physicians trained in needle thoracostomy. Not a bystander device. Carry only if you have training in this specific technique.
Gauge selection: Check your unit's current TCCC card. Many updated protocols specify 10 Ga. for the anterior (2nd ICS MCL) approach and 14 Ga. for the lateral (4th/5th ICS AAL) approach. When in doubt, carry both — $25.98 for the pair.
Insertion: Insert superior to the lower rib margin (avoids the neurovascular bundle). The capless flash chamber confirms pleural entry on air rush. Remove the needle, leave the catheter, secure with the clip.
Reassess: Kinking is the primary failure mode — especially with the 14 Ga. Reassess catheter patency and respiratory status every 5 minutes during transport. If tension pneumo signs return, suspect kink before assuming failure of decompression.
ARS vs. Common Alternatives
14 Ga. ARS (ZZ-0056) vs. 10 Ga. ARS (ZZ-0298): Same 3.25-inch length, same protective tube, same capless flash chamber design. The 10 Ga. bore is ~60% larger — faster decompression airflow, lower kink risk, preferred for high-BMI or heavily-muscled chest walls. CoTCCC added the 10 Ga. in 2018 and now recommends it for the anterior MCL approach in many updated protocols. Carry both at $25.98 combined if unsure which your protocol calls for.
ARS vs. Standard 14 Ga. Angiocatheter (IV catheter): A standard IV angiocatheter is a functional field substitute — the ARS is purpose-engineered for chest wall penetration. The ARS trocar tip penetrates intercostal muscle more cleanly; the retention clip and capless flash chamber reduce steps under stress. The ARS is the CoTCCC-recommended device (SEL# 09MS-02-THOR) for this reason.
Standard ARS vs. Enhanced ARS (NAR): NAR also offers an Enhanced ARS line with a fenestrated flexible catheter designed to reduce post-insertion occlusion from kinking or tissue plugging. The standard ARS (ZZ-0056 / ZZ-0298) versions sold here are the original design, still on the CoTCCC list. Verify whether your unit's protocol has upgraded to the Enhanced ARS spec before procurement.
ARS vs. Finger Thoracostomy: Finger thoracostomy is the definitive field decompression — it cannot kink and provides immediate reliable pleural access. The ARS is the field-expedient option at Tactical Field Care phase when a full thoracostomy environment is unavailable. Know both techniques; the ARS buys time, not a definitive airway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between the 14 Ga. and 10 Ga. ARS?
A: Same 3.25-inch length, same protective tube, same capless flash chamber design. The 10 Ga. (ZZ-0298, $15.99) has a ~60% larger lumen bore than the 14 Ga. (ZZ-0056, $9.99) — faster decompression airflow and reduced kink risk due to the thicker catheter wall. CoTCCC added the 10 Ga. in 2018 and now recommends it for the anterior 2nd ICS MCL approach in many updated protocols. When budget allows, carry both gauges — $25.98 for the pair covers both primary and backup scenarios.
Q: Which gauge does CoTCCC currently recommend?
A: Both the 14 Ga. and 10 Ga. ARS are CoTCCC-recommended. Updated CoTCCC guidance recommends the 10 Ga. for the anterior (2nd ICS MCL) approach and the 14 Ga. for the lateral (4th/5th ICS AAL) approach, though specific guidance varies by unit protocol and TCCC card version. Always check your unit's current TCCC card — medical directors set gauge specification for your protocol.
Q: Is this CoTCCC-recommended?
A: Yes. The NAR ARS is listed under CoTCCC SEL# 09MS-02-THOR, developed in collaboration with military pre-hospital providers. Both gauge variants are on the CoTCCC recommended list. Use the language 'CoTCCC-recommended'; do not say 'CoTCCC-approved.'
Q: What does the capless flash chamber do?
A: The capless hub on the needle assembly allows immediate visual confirmation — an audible air rush and visible movement through the open chamber — when the needle enters the pleural space. Standard IV angiocatheters have a closed cap requiring removal under stress. The ARS eliminates that step and provides instant placement feedback, both of which matter when working fast in a tactical environment.
Q: Who can use the ARS?
A: Trained medical providers: TCCC-certified medics, paramedics, PAs, physicians, SOF medical personnel (18D, SOCM), and law enforcement trained to TEMS standards with needle thoracostomy in their scope. Incorrect placement risks puncturing the heart, liver, or subclavian vessels. Train before you carry — ideally on cadaveric or porcine simulation with both gauge variants.
Related searches: ARS needle decompression, North American Rescue ARS, 14 gauge 3.25 needle decompression, 10 gauge ARS, tension pneumothorax needle, CoTCCC needle decompression, NDC catheter, ZZ-0056, chest decompression device
All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
Available Options:
- 14 Ga.
- 10 Ga.
Specifications coming soon. Contact us for detailed product information.
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