Officers increasingly face penetrating trauma — gunshots, stabbings, fragments — that demands self-aid or buddy-aid before EMS arrives. A full IFAK isn't always on the body; the golden hour starts at the moment of injury.
What's the smallest kit that still stops the worst bleeding?
The CORE Kit answers with the simplest, most evidence-backed configuration possible: the #1 CoTCCC-recommended tourniquet, the #1 CoTCCC-recommended hemostatic dressing, and an effective pressure bandage — in a package small enough for a BDU pocket, vest, plate carrier, or go-bag. The C-A-T® is the validated windlass tourniquet for extremity hemorrhage; Combat Gauze® LE uses kaolin to drive the clotting cascade where a tourniquet can't reach; the 4″ flat ETD covers wounds across the body. Vacuum-sealed packaging protects sterile components (up to 5-year shelf life) through everyday carry.
Why This Kit
Two #1 CoTCCC Items
The C-A-T® tourniquet and Combat Gauze® — the top-recommended devices for their roles.
Pocket-Sized
6.4 oz, vacuum-sealed — fits a BDU pocket, vest, plate carrier, or go-bag.
Long Shelf Life
Sterile components rated up to 5 years; sealed packaging survives daily carry.
TECC-Aligned
Meets TECC hemorrhage-control guidelines for the law-enforcement responder.
Kit Contents
| C-A-T® Tourniquet — Black (CoTCCC-recommended) | 1 |
| Combat Gauze® LE Hemostatic Dressing (CoTCCC-recommended) | 1 |
| 4″ Responder ETD™ (Flat) | 1 |
Who Carries It
Law enforcement — on-body self/buddy-aid capability
Security personnel — minimum essential bleeding control
Tactical operators — pocket backup to a full kit
Pair It Up
Restock the consumables or compare other compact kits.
CORE Kit
The Essentials. On You.
Genuine North American Rescue, shipped from a clinician-founded, veteran-led team.
Genuine North American Rescue
Sourced direct from North American Rescue.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | North American Rescue |
| SKU | 85-0834 |
| Dimensions | 7″ H × 3.5″ W × 2.25″ D |
| Weight | 6.4 oz (181 g) |
| Packaging | Compact clear vacuum-sealed bag with tear notches |
| Sterile Shelf Life | Up to 5 years |
| Compliance | Meets TECC hemorrhage-control guidelines |
| CoTCCC | Contents include CoTCCC-recommended items (C-A-T®, Combat Gauze®) |
| Origin | Made in USA |
When to Deploy the CORE Kit
What's Included (NAR SKU: 85-0410):
- 1 × C-A-T® Tourniquet (Black)
- 1 × Combat Gauze® LE Hemostatic Dressing
- 1 × 4 in. Responder ETD™
- Vacuum-sealed packaging (6.4 oz total weight)
- Plain-Clothes Law Enforcement Carry: Detectives, investigators, and undercover officers who cannot display duty gear use the CORE Kit in a pocket or ankle holster as concealed trauma capability.
- Supplemental Belt or Pocket Kit for Uniformed Officers: Uniformed officers who carry a full IFAK on their vest add the CORE Kit in a uniform shirt pocket or cargo pocket as secondary hemorrhage control.
- Off-Duty Officer Carry: Officers carrying a concealed firearm off-duty carry the CORE Kit in a jacket pocket, ankle medical rig, or belt pack for medical coverage to match their armed status.
- Civilian Concealed Carry: Armed civilians who carry a firearm for self-defense use the CORE Kit as the medical counterpart — pocket or ankle carry provides the trauma capability to respond to the injuries they are prepared to prevent.
- High-Risk Workplace Safety: Security personnel, executive protection agents, and corporate safety teams issue the CORE Kit to staff in environments where a visible IFAK is not appropriate.
- Vehicle EDC: The CORE Kit vacuum-sealed format fits in a glove box, console, or door pocket for immediate access after a vehicle-related trauma incident.
Field Tip: Best practice: the CORE Kit provides the three most critical TCCC interventions — tourniquet, hemostatic packing, and pressure dressing — in a 6.4 oz vacuum-sealed package. For operators who cannot carry a full IFAK, the CORE Kit covers the majority of preventable combat death causes.
How the CORE Kit Compares
CORE Kit vs. Belt Trauma Kit (BTK): The BTK uses a rigid pouch mounted on a duty belt up to 2 inches wide — designed for belt-rail carry in uniform. The CORE Kit is vacuum-sealed for pocket, ankle, or concealed carry where no external pouch is visible. Choose CORE for plain-clothes and concealed carry; BTK for duty-belt staging.
CORE Kit vs. M-FAK Mini: The M-FAK Mini uses MOLLE/PALS connectors for vest and pack mounting. The CORE Kit has no external mounting system — its strength is the vacuum-sealed compact format for pocket and concealed carry where MOLLE is not available.
CORE vs. Full EAGLE IFAK: The EAGLE IFAK provides a full TCCC loadout (C-A-T®, hemostatic gauze, ETD, HyFin® chest seal, NPA, gloves). The CORE Kit provides the three most critical items only. CORE is the minimum viable trauma kit; the EAGLE IFAK is the full-spectrum response.
Browse all IFAK and officer response kits at tactical-medicine.com.
Frequently Asked Questions — Compact Officer Response Emergency Kit (CORE)
Q: Does the CORE Kit include a chest seal?
A: No. The CORE Kit (85-0410) contains a C-A-T® tourniquet, Combat Gauze® LE, and 4 in. Responder ETD — the three primary hemorrhage control items. It does not include a chest seal. For complete TCCC coverage including penetrating chest wounds, pair with a separate HyFin® Vent Compact Chest Seal Twin Pack.
Q: Are the CORE Kit contents CoTCCC-recommended?
A: Yes. The C-A-T® is the CoTCCC-recommended #1 tourniquet. Combat Gauze® LE is the CoTCCC-recommended #1 hemostatic dressing. The 4 in. ETD is a standard pressure dressing used in all TCCC protocols.
Q: What does the vacuum-sealed packaging provide?
A: The vacuum-sealed packaging reduces the CORE Kit to a flat, rigid-edged package weighing 6.4 oz that fits in most shirt and cargo pockets. The vacuum seal also protects contents from moisture, contamination, and physical damage. Once the seal is broken for deployment, the contents are no longer in vacuum-protected condition.
Q: Can the CORE Kit be resupplied after use?
A: Yes. All three components (C-A-T® tourniquet, Combat Gauze® LE, ETD) are available individually through tactical-medicine.com. A replacement CORE Kit (new vacuum-sealed unit) can be purchased directly as a complete replacement.
Q: Is the CORE Kit suitable for ankle carry?
A: The CORE Kit is designed for pocket, vest, and concealed carry. Users who carry at the ankle use it with the EDC Ankle Trauma Holster or a compatible ankle medical rig for secure retention during movement.
Related searches: NAR CORE kit, compact officer response kit, pocket bleeding control kit, law enforcement IFAK, Combat Gauze officer kit, North American Rescue 85-0834
All products sourced direct from North American Rescue. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Width | 3.5 Inches |
| Length | 2.25 Inches |
| Height | 7 Inches |
| Weight | 6.4 Oz. |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
