We recently found out that is a third variant of the popular 18XRAY automatic knife. The Combat/Rescue Knife was designed specifically for medics as well as first responders. Notice the 3-5/8†blade’s blunt tip combined with ultra-fine serrated teeth. The blade is manufactured from 154CM steel with DLC finish paired with T6-6061 aircraft grade aluminum handles that are Type 3 hard coat anodized in Red for high visibility. Once again, it features the limited forever warranty. Finally, like the entire line of 18XRAYs, the Combat/Rescue Knife features Darrel Ralph’s SAS (Slide Auto Safety) system.
We first posted this article about six months ago so many of you have already seen this. But since that time, we’ve added thousands of daily readers and there has been a change of authority downrange so there may be deployed personnel that haven’t seen Rip Shears.
Rip Shears are a new attachment for standard EMT shears that transforms them into a tool that combines the shears with a safety knife and reflex hammer. Designed to attach directly to the handle of most 7-1/4″ shears, it provides a quick means of cutting through loose material and gear in order to access wounds.
Designed by Naval Special Warfare Corpsmen, Rip Shears are Made in the USA and crafted from fiberglass-reinforced nylon that can be autoclaved up to 270 deg F. Additionally, the blades are 440A stainless steel and are treated with a special DLC tungsten coating for increased lubricity. In fact, the coating will extend the life of the blades 4-5 times normal stainless steel. The design is simple and safe to clean with your fingers as well as replace blades. In fact, when you finally do need to change the blades, they are designed in such a manner that they are impossible to install incorrectly.
Rip Shears are offered in three models. The RS-1 is the Ripper unit by itself for installation on your current EMT shears. The RS-2 model combines the Ripper with EMT shears and the RS-3 or “Firefly” version is a Ripper featuring a glow in the dark material for civilian EMTs and flight medics.
A lot of folks are carrying hook knives to cut through webbing but they can be ineffective if the material is slack. With Rip Shears the cutting stroke is a pulling motion, offering a great deal of strength and control which can help to avoid further injuries. Rip Shears have been used on boots, leather jackets, and rigger belts. In fact, this video will give you a great idea of how well it works.
In fact, I had the chance to try them out myself and I am duly impressed. To get yours visit their distributor page www.ripshears.com and be sure to look around while you are there.
BAE Systems demonstrated GEN II Headborne Energy Analysis & Diagnostic System (HEADS) which has just passed First Article Testing (FAT) for the US Army with first deliveries to begin September 22, 2011.
HEADS consists of the sensor which is mounted in the crown of the combat helmet, the software to perform computational analysis of traumatic events and an optional wireless antenna which can be used to interrogate the sensor for data when it is placed in close proximity. Alternatively, the HEADS sensor can be interrogated via a USB connection directly to a laptop.
As you can see from the photo, once data from the sensor has been uploaded to the software a date and time stamped visual display is created to assist medical personnel in correlating their medical diagnosis with actual events. The sensor will record all linear and angular acceleration and blast overpressure information, including multiple events.
It is important to note that the HEADS sensor can be covered with a crown pad within the helmet for enhanced comfort. Additionally, the sensor battery life is one year and can be recharged by tethering to a laptop via a USB cable or you can actually replace the battery with a fresh one.
One of the coolest things that happened at Outdoor Retailer was an out of the blue meeting with Steve Jensen of Cropper Medical. They are the manufacturer of BioSkin Bracing and have come up with a lumbar support system called the BackJack Tactical that is designed specifically for military use.
Cropper Medical has been making human performance gear for nearly 20 years and they tout 37 professional sports teams wearing their supports including the last 5 Super Bowl winners. They took this know how and applied it to offload some of the weight of body armor from the discs of the spine.
BackJack is Cropper Medical’s first entrant into Tactical Military products and was developed in conjunction with a retired Special Forces 18D to help alleviate the epidemic back pain in the military. In 2009 Ft Polk’s JRTC, conducted testing on it and found that 89% of the Soldiers that wore the device said it relieved their pain and they would use it if it were issued. Next, a unit deployed to Iraq wore the kit and rated a 45% reduction in low back pain with the kit on. 100% of the Soldiers surveyed said they’d wear the kit if it were issued. Although exposure has been limited, Soldier acceptance has been high, to say the least.
The device works by pulling bilateral hand pieces engaging a cinching mechanism which pushes the lumbar panel into the area of pain, the low back. This direct pressure on the low back is what makes this kit so effective at not only relieving pain but preventing pain. Wear it under the Armor, Ruck, or just around the office to get some relief. I tried it and it is comfortable.
Kinesiology Tape is an elastic athletic tape used by many professional athletes. Unlike regular athletic tape, its elastic structure allows a degree of movement and doesn’t cut off blood flow. This is said to speed the healing of muscles. Naturally, based on its success, several companies have entered the market, each enhancing the concept in slight ways.
Kinesio
First gained notoriety during the Beijing Olympics but was actually first developed by Japanese Chiropractor Dr. Kenzo Kase in the 1970s. Since they were first to market, other offerings are referred to as Kinesiology Tape, despite being made by other manufacturers. It is offered in rolls and is very much an institutional rather than consumer product.
KT Tape
Offered by Utah-based Lumos, Inc, KT Tape. They have taken the technology mainstream and offered it in big box stores. Intended for use at the consumer level, they offer instructions with each roll and also offer how-to videos on their website. They claim a 14% elasticity which replicates that of human skin, allowing the KT Tape to move with you yet still provide support.
SpiderTech
SpiderTech takes the concept to the next level and provides pre-cut strips for different applications. They offer several different shapes and can provide training on how to best use them. SpiderTech is hypo-allergenic with no latex and can be applied for up to 5 days which may make it desirable for military applications.
The Slider is an innovative load carrying solution from Tactical Medical Solutions. While TMS specializes in medical gear, their personnel were 18D SF Medics. Consequently, they are no strangers to wearing body armor and the challenges of effectively using the available load carrying real estate on a vest.
The Slider attaches to the side of an armor vest and offers what is essentially a PALS panel that “slides” along a webbing track from rear to front. You store your extra kit in the rear and pull it forward when needed. It’s important to note that it will sit in front of your pouches so it isn’t necessarily something you are going to want to leave there depending on the mission. It was actually originally envisioned for 40mm grenades but works just as well for anything. Medical gear, extra magazines, etc.
Look for an updated video of the latest version of the Slider later this week.
Canadian tactical medicine experts CTOMS has just launched an excellent blog. It’s quite refreshing to see a company blog that actually accomplishes something. While the CTOMS website does a great job os showing you their products, the new Private Bloggins site shows you HOW to use their products. Think of it as a TTP site for how to employ CTOMS gear. There’s only a few articles up so far but check back often as they continue to populate it.
Those of you unfamiliar with the term “Pte Bloggins”, it’s kind of the Canadian equivalent of the generic “Joe” serving in the American forces.
Approximately 25% of potentially survivable deaths are due to uncontrolled bleeding at the joints, most of which is attributed to pelvic hemorrhage. The Combat Ready Clamp (CRoC) is a slip-proof expandable aluminum clamp tourniquet that works like a vise to maintain pressure on difficult bleeds when hemorrhage control in tactical environments is not possible with traditional methods and standard tourniquets.
The CRoC already has 510k clearance by the US FDA, and received a recommendation by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC).
The full line of Combat Medical Systems gear is available for agency purchase from ADS.
