S.O. Tech is proud to announce our new 2023 medical catalog. Featuring our latest designs and tactical innovations. This catalog is part of our company rebrand, you will still see the same flow of innovation designs and legendary durability that has made S.O. Tech a go-to for Special Operations units around the globe.
To view catalog please go here.
The South Tyrolean research center has launched an independent study to test the validity of a new device designed to increase the survivability of avalanche burial. The Norwegian start-up contacted Eurac Research to scientifically test the device and check whether it can significantly extend survival time in the snow.
(Bolzano, Italy – March 24, 2023) A research group led by Eurac agreed to conduct a medical trial with Safeback SBX, but with complete independence from Safeback – financing it with its own funds and those of the research partner “MountainLab ” (Mountain Medicine Research Group, University of Bergen). As a part of the trial, full burial tests were carried out on 30 volunteers who were among the first to experience complete snow burial with the system activated. The study’s results will be ready in the fall.
“The device has never been subject to a formal medical trial and the characteristics of the snow can possibly influence its effectiveness. For this reason, in our study we test the functionality with people actually buried in the snow and monitor various physiological parameters,” explains Giacomo Strapazzon, director of the Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine at Eurac and responsible for the study.
In the event of complete burial in an avalanche, oxygen deprivation is most often the cause of death. Safeback SBX was created precisely to provide fresh air to the victim under the snow, thus increasing the chances of rescuers of finding buried people alive. A continuous flow of air, for 90 minutes, pumps through the system up to the breathing area thanks to two flexible tubes positioned on the shoulder straps.
“Safeback has based the product development of the SBX on research and testing. It has always been our intention that the product be tested by independent researchers to confirm the effect of Safeback SBX in terms of extending life expectancy when trapped under the snow. With all their previous research on the subject, we fully trust their expertise to design and conduct a medical trial to find out just this,” adds Tor Berge, Co-founder and CEO of Safeback.
The system functions via an electric air pump which exploits a particular property of snow: it is porous and permeable to air, even when snow is very heavy. The device essentially sucks the air out of the snow behind the victim’s back and delivers it up to their face. Thanks to this constant supply of air, even in burials without air pockets, the amount of oxygen present could therefore be sufficient to survive, despite the victim exhaling carbon dioxide.
“At first, we were afraid we would not be able to recruit people willing to be completely buried in the snow, lying face-down on their stomachs, to contribute to this research. Contrary to expectations, about a hundred people applied and some insistently asked to be selected,” says Eurac doctor and researcher Frederik Eisendle.
The selected volunteers were then subjected to preliminary tests to determine their eligibility to participate without outsized risks to their health, while field tests were carried out in a secret area of the Dolomites.
During the tests, the researchers constantly monitored the buried subjects’ oxygen saturation, various cardiovascular parameters, the frequency and depth of breathing, the density of the snow, and the ratio between oxygen and carbon dioxide while breathing in the snow. Tests have also been carried out to measure the body’s response to a stressful situation like this. To rule out a placebo effect, the test subjects were divided into two groups without telling them which group they belonged to: one control group was assigned a dummy device (which did not work, but made realistic sounds) and the other group a working device.
“Regardless of the results of this study, no device can ever guarantee survival under an avalanche. The most important thing is to prevent exposure, thanks to the avalanche forecasting and warning services or the training of companions on self-rescue techniques. If the device we are testing works well, those who go to the mountains will have an extra tool to extend the time in which the rescue is still effective,” points out Hermann Brugger, emergency doctor at Eurac Research.
Experts therefore expect that the differences in the time spent under the snow of the two groups give indications of the effectiveness of the device.
“We will still publish the results of the study as per scientific research practice, even in a case where they prove that the device does not work so well,” concludes Strapazzon.
Safeback SBX has already received the necessary certifications to be marketed by the manufacturer and will be sold in avalanche backpacks from Db and Bergans of Norway in the fall of 2023.
www.eurac.edu/en/institutes-centers/institute-of-mountain-emergency-medicine
SWANSBORO, N.C. – March 24th, 2023 – High Speed Gear® and Phokus Research Group collaborated to create medical products to support single operators as well as squads/teams.
Phokus and HSGI® have put a spin on Micro Trauma Kits, Individual First Aid Kits, and Combat Lifesaver Bags as this brand partnership brings the newest, feature-rich medical kits to those who rely on them most. HSGI and Phokus products are made in the USA and Berry Amendment compliant. “These are some of the best new pouches in the industry. Whenever you can combine the technical ability and industry leading designers from HSGI with the subject matter experts from Phokus, that hold years of tactical medical expertise, the end-results are going to be great.” stated Bill Babboni, COO of HSGI.
These new medical pouches and bags are light, compact, easy to use, and offer user-centric organization features to make the most of your tactical medical real estate. These kits have also been updated with the highly relevant tactical medical items on the market, making them innovative and true, lifesaving pieces of equipment.
“Working closely with the experts at Phokus allowed us to prioritize features and details that add real value by improving the users’ experience.” Said Daniel Chaney, Senior Designer for High Speed Gear.
To purchase the pouches on the HSGI website:
Rapid Access Multipurpose (RAM) Pouch
To purchase the medical pouches with the medical contents included:
TRK “Trick”- Team Response Kit
The Rapid Access Multipurpose Pouch (RAM) is a versatile pouch with a quick-deployment pull tab. Elastic Loops on the interior secure a small med kit, including a tourniquet, or other gear. A loop panel on the front allows attachment of hook-backed labels. The pouch can be mounted to either MOLLE or a belt.
The Med Pak is a mid-sized MOLLE mounted pouch featuring a quick-access pull-tab and customizable organization features. Ideal for medical, EOD, or various other supplies.
The Team Response Kit (TRiK) Bag is a full-sized “CLS” waist pack with a padded hip belt and user-centric organization features. It has 2 modes of use, either by opening the top flap to access supplies while wearing the bag or placing the bag on the ground and opening it fully to easily access all supplies. The zipper-stop straps prevent accidental opening. The TRiK bag can hold a variety of medical supplies.
MATBOCK CEO, Sean Matson, shares the features of their wildly popular S-LIFT, part of the LIFT System built off of their Combat Carbon Poles. The Combat Carbon Poles can be used throughout the entire LIFT System, from the S-LIFT to their R-LIFT.
The S-LIFT is a 10oz bag with a volume of 4,222 cubic inches (69 liters) and can quickly transition into a 10oz 6.5-foot soft stretcher that can carry 400 lbs. When you add this with matbock Combat Carbon Poles, it creates a 3.5 lbs semi-rigid stretcher.
Check out the video for features and the backstory to the MATBOCK S-LIFT.
For more information about the S-LIFT, go here: www.matbock.com/collections/medical/products/s-lift
My friend Ivan goes over the the Q Collar by Q30 which is a collar worn to protect against Traumatic Brain Injury.
To read the entire article, visit kitbadger.com/the-q-collar-by-q30.
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (AFNS) —
Army and Air Force personnel from Brooke Army Medical Center’s Department of Emergency Medicine recently established a simulation training platform to increase readiness and meet Joint Commission requirements for staff development and training.
The Tactical Trauma Reaction and Evacuation Crossover Course, or TTREX, is designed to test and validate Individual Critical Task Lists and the Comprehensive Medical Readiness Program for military medical personnel.
“The TTREX course was developed to familiarize military and civilian personnel with critical trauma skills relevant to both the hospital and the austere environment and to maintain mission readiness,” said Army 1st Lt. Jackson Goddard, registered nurse.
The eight-hour course at the Torch Training Site at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland incorporates battlefield trauma simulations, evacuation procedures, and trauma care in a Role 2 environment. Role 2, also known as forward resuscitative care, has the capability to manage more advanced trauma patients and continue more advanced resuscitative measures in an austere environment such as a combat support hospital.
“We have combined the point of injury with the Role 2 environment,” said Air Force 1st Lt. Marissa Vasek, registered nurse. “Our goal is to get people to understand the deployment setting and the challenges they might face while deployed including limitations with supplies, manpower or experience.”
Additionally, participants experience what it’s like to be on a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft during a critical care air transport mission to see how a patient is transported to a higher echelon of care.
Army Spc. Wade Wolf, a combat medic, said he feels the training is beneficial because participants get to see how a patient moves from the point of injury to a stateside hospital.
“We’ve had more than 40 participants over the two-day exercise,” Wolf said. “I would say about half of them have never been deployed.”
Emergency nurse Army Capt. Megan Gross agreed.
“This has been one of my favorite courses I have attended in my 14 years in the military,” Gross said. “The course allows nurses and medics to test their trauma knowledge in a tactical environment and provides a realistic peek into the deployed setting. The teamwork and camaraderie among the attendees and the instructors are unique and foster a real esprit de corps.
“My favorite part was the Role 2 trauma lane and having the opportunity to work in a small team to assess, perform interventions, and prepare our patient for transport,” she added. “The autonomy aspect provided a unique learning opportunity we often do not get in the hospital setting. The instructors provided a learning environment that was challenging but collaborative at the same time. I loved it!”
The TTREX course will be offered quarterly and is open to service members, civilians, and contractors.
“The course is geared to medics and nurses, but it’s open to anyone who’s willing to learn or just wants to observe,” Vasek said. “We have even had a few physicians come through.”
“A part of creating this exercise was to help military nurses and medics gain the confidence they need to perform under high stress while downrange,” added Army Capt. Brianna Barkley, a registered nurse who helped create the course. “We have seen camaraderie built amongst BAMC teammates while also checking off required readiness skills. What made our exercise successful is the fact that it is a learning environment. Participants feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from those mistakes to build confidence during deployments.”
“This training is invaluable because it allows service members to maintain combat readiness,” Gross said. “We have Individual Critical Task Lists, which are required training tasks for our jobs. This training opportunity allowed me to complete all of my ICTLS for the year, which maintains my individual combat readiness.”
“I was so impressed with this course as a participant that I volunteered to become an instructor and look forward to being a part of the next TTREX course,” she added.
By Lori Newman, Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs
Army photos by Jason W. Edwards
Imminent Threat Solutions is proud to introduce our next-generation pouch lineup, including the ETA Trauma Kit™ Pouch, TourniQuick® Rapid Deployment Pouch and Slimline™ Pouch.
Each pouch now features our patent pending 4-Way Mounting System™, which facilitates mounting to PALS/MOLLE, vertically or horizontally to a belt or even wrapped around pack straps. The laser-cut and rear loop-lined back panel of the system facilitates easy removal and replacement of the included hook and loop attachment strips.
The next generation of the ITS ETA Trauma Kit Pouch takes advantage of the smaller vacuum-sealed form factor on our updated ETA Trauma Kit, while still offering the rapid-access medical pouch feature of the original. A simple pull of the handle filets the pouch open, providing immediate access to your medical equipment.
The patented TourniQuick® is the first-ever tourniquet pouch designed as a system to rapidly access and deploy the two most common CoTCCC (committee on tactical combat casualty care) recommended tourniquets on the market. This revolutionary tourniquet pouch deployment system reduces time from deployment to application, saving valuable seconds.
The all-new ITS Slimline Pouch is perfect for storing pocket-sized items like our EDC Trauma Kit, compasses, cell phones and other electronics. The fold-over cover of this GP (General Purpose) pouch features a webbing pull tab, a 1.5” square section of loop material for affixing hook backed patches and the ability to adjust for items of varying height. Durable elastic is also used for the pouch body to ensure items stay retained inside, no matter how the pouch is mounted.
Imminent Threat Solutions provides indispensable skill-sets and products to explore your world and prevail against all threats.
For more information on these new ITS products, please visit store.itstactical.com
MATBOCK’s Graverobber Hipster is the ultimate hip-worn medical bag.
Designed to fit around your waist, allowing for fast and easy access to your emergency medical supplies. Made from MATBOCK’s lightweight Ghost material you’d almost forget you were wearing it. In addition, this hydrophobic and superior strength medical bag will stand up to the test of time during many prolonged operations without degradation of materials.
Fits under most Assault packs in the small of your back when not in use.
Two movable spacers create division within the compartment and four bungee panels can be velcroed to any loop surface inside to keep your tools and supplies organized.
Mounted on 1.75″ Type13 webbing and using a COBRA GT buckle as a closure. The outside is covered in MOLLE and the lid unzips nearly completely open to give you full access to the contents. Kevlar Webbing on the inside of the belt to facilitate attaching pouches and ensure they stay in place.
Find out more about The Graverobber Hipster or any other MATBOCK product at www.matbock.com or contact the Sales team at sales@matbock.com.
