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Archive for the ‘Medical’ Category

NARCO Medication Panel by Blue Tide Innovations

Monday, June 2nd, 2025

Narco Panel by Blue Tide Innovations features elastic loops on a lightweight, yet rigid board for the organized storage, accountability, and rapid deployment of controlled medications in operational environments.

Developed in collaboration with special operations medics and tactical professionals, this panel ensures critical medications are accessible, secure, and mission-ready.

The NARCO Medication panel is sold as a pair, featuring MED panel and ADMIN panel. 

Made in Miami, Florida.  Berry & IR/IRR/NIR compliant.

bluetideinnovations.com/ols/products/narco-medication-panel

BFG Releases the MTKN! – Nano 02

Thursday, May 29th, 2025

POOLER, GA. – Blue Force Gear, Inc., the world leader in load carriage equipment innovation, launches the Micro Trauma Kit NOW! – Nano 02. The MTKN! – Nano 02 is slightly larger than the original Nano giving it the capacity of the world famous Micro Trauma Kit NOW!. Designed to hold the same fill levels as the Micro Trauma Kit NOW!, the Nano 02 is available with Essentials, PRO, and Advanced supplies or as an empty pouch ready to fill with your personal or issued medical supplies.

As with any BFG flapped pouch, it features the BLIP (Ball Loaded Index Point) pull tab that allows for positive indexing even with gloved, cold, or wet hands. By simply pulling the BLIP pull tab with a single hand, the insert can be removed rapidly to display the medical supplies held neatly in individual elastic loops.

The Nano 02 offers multiple mounting solutions – MOLLE straps or Belt loops that provide the option of mounting the pouch both vertically and horizontally. The Belt loop design is a brand-new feature from BFG, showcased for the first time on the MTKN! – Nano 02. The Belt mount features a simple, lightweight, and durable way to quickly attach the Nano 02 to any duty belt or pants belt 2” or smaller. Constructed out of BFG’s proprietary ULTRAcomp high-performance coated fabric laminate, the backer offers a stiff yet low-profile and reliable mounting solution for either horizontal or vertical carry.

The MOLLE option is the recently released patent pending two-way Helium Whisper attachment system that allows for pouch mounting in horizontal or vertical orientation. The patented Helium Whisper attachment system is the lightest and strongest MOLLE style attachment system available and is the choice of the most elite professionals.

The Micro Trauma Kit NOW! – Nano 02 is another example of innovation and forward thinking by Blue Force Gear. Those seeking a lightweight, low-profile, extremely durable medical kit with various ways to mount it should look no further than the MTKN! – Nano 02.

For more information about Blue Force Gear or any of their product offerings, visit their website: www.blueforcegear.com

About Blue Force Gear

Blue Force Gear designs the best weapon slings and leads the lightweight load carriage equipment revolution with Ten-Speed multi-use pouches, MOLLEminus platforms, and the patented Helium Whisper attachment system. Their proprietary ULTRAcomp high-performance coated fabric laminate material, unrivaled innovation, and attention to detail set Blue Force Gear apart from others in the tactical equipment industry. Blue Force Gear is a Great Place to Work Certified Company. For more information, visit their website: www.blueforcegear.com

A New Option for Treating High Blood Pressure is Available to United States Veterans

Monday, May 19th, 2025

Ultrasound Renal Denervation, a Proven Treatment for High Blood Pressure, is Available to Veterans Thanks to a Partnership Between Recor Medical and Recon Supply

ST. CHARLES, Mo., May 16, 2025 — Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is known as the “silent killer” because many people do not know they have it and, over time, it can lead to serious health issues. In fact, hypertension increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, two of the leading causes of death in the United States. The 2020 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidelines on hypertension define uncontrolled hypertension as a reading above or equal to 130/90 mmHg.1 66% of veterans diagnosed with hypertension are considered uncontrolled by the VHA’s guidelines.2

Hypertension treatment typically begins with a change in diet, like reducing salt intake, and physical exercise. For some, medication may also be prescribed. However, about one-third of the patients who are treated for hypertension remain uncontrolled despite making healthy lifestyle changes and taking more than three medications. For these patients, medical device-based hypertension therapies, like the Paradise™Ultrasound Renal Denervation (uRDN) system, may be an additional treatment option.

Army veteran Richard Van Name is one such patient who was looking for another way to treat his uncontrolled hypertension. An Army pilot for more than 30 years, Richard noticed his blood pressure was increasing during the later part of his service, and he was diagnosed with hypertension after retirement. Despite adjusting his lifestyle and taking progressively more medications, his blood pressure had not reached a normal level. That’s when his physician recommended that he consider the Paradise uRDN treatment, a one-time, safe and minimally invasive procedure that is clinically proven to reduce blood pressure.3-6

“My blood pressure was starting to creep up in the last part of my career, but they were still within the limits for the military. When I was first diagnosed with hypertension, my blood pressure was 178 over 100. Diet and exercise did not bring it down any, and the medication brought it down to around the 150 to 160 region,” said Richard. “My cardiologist was not satisfied that the maximum he had prescribed had not brought it down to where he thought was best. The doctor prescribed ultrasound renal denervation, and the procedure had definite results. My wife and I feel a lot better because it relieves us of the chances of heart attack or stroke.”

The Paradise uRDN system is a first-of-its-kind ultrasound-based RDN technology designed to lower blood pressure by denervating the sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal arteries, reducing the overactivity that can lead to hypertension. The Paradise uRDN system delivers two to three doses of 360-degree ultrasound energy—lasting seven seconds each—through the main renal arteries to the surrounding nerves. The Paradise catheter features the exclusive HydroCooling™ system, which circulates sterile water through the balloon catheter during the procedure to help protect the renal artery wall. This minimally invasive procedure is supported by many medical societies including the American Heart Association, the American College of Cardiology, the European Society of Cardiology and others.

Recor Medical—the manufacturer of the Paradise System—has partnered with Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) Recon Supply to support the distribution of the Paradise System through the VHA and Department of Defense.

Recor has been focused on developing and testing uRDN for the treatment of hypertension since 2009, and completed three independently powered, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trials, all which demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the Paradise System, leading to FDA approval in late 2023. Recor has also initiated the US Global Paradise System (GPS) Post-Approval Study to collect real-world clinical evidence with long-term follow-up in 1,000 patients with uncontrolled hypertension in the United States.

The Paradise uRDN system is indicated to reduce blood pressure as an adjunctive treatment in hypertension patients in whom lifestyle modifications and antihypertensive medications do not adequately control blood pressure. A physician will make a medical assessment to determine if a patient is a candidate for ultrasound renal denervation. The most common risks include pain, vascular access site complications and vasospasm. Full important risk information can be viewed here.

  1. Defense DoVAaDo. VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Hypertension in the Primary Care Setting. 2020.
  1. Yamada et al. J Hypertens. 2023 Apr 17;41(6):995–1002.
  2. Azizi et al. JAMA. 2023;329(8):651-661.
  3. Azizi et al. Lancet. 2018 Jun 9;391(10137):2335-2345.
  4. Azizi et al. Lancet. 2021 Jun 26;397(10293):2476-2486.
  5. Kirtane et al. JAMA Cardiol. 2023;8(5):464-473.

For more information on Recon Supply’s offerings, visit www.Recon-Supply.com or contact Recon Supply at 314-317-0300.

SOF Select 25 – Q-Collar Breacher Blast Study

Tuesday, May 13th, 2025

Q-Collar manufacturer Q30 sponsored a one-day study of a SWAT Breacher/Blast Training session to determine if the Q-Collar offers protection against blast-induced traumatic brain injury. Twenty-two members of a SWAT team were evaluated, 11 wore the Q-Collar and 11 did not. The study was conducted by a research team from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Based on a comparison of EEG activity (which may be an indicator of axonal damage from blast waves), the SWAT members who wore the Q-Collar did not have any changes in the data collected pre-blast exposure compared with the data collected post-blast exposure. The non-collar wearing SWAT members had measurable changes in their EEG data.

Based on a comparison of fMRI data, which measures working memory and auditory network function, the non-collared group has increased MRI activity (comparing pre-blast measurements to post-blast measurements), while those wearing the Q-Collar did not have increased MRI activity. This offers additional evidence of the protection provided by the Q-Collar.

To access this study as well as the Walter Reed Blast Study, click here.

SOF Week 25 – Secumar Secuvac

Monday, May 12th, 2025

The Secuvac from Secumar is a waterproof protection system for the evacuation of injured persons secured to a stretcher. It prevents contact with water and thus hypothermia.

www.secumar.com

SOF Week 25 – Qore Performance ICEFLASK K9 Holster

Friday, May 9th, 2025

Qore Performance unveiled their new ICEFLASK K9 Holster.

Frozen, it offers all of the same advantages to our K9 companions that the ICEFLASK does for humans: thermoregulation which prevents heat injuries and boosts performance.

They’ve developed a K9 harness which allows the handler to quickly and easily don or doff the ICEFLASK holsters to the dog.

HunterSeven – Cancer Screening at SOF Week

Sunday, April 27th, 2025

MILITARY VETERANS – HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR CANCER SCREENING? Time is running out cause slots are filling up!

We’ve gotten many questions lately—“Are you guys going to SOF Week this year?”

And the answer is: Absolutely.

But we’re doing it our way.

This year, we’re flipping the script.

Instead of getting tangled in the red tape, we’re staying laser-focused on what matters most:

PREVENTING AS MANY PREVENTABLE CANCER DEATHS AS POSSIBLE.

You’ll find us down by the waterfront alongside our excellent partners— Crye, Arc’teryx, and a lineup of other badass companies—where we’ll be spreading the word about health promotion, early cancer detection, and what it means to take care of our own.

But the real magic? Wednesday night.

That’s when it all comes together.

At the DuckCancer Happy Hour—hosted and sponsored by: Black Rifle Coffee – Crye Precision – Arc’teryx – We will be running on-site blood-based cancer screenings for at-risk post-9/11 military veterans, right in the middle of the action!

We’re talking great people, amazing raffles, tactical ducks, and literal lives being saved in real-time.

Spots for screening are extremely limited, so if you’re a post-9/11 veteran—or you know one—don’t wait.

Let’s party with a purpose and keep pushing forward in the fight against cancer.

REGISTER via www.HunterSeven.org/DuckCancer

The Four Stages of Competence in TCCC and TECC

Tuesday, April 15th, 2025

‘We do not rise to the level of our expectations. We fall to the level of our training.’  -Archilochus

Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) are critical frameworks for managing trauma in high-stress, often life-threatening situations. Mastery of these skills can be understood through the lens of the four stages of competence, a model that outlines the progression from ignorance to expertise. Here’s how these stages apply to learning Tactical Trauma Care (TTC):

Unconscious Incompetence: Blissful Ignorance
At this initial stage, individuals are unaware of their lack of skill and knowledge.  An untrained responder might not realize the importance of applying a tourniquet correctly or when to prioritize airway management in a trauma scenario. Without exposure to these concepts, they don’t even know what they don’t know. This stage ends either when training begins, and the gaps in knowledge become apparent, or when an actual trauma incident occurs. 

Conscious Incompetence: Awareness of the Challenge
Once training starts, learners enter conscious incompetence. They now recognize the complexity of TTC skills but struggle to execute them effectively. Mistakes are common, and confidence is low. This stage is crucial, as it drives motivation to practice and improve, whether through simulated scenarios, guided learning, knowledge gathering or real-world application.

Conscious Competence: Deliberate Proficiency
With consistent practice and study, learners reach conscious competence. They can now apply TCCC techniques accurately, but it requires focus and deliberate effort. A medic at this stage might successfully stabilize a patient but still mentally walks through each step. They start to see and react to the casualty’s condition preemptively. Repetition and experience are key to moving beyond this phase along with continuing medical education.

Unconscious Competence: Instinctive Mastery
At the final stage, TTC skills become smooth, honed and second nature. Seasoned practitioners can perform life-saving interventions with ease, even in high threat environments. They no longer need to consciously recall protocols; their actions are swift, automatic, and effective. Their experiences and training control the chaos. This level of mastery is the goal for anyone operating in tactical or emergency environments.

The journey through these stages is not linear—it requires training, real-world exposure, and a personal commitment to refining skills. Whether in military or civilian contexts, progressing to unconscious competence can make the difference in “time is life” situations.

CTOMS™ has been providing tactical medicine to service organisations for nearly two decades. For more information on our in-person and online training, contact training@ctomsinc.com.