Higher Purpose Training can assist you with getting the right gear for you to respond. We are an AED dealer and have access to wholesalers and authorized distributors for quality medical gear. We can help equip you with custom Bleeding Control Kits, Standard First Aid Kits and Wilderness First Aid Kits by request. To purchase an AED or other first aid supplies, you may call Angelo at (702) 983-0469 or email angelo@higherpurpose.training. 

 

We recommend that private citizens only purchase medical equipment that they have been trained to use and to only use techniques within their level of training.

 

Higher Purpose Training has no affiliation with any of these companies and receives no compensation from any companies for endorsing their products. We have simply had good experience with these companies’ products and desire for our students to have the best experiences training in class and invest only in quality gear. 

 

Bleeding Control Kits  

We recommend components of what should be in a trauma kit so that you can build your own kit or verify the contents of a commercially sold trauma kit. In general, do not buy medical gear on Amazon. Purchase medical gear from the companies directly or from an authorized distributor. 

 

For personal use, we recommend always carrying bleeding control gear on you. If you carry a gun, you should be carrying bleeding control gear. We recommend that you also keep bleeding control kits in your vehicle, range bag, kitchen, bathrooms and garages. 

At schools, churches and businesses, we recommend keeping a Bleeding Control Kit near an AED, Standard First Aid Kit and a fire extinguisher. These items should be placed in a visible area where people can easily find them and remember where they are such as lobbies and next to elevators. 

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Tourniquets

We recommend tourniquets that have been approved by the Committee of Tactical Combat Casualty Care. The Committee of TCCC, provides military personnel with the resources to facilitate implementing best medical practices in battlefield trauma care. Its recommendation of tourniquets comes from research and collection of data from military conflicts. 

 

The tourniquet we recommend is the Gen 7 CAT (Combat Action Tourniquet) produced by North American Rescue. It is one of the most common tourniquets in circulation and it is easy to learn how to use.  In our Stop Life Threatening Bleeding course, we do hands-on training with the Gen 7 CAT tourniquet. 

 

Pressure Dressings

The pressure dressing we recommend is the North American Rescue Emergency Trauma Dressing (ETD). These come in standard 4” ETD and the 4” mini ETD. The mini ETD is shorter so it can fit in smaller kits and pockets. In our Stop Life Threatening Bleeding course, we do hands-on training with both of these pressure dressings. 

 

We also recommend the H&H Mini Compression Bandage. This compression bandage has a smaller footprint than the 4” Mini ETD from NAR and fits well in pocket trauma kits. 

 

Gauze

We recommend compressed gauze from either North American Rescue or H&H. For EDC (everyday carry), we recommend the Mini 2x Gauze + Compression from H&H, this is a small concealable package that allows you to easily carry gauze and compression gauze in a pocket trauma kit. We choose these products over hemostatic gauze products like QuickClot, because although effective, hemostatic gauze products have an expiration date and can be expensive. The gauze products we recommend do not expire. 

 

Chest Seals

We recommend HyFin Chest Seals from North American Rescue. These come in standard and compact sizes. The standard size chest seals fit well in trauma kits and the compact chest seals fit well in pocket trauma kits for EDC (every day carry). 

 

Shears

We recommend the Leatherman Raptor Rescue and the Leatherman Raptor Response shears. These shears fold up and can be clipped in a pocket. The Rescue model features a window breaker, seat belt cutter, ring cutter, oxygen wrench and ruler. The Response model has the same feature excluding the seatbelt cutter and window breaker. 

 

Unknown to many, TSA currently allows trauma shears to be carried through security checkpoints at airports so long as the blades are not longer than 4” from the pivot to the tip and they are blunt tipped. The Leatherman Response model shears may be carried through TSA, but the Rescue model may not. 

 

Another trauma shear we recommend is the X Shear. These are heavy duty shears that are twice as sharp as most trauma shears and the curved blade assists in cutting clothing in tight places. 

 

Although high quality, the Leatherman and X Shear may be expensive, especially if you are trying to build multiple trauma kits. Some budget trauma shears we recommend are the North American Rescue Trauma Shears. Although they are cheap, they are great quality. These shears are made from stainless steel, their serrated lower edge cuts through tough materials and their soft-grip, non-slip contoured handles provide maximum control, even when wet.

 

Gloves

We recommend that you purchase nitrile gloves. This is because many people are allergic to latex. This could cause an allergic reaction while you’re treating someone. You can purchase bulk boxes of nitrile gloves. We recommend buying individually wrapped pairs of gloves in multiple sizes (i.e. S, M, L, XL) so that you can easily throw them in trauma kits and pocket trauma kits. 

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AEDs

When purchasing AEDs for your school, church, business or organization, we recommend the Zoll AED 3 and the Philips FRx. Both of these AEDs are great quality AEDs that are easy to use, especially for a trained CPR/AED & First Aid Provider. Both of these AEDs are equipped with pads that work on both adult and pediatric patients so there is no need to maintain two sets of pads. However, responders must become familiar with how to activate the pediatric setting on each AED.   

 

We recommend that along with your AED you should purchase a responder kit containing a CPR mask, nitrile gloves, antiseptic wipes, a towel, a shaving razor, trauma shears, and a biohazard bag. The kit should go inside an AED wall cabinet or in a hard case with an AED or it can clip onto the exterior strap of the soft carrying case. 

 

If you are interested in purchasing an AED through Higher Purpose Training, you may call Angelo at (702) 983-0469 or email angelo@higherpurpose.training.

 

Standard First Aid Kits

There are many standard first aid kits on the market. For personal use, we recommend always having a standard first aid kit available in place such as your vehicle, range bag, kitchen, bathrooms and garage. 

At schools, churches and businesses, we recommend that you keep a standard first aid kit near an AED, Public Bleeding Control Kit and a fire extinguisher. These items should be placed in a visible area where people can easily find them and remember where they are such as lobbies and next to elevators. 

 

Wilderness First Aid Kits

Wilderness First Aid prepares for special situations not usually encountered in urban environments. Wilderness first aid providers in a remote outdoor setting should carry equipment with them taking into account longer times to care for someone, and making decisions about how they would evacuate an ill or injured person. 

We recommend a Wilderness First Aid kit should contain materials found in a Standard First Aid kit, Bleeding Control kit and CPR Response kit. In addition, it should carry equipment anticipating possible problems in the back country including environmental and medical problems. 

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In addition to a Bleeding Control kit, we recommend carrying a SAM splint, elastic bandages and triangular bandages. These can be used for splinting broken or fractured bones and improvising a C-collar. We recommend a Mega Mover foldable cloth litter so that you won’t need to improvise one to transport a patient. 

In addition to a Standard First Aid kit, we recommend packing equipment to manage wounds, blisters and infections. We recommend carrying an irrigation syringe, tweezers, wound wash, antibiotic ointments, cloth tape, Moleskin, Tegaderm, gauze and Coban.

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For possible medical problems, we recommend carrying oral glucose tablets or paste, a water filter and water treatment tablets, salt tablets, potassium tablets and activated charcoal. We recommend having some type of pain management such as over-the-counter drugs like Ibuprofen and Tylenol.

For environmental problems, we recommend a thermometer, a space blanket or small sleeping bag and heat packs. For sun burns, sunblock and aloe vera burn gels. For second degree thermal burns, roller gauze. 

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