THE GOLD STANDARD PRODUCTS
There are a number of “gold standard” brand names and branded items in the world of combat trauma care, such as and Quik Clot® Combat Gauze, CeloxTM, other Chitosan-based products, and the Combat Application Tourniquet® (C-A-T).
North American Rescue LLC (NAR) is a big, high-quality, and influential name in the industry. NAR designs, develops and tests products based on the US military’s Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) guidelines. All the products mentioned above are distributed by NAR in the USA (and other distributors, and elsewhere) and they are among the “Go To” items for the US and UK forces alike.
Combat Tourniquets, often referred to as CATs, are key items in any medics kits. However, most of us are guilty of using the term “CAT” in much the same way as we use “hoover” to describe any brand of vacuum cleaner. The term Combat Application Tourniquet® (C-A-T) is actually a registered trademark. The product is patented by C-A-T Resources LLC in the United States. They are the inventors and exclusive manufacturers of this product. NAR is the US-based distributer. The current revision of the Combat Application Tourniquet® (C-A-T) is “Gen 7”.
Purchasers choosing any of these Gold Standard products mentioned would certainly be getting the quality assurance associated with government purchases and trusted by western armies. Medics trained to TCCC guidelines will likely be familiar with these names, and IF you can afford them, you should definitely consider buying them!
THE EARLY RIP-OFFS, AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
Combat Tourniquets remain the hot topic in terms of reported problems with cheap, unbranded tourniquet products that appear at first glance to be poor rip-off copies of the C-A-T. We have all heard about these products failing.
There will probably still be some very 'dodgy' unbranded supplies getting through! Given that, it is completely understandable that medics would be extremely wary about non-Gold Standard products.
However, Rhino Rescue is a brand name that now stands on its own two feet, with its own registered trademark. Its products are clearly marked to promote its own name and the much improved Rhino Rescue 2nd generation combat tourniquet is marketed as a CE/ FDA/ ISO 13485 marked product. It does not 'pretend' to be a C-A-T, but the design is clearly based on the Combat Application Tourniquet® (C-A-T).
Why not read What People Say about this alternative and see the our Products pages for more quality details? About our bleed kit in general, a highly experienced consultant in Prehospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) said:
"The Rhino Rescue bleeding control kit is 100% fit for purpose and I would highly recommend it given its quality and amazing price".
You can read more about what the independent reviewers said here >>> What People Say
HIGH QUALITY ALTERNATIVES FOR SMALL CHARITY BUDGETS
For small charities supporting Ukraine, the arrival of high-quality alternatives to the established big name brands, that still fulfil the required purpose, but at a more affordable cost, is a 'godsend'.
So, for those supplying medics in Ukraine who still insist on big price label brands, and who still insist that products that are not from US suppliers are “below standard”: really sorry, but we can't help you.
However, for those supplying medics in Ukraine who are happy to receive quality, latest generation, branded, CE and FDA marked items that work, but from other suppliers, we can help you to help them them save more lives!
PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERIES, and for current CHARITY PRICES