In this article we are going to talk about a specific piece of gear that is partly unique for its contents. But mainly for its packaging. You may wonder why we talk about product packaging here at Redbeard Tactical. The answer is that I really didn’t find a proper introduction and because the packaging is actually the main feature of the HARTMANN Medical Trauma box.
HARTMANN Medical is a Swiss based manufacturer that on one hands creates a broad spectrum of regular adhesive and non-adhesive bandages and on the other equips the Swiss army with individual emergency bandages for years. During an event earlier this year they showed our team their new trauma bandages, which is kind of a better thought out emergency bandage. We will cover the HARTMANN emergency bandage in a future article, as it is a really groundbreaking product on its own. After showing me the bandage, the HARTMANN representative pulled out a bright colored box, which looked a bit like a soap dispenser. I was curious and the representative explained to me that this is called the trauma box and is intended as a easy way to dispense a TQ and a emergency bandage and to be placed in public areas and industrial areas to enable citizens as well as employees to treat critical bleeding.
There are many active shooter kits and trauma bags out there. But they all are pretty extensive, which may be very deterrent to users that aren’t trained extensively in trauma care.
The Trauma Box is a rounded metal and plastic casing, which can be attached to walls (and perhaps even vehicles) with the supplied screws or the supplied, adhesive 3M double sided tape. Opening the casing is achieved by ripping of the lid by a straight, firm pull with one hand. After doing so a compact folded package falls out of the box. Which is kind of the heart of this product. This package is divided into two blisters. One containing a CAT Tourniquet and a pair of blue, surgical gloves. The other blister contains another pair of gloves and a HARTMANN Emergency Bandage. The casing is printable, as for the moment there is only a German printing available saying “Blut Stopp Trauma Box” which means “Stop Bleeding Trauma Box”.
Each blister contains a (at the moment only) German description of for what you use which instrument and how you use it. Of course this doesn’t reduces the need of medical training, but it serves as a welcome reminder. Also the blisters feature yellow carrying handles which serve a double purpos as pull handles for opening the package under stress.
Sadly the TQ and the bandage come in their original packaging, which requires the user to open four pieces of packaging before being able to use the TQ and the bandage. But you should keep in mind that this piece isn’t intended for military self treatment but for treating another injured person.
Another thing that first off concerned me was the lack of woundpacking gauze. But again, this is for casual users, as far as the word casual is applicable in the context of life threatening traumas. So the target audience would likely cringe from putting material into a wound. Also one should consider that the Trauma Box serves or should serve in conjunction with widely available medical kits, that usually include gauze.
As said in the in the introduction, the casing is what makes the Trauma Box unique. Its bright colors and self explaining, simple build will encourage persons in need to use it. It’s also possible to seal the Trauma Box to make it visible when the contents were used or stolen. Before we consider the uses of the Trauma Box we should make clear that getting any kind of trauma kit doesn’t replace the need for proper medical training. The minimalist contents of the Trauma Box could shed the training time for employes to an acceptable level for sure.
Fields of application could be public buildings, heavy duty industry or even in vehicles (a thing that I will explore in the near future) where the robust casing would potentially protect the contents from damage during a traffic accident. Another interesting use that I see in the blisters is that of a “leaflet” trauma kit, that could simply be tossed to injured persons during an active shooter scenario. Also military applications are imaginable, especially as an additional trauma kit in vehicles or aircraft.
All in all the Trauma Box is an interesting development which potentially brings active shooter medical kits in a more user friendly package to Europe. It now depends on laws and training standards, if this or comparable Items become commonplace.
The HARTMANN Trauma Box is available in Germany and Europe via ELYSION Risk Management.
