Honoring Heroes: A Trauma Kit NOW!® Testimonial That Saves Lives

We received this testimonial a decade ago and even featured it in our 2015 catalog. It’s such a strong example of the importance of preparedness that we wanted to revisit it. The life-saving potential of the Trauma Kit NOW! is so great that we’d like to recognize the importance of equipping our current heroes with the tools needed to stay safe in combat. 

A MARINE'S STORY

Hey xxxxx, I was the Sniper that was missing his fingers from 3/4’s last deployment you meet at the ADS Expo at Pendleton. Sorry I couldn’t get this email off last week, but I got caught up with work. 

Photo Courtesy Department of Defence with use of Trauma Kit NOW! in service: OCT 22, 2015 U.S. Marine Cpl. Ryan Downy, a machine gunner with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, fires his M240 medium machine gun during live-fire training with Philippine Marines at Crow Valley, Philippines, Oct. 6, 2015. Philippine Marines with 31st Marine Company, Marine Battalion Landing Team 1, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Marines with BLT 2/5, 31st MEU, are training side by side as part of Amphibious Landing Exercise 2015, an annual bilateral training exercise conducted by members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines alongside U.S. Marine and Navy Forces.

I had barely turned when I heard and felt a large explosion right behind me which propelled me through the air 10 ft from where I was standing. Before I even hit the ground I knew what had happened, one of us had triggered an Improvised Explosive Device. Once I landed I could feel intense pain in my left arm and I knew that I needed a tourniquet as well as some pressure dressings. I reached down with my uninjured arm and pulled out my Blue Force Gear Trauma Kit placing it on my chest. I then unclipped my M4 which was held in place by a Vickers Combat Application Sling. After that I pulled the tourniquet off of my Trauma Kit and waited for the closest team member to get to me and render aid. Within just a few seconds of the dust settling other team members began rendering aid to the three wounded, myself being one of the three.

It was because of the extremely effective Blue Force Gear Trauma Kits that all three individuals were able to be saved and I’m able to be typing this email to you. I’m positive if it hadn’t been for the Blue Force Gear Trauma Kits that we had on that day there would have been a much different result. The amount of effort and speed you can employ the Blue Force Gear Trauma Kit is unprecedented and is truly saving the lives of service members on the battlefield. The Vickers Combat Application Sling also held all three of our rifles in place even after being launched through the air by the Improvised Explosive Device. Just to give you an idea of the force that the Vickers Combat Application Sling withstood, before I got blown up I had a nomex glove, a watch, and my long sleeve Frog top on, when I hit the ground my left arm was bare. The glove, watch, and sleeve that were there seconds before now were nowhere to be seen, but what was still there was my M4 held in place by my Vickers Combat Application Sling.

After I was medevaced to Camp Bastion, AFG my sling and trauma kit were burned because they had blood all over them. I am writing this email to say thank you for making such a great piece of gear. I probably would have bled out if it hadn’t been for your gear and how effective it is. Thanks again.

Sgt. Joshua D. Livingston Instructor

Pre Scout Sniper Course 1st MARDIV Schools

More Than Just Gear

The Trauma Kit NOW! isn't  just a collection of supplies; it's a potential lifeline. We know there are those whose lives could potentially depend on our gear, and we take that responsibility very seriously. That’s why we design solutions. 

In the above testimonial, Sgt. Joshua D. says, "The amount of effort and speed you can employ the Blue Force Gear Trauma Kit is unprecedented and is truly saving the lives of service members on the battlefield." We are truly touched that our gear had such a substantial impact on these marines, it’s why we continue to move forward and innovate.