MED-TAC International's MARCH Supplies collection provides tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, airway adjuncts, chest seals, IV/IO supplies, and hypothermia prevention equipment — one collection covering all five phases of the TCCC MARCH algorithm. Used by U.S. military medics, law enforcement rescue task forces, and civilian trauma providers. Every product is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized master distributor, including CoTCCC-recommended devices from North American Rescue, Z-MEDICA, CELOX, SAM Medical, and Compression Works.
What Is the MARCH Algorithm and Why Does Tactical Medicine Use It?
MARCH is the treatment priority framework used in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) — the clinical standard for prehospital trauma care developed by the U.S. Special Operations Command and adopted across U.S. military branches, NATO partners, and an increasing number of civilian EMS and law enforcement agencies. The acronym stands for Massive Hemorrhage, Airway, Respirations, Circulation, and Hypothermia/Head injury. Unlike the civilian ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) framework, MARCH places hemorrhage control first — because uncontrolled external bleeding kills faster than airway obstruction in the majority of preventable trauma deaths. The sequence is evidence-based: data from the Joint Trauma System show that hemorrhage accounts for approximately 91% of potentially survivable battlefield deaths. MARCH provides a systematic protocol that any trained responder can execute under fire, in austere environments, or during mass casualty incidents.
What Supplies Does Each MARCH Phase Require?
Each phase of MARCH requires specific equipment. The table below maps each algorithm phase to its clinical objective, primary intervention, and the products MED-TAC carries to address it.
| Phase |
Clinical Priority |
Primary Intervention |
Key Products |
| M — Massive Hemorrhage |
Stop life-threatening external bleeding |
Tourniquet; wound packing with hemostatic gauze; junctional device |
CAT Gen 7, SAM XT, SOFTT-W, QuikClot Combat Gauze, Celox Rapid, AAJT-S, SAM Junctional Tourniquet |
| A — Airway |
Establish and maintain patent airway |
Chin lift/jaw thrust; NPA insertion; surgical airway if needed |
Nasopharyngeal Airway (NPA), surgical airway kits — see Airway Management
|
| R — Respirations |
Identify and treat life-threatening chest injuries |
Chest seal (open pneumothorax); needle decompression (tension pneumothorax) |
Hyfin Vent Chest Seal, ARS Needle Decompression — see Respiratory Support
|
| C — Circulation |
IV/IO access; fluid resuscitation; treat shock |
IV/IO access; blood products or crystalloid; pressure infusion |
IV/IO supplies, blood transfusion kits — see IV/IO & Blood Transfusion
|
| H — Hypothermia / Head |
Prevent heat loss; assess head/spine injury |
Hypothermia prevention wrap; head injury assessment |
Heat reflective blankets, hypothermia prevention kits — see Head Injuries & Hypothermia Prevention
|
What Tourniquets Are Carried in the MARCH Supplies Collection?
This collection stocks a comprehensive range of CoTCCC-recommended and field-deployed tourniquet options. The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) Gen 7 by North American Rescue remains the most widely issued tourniquet in the U.S. military and the standard for most law enforcement IFAKs. The SAM XT Extremity Tourniquet by SAM Medical uses the TRUFORCE buckle system for audible and tactile pressure confirmation during self-application. The SOF Tactical Tourniquet Wide (SOFTT-W) by TACMED Solutions is preferred in applications requiring maximum occlusion pressure across large limbs. Additional options include the M2 Ratcheting Tourniquet (available in 1.5-inch, 2-inch, and XL widths), the RCR Medical X8T for one-handed operation, and the SnakeStaff ETQ Gen 2. For junctional hemorrhage, the collection includes the AAJT-S (Compression Works) and SAM Junctional Tourniquet — both CoTCCC-recommended for inguinal and axillary hemorrhage control. Browse the dedicated Tourniquets & Pouches collection for the full tourniquet selection.
What Hemostatic Gauze Options Are Available for Wound Packing?
The MARCH Supplies collection includes the two primary CoTCCC-recommended hemostatic gauze categories. QuikClot Combat Gauze (Z-MEDICA) — available in standard and XL formats — uses kaolin to activate the intrinsic clotting cascade, concentrating clotting factors at the wound surface. CELOX Z-Fold and CELOX Rapid (CELOX) and ChitoGAUZE XR PRO and ChitoGAUZE XR2 PRO (Tricol Biomed) use chitosan, which operates independently of the clotting cascade — retaining efficacy in hypothermic and anticoagulated patients. Also available: NuStat Tactical Hemostatic Dressing and Rhino Rescue Chitosan Hemostatic Gauze for additional options. Proper technique requires tight packing directly against the bleeding source with sustained manual pressure for 3–5 minutes. See all options in the Hemostatic Agents collection.
Equip Every Phase of MARCH
Tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, chest seals, airway supplies — everything for a complete TCCC loadout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MARCH and the ABC trauma protocol?+
The traditional ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) protocol was developed for civilian emergency medicine, where hemorrhagic deaths are less common and definitive care is rapidly available. MARCH reorders priorities based on military combat data: hemorrhage kills faster than airway obstruction in most trauma scenarios, so massive hemorrhage control comes first. MARCH also explicitly addresses hypothermia prevention — critical in austere environments — which has no dedicated phase in the ABC framework. The MARCH protocol is now increasingly adopted in civilian mass casualty and high-threat environments, including law enforcement rescue task forces and Stop the Bleed programs.
Can untrained civilians use MARCH supplies safely?+
The hemorrhage control component of MARCH — tourniquet application and wound packing — is specifically designed to be trainable to lay responders. The Stop the Bleed program (supported by the American College of Surgeons) has trained millions of civilians in basic hemorrhage control using CoTCCC-recommended devices. More advanced interventions — needle decompression, surgical airway, IV access — require provider-level training. Purchasing MARCH supplies is not restricted; however, MED-TAC strongly recommends formal training for any user of advanced life-saving interventions. Basic hemorrhage control training is available nationwide through Stop the Bleed and TCCC for All Combatants (TCCC-AC) courses.
What is the JETT device and when is it used?+
The JETT (Junctional Emergency Treatment Tool) by North American Rescue is a CoTCCC-recommended junctional tourniquet designed specifically for inguinal (groin) hemorrhage control — one of the most difficult bleeding locations to manage with standard limb tourniquets. The JETT applies targeted pressure via foam pressure pads positioned over the femoral artery at the inguinal ligament, and is secured with a belt-style circumferential wrap. It is lighter and more compact than the AAJT-S, making it practical for inclusion in individual medic kits. The AAJT-S (Abdominal Aortic and Junctional Tourniquet - Stabilized) provides broader coverage including axillary (armpit) and abdominal aorta compression via a pneumatic bladder.
What makes the SWAT-T different from standard tourniquet designs?+
The SWAT-T (Stretch, Wrap, and Tuck Tourniquet) by Safeguard Medical is an elastic bandage-style tourniquet rather than a windlass device. Its stretch-and-wrap application allows use on pediatric casualties, amputee stumps, and irregular anatomical sites where standard windlass tourniquets cannot seat properly. It can also function as a pressure dressing and limb splint. The SWAT-T is not a primary CoTCCC-recommended limb tourniquet for standard extremity hemorrhage (where the CAT or SAM XT are preferred), but it fills specific niche applications in pediatric trauma, improvised care, and situations where windlass tourniquets are contraindicated or unavailable.
Is the MARCH Supplies collection appropriate for building an IFAK?+
Yes — the MARCH Supplies collection contains the core components for a TCCC-compliant IFAK: a CoTCCC-recommended tourniquet (CAT Gen 7, SAM XT, or SOFTT-W), hemostatic gauze (QuikClot Combat Gauze or Celox Rapid), a pressure dressing, a chest seal, and a nasopharyngeal airway. For pre-built IFAK options, see the
IFAK Kits collection. For a custom build from individual components, use this collection alongside the
IFAK Pouches collection to select your pouch and fill components separately.
What is Tactical Compression Wrap (TCW) used for in MARCH care?+
The North American Rescue Tactical Compression Wrap is a high-elasticity elastic bandage used for securing wound packs, immobilizing extremities, and providing circumferential pressure on wounds where a rigid pressure dressing may not conform. In MARCH hemorrhage control, it is typically used to secure hemostatic gauze in wounds that are difficult to manage with standard pressure dressings — such as scalp lacerations, facial injuries, and irregular trunk wounds. It can also be used in the Hypothermia phase to wrap limbs before placing a heat-reflective blanket around the casualty.
Related Collections
All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
