What are the ARK™ Casualty Throw Kits and how are they used?
The ARK™ Casualty Throw Kits are 7 individually packaged, bi-lingual kits inside the main bag. In an active shooter scenario, the primary responder distributes these kits to uninjured bystanders or less-critical casualties so they can perform self-aid or buddy aid while the responder focuses on the most critical patients. Each throw kit contains a SOF® Tourniquet, control wrap, gauze, emergency blanket, tape, instructions, and a casualty marker.
What is the difference between the Foxtrot Litter and Foxtrot DA Litter options?
The Foxtrot Litter is TacMed Solutions' standard casualty litter for the ARK system, designed for rapid one- or two-person extraction. The Foxtrot DA (Dual Access) Litter features access panels on both sides of the casualty — enabling medics to provide care during extraction without repositioning the patient, which is critical when treating injuries to multiple body areas in a moving evacuation.
How many casualties can the TacMed ARK™ treat?
The TacMed ARK™ can facilitate initial care for up to 9 casualties: 2 tourniquets in the main kit plus 7 Casualty Throw Kits each containing 1 SOF® Tourniquet, for a total of 9 tourniquets. Chest seals, bandages, and cravats provide additional multi-patient treatment capacity.
Does the ARK™ include surgical airway capability?
Yes. The TacMed ARK™ Active Shooter Response Kit includes a TacMed™ Surgical Airway Kit with tracheal hook — providing cricothyrotomy capability for failed airways that cannot be managed with the included NPAs. This makes it suitable for medically credentialed operators (paramedics, EMTs-Advanced, military medics) operating in extended casualty care scenarios.
Is the ARK bag available for separate purchase?
Yes. The TacMed™ ARK™ Active Shooter Response Bag is available as an empty bag-only option (see the ARK Bag listing) for organizations that want to self-stock the interior or replace a worn bag. The standard fully kitted versions are the primary listing with Standard Kit, Foxtrot Litter, and Foxtrot DA Litter options.
What is the difference between the ARK Active Shooter Response Kit and the ARK Active Shooter Response Bag?
The ARK Active Shooter Response Bag (bag only) is the empty carrier platform — available standalone for agencies that need to stock the bag to their own protocols. The ARK Active Shooter Response Kit is the bag stocked with a full equipment loadout: SOF Tourniquets, OLAES bandages, BLAST Bandage, HALO chest seals, NPAs, surgical airway kit, Emergency Bivvy, and 7 ARK Casualty Throw Kits. The kit is also available in an Evacuation configuration with a Foxtrot Litter or Foxtrot DA Litter.
Does the Active Shooter Response Kit meet NFPA 3000 requirements?
The TacMed ARK Active Shooter Response Kit is designed for the medical supply requirements of NFPA 3000 Rescue Task Force and warm zone response protocols. The TacMed Critical Event Response System, which incorporates the ARK kit, is explicitly described as meeting and exceeding NFPA 3000 guidelines. Individual agencies should verify specific compliance requirements with their AHJ.
How many casualties can the Active Shooter Response Kit support?
The ARK Active Shooter Response Kit with Throw Kits configuration supports immediate treatment of up to 7 casualties through the 7 ARK Casualty Throw Kits (tourniquet, control wrap, gauze, emergency blanket, and instruction card per kit), plus more advanced treatment for 2 additional critical casualties using the kit's SOF Tourniquets, OLAES bandages, BLAST Bandage, and airway supplies — for a theoretical maximum of 9+ casualties from a single kit.