HOBAG™ GARRISON · MED-LINE — Basic Life Support Trauma Backpack

The HOBAG™ GARRISON · MED-LINE is the Basic Life Support trauma backpack for the responder who needs the full MARCH-protocol trauma capability without the ALS-scope content. Built on the Elite Bags PARAMED Standard clamshell chassis. Pre-configured with CoTCCC-recommended hemorrhage control, basic airway management, vented chest seals, hypothermia management, BLS diagnostics, and rapid evacuation — in a footprint and price point appropriate for the responder whose scope of practice doesn't include IV access or advanced airway adjuncts.

This is the right kit for the school nurse, the workplace safety officer, the campus security responder, the volunteer first responder, and the credentialed civilian household. Not under-equipped, not over-scoped. Every component named, every brand disclosed.

Massive Hemorrhage Module (Red)

• 2× NAR™ CAT® Gen 7 Tourniquet (CoTCCC-recommended)
• 2× QuikClot® Combat Gauze® Z-fold
• 2× 68 Medical Ready Gauze™ Compressed
• 1× OLAES® Modular Bandage 4" + 1× OLAES® Modular Bandage 6"
• 1× ESMARK Bandage

Airway Module (Orange)

• 1× NPA 5-size kit with surgical lubricant
• 1× Berman OPA 6-size kit
• 1× Pocket BVM (adult)

Respiration Module (Yellow)

• 2× HyFin® Vent Twin Chest Seal (CoTCCC-recommended)
• 1× HyFin® USMC Combo Pack

Hypothermia & Head Module (Blue)

• 1× TacMed™ Helios™ System (Standard — two-piece quick-access casualty wrap)
• 1× Penlight
• 1× Adjustable adult cervical collar

BLS Diagnostics Suite

• 1× Aneroid BP cuff (adult adjustable)
• 1× Single-head stethoscope
• 1× Fingertip pulse oximeter
• 1× Digital IR thermometer
• 1× Trauma shears + 1× Compact EMT shears (backup)

Documentation & Evacuation

• 1× TCCC casualty card pad + vital signs pen + permanent marker
• 1× QuikLitter™ Lite

Platform & Specifications

• ✓ Bag platform: Elite Bags PARAMED Standard clamshell book-fold
• ✓ Material: 1000D polyamide construction
• ✓ Heavy-duty YKK zippers, hi-vis reflective trim, padded shoulder straps
• ✓ 4 removable color-coded translucent module pouches (MARCH layout)
• ✓ Color options: Black, High-Visibility EMS Red
• ✓ Loaded weight: approximately 14 lb
• ✓ HSA/FSA Eligible

FAQ

What's the difference between GARRISON and CITADEL?
GARRISON is BLS-scope content only. CITADEL adds ALS-scope content (IV/IO access, advanced airway adjuncts, oxygen delivery). If your team's scope of practice doesn't include IV starts and advanced airways, GARRISON is the right tier — you'll have everything you can use without paying for items you can't deploy.

Is this appropriate for school nurse, workplace, and campus deployment?
Yes — GARRISON was specifically designed for these audiences. Every item is appropriate for any responder trained in Bleeding Control, basic first aid, and BLS-CPR. Nothing in this kit requires a paramedic or above scope.

What about the Helios Standard vs. Active Warming?
GARRISON ships with the TacMed Helios System Standard variant (passive two-piece casualty wrap, no active warming pad). For active warming capability, upgrade to CITADEL or add the Safeguard HAWK™ Warming Grid as a separate purchase. The Helios Standard is doctrinally appropriate for typical BLS transport timelines; active warming becomes critical for Prolonged Casualty Care timelines (covered in FORTRESS tier).

Why no needle decompression?
Needle decompression for tension pneumothorax is an ALS-scope intervention in most jurisdictions. GARRISON intentionally omits the ARS needles to align with BLS scope. The HyFin Vent Twin chest seal is included — the BLS intervention for an open chest wound. CITADEL adds the ARS needles for ALS deployment.

How does GARRISON compare to a commercially marketed "family preparedness" trauma kit?
GARRISON contains brand-named CoTCCC-recommended trauma components (NAR CAT Gen 7, QuikClot Combat Gauze, HyFin Vent) instead of private-label substitutes. The diagnostics suite is appropriate medical equipment, not novelty. The kit is on a real paramedic chassis, not a soft-sided ditty bag. Every component is disclosed; no contents are obscured behind "550+ items" marketing claims.

Is the GARRISON HSA/FSA eligible?
Yes — the kit qualifies as a Health Savings Account / Flexible Spending Account-eligible medical preparedness purchase.

What training is recommended?
Bleeding Control (B-CON), BLS-CPR + AED, and basic first aid at minimum. Start with the free MED-TAC field brief at tactical-medicine.com/brief for the doctrine foundation.

Evidence & Training Rationale

MARCH Protocol — BLS Scope. GARRISON contents reflect the BLS-scope portion of the MARCH protocol: Massive Hemorrhage control via tourniquets and hemostatic gauze, basic Airway management via NPA/OPA adjuncts and BVM, Respiration intervention via vented chest seals, basic Circulation support via BLS diagnostics, and Hypothermia management via the Helios passive thermal wrap. The kit fits BLS scope of practice without items the BLS responder cannot legally or competently deploy.

CoTCCC-Recommended Components. The NAR CAT Gen 7 is one of the two windlass tourniquets on the current CoTCCC-recommended list (the SOF-T Wide is the other; CITADEL includes both, GARRISON includes the CAT). QuikClot Combat Gauze is the CoTCCC-recommended hemostatic. HyFin Vent Twin is one of the CoTCCC-recommended vented chest seals.

Bleeding Control Training Alignment. GARRISON contents map directly to Bleeding Control (B-CON) training curricula. A B-CON-trained responder can use every primary hemorrhage control item in the kit on day one.

Hypothermia Management. The TacMed Helios Standard provides the passive two-piece quick-access casualty wrap that meets doctrine for typical BLS transport timelines. For Prolonged Casualty Care (24+ hours), active warming becomes critical — covered in FORTRESS tier with the Helios + HAWK Warming Grid pairing.

Competitive Comparison

vs. mass-market "family preparedness" trauma kits: GARRISON delivers brand-named CoTCCC-recommended hemorrhage control rather than private-label substitutes, on a real paramedic-grade chassis rather than a soft-sided ditty bag, with transparent component disclosure rather than inflated item-count marketing.

vs. CITADEL (HOBAG ALS tier): GARRISON is the BLS-scope subset — same hemorrhage and respiration components, smaller chassis, no IV access, no oxygen delivery, passive thermal wrap (not active warming). For BLS-scope responders, GARRISON delivers everything in the user's lawful scope at a substantially lower price.

vs. component self-assembly: Like-for-like component assembly costs approximately $1,050 in parts plus 3-4 hours of procurement, organization, and QC labor. GARRISON's price reflects the assembled, organized, and quality-controlled finished product.

Intended Audiences

• School nurses, school RNs, school athletic trainers, school resource officer programs
• Campus security and university health programs
• Workplace safety officers, OSHA-compliance medical programs, corporate emergency response teams
• Volunteer first responders, CERT teams, civilian preparedness
• Credentialed civilian households for family trauma preparedness
• Houses of worship, large-venue programs, community event medical teams
• Retail and hospitality emergency preparedness

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All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, South Florida, US of A — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.