Chinook Medical Gear – February 2012 eNewsletter is Live!

It’s finally snowing in Durango, implying Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction earlier this month is spot on: six more weeks of winter. Here in Southwest Colorado where the skiing is great, we celebrated Ground Hog Day and the snow that came with it.

This month, Chinook’s eNewsletter highlights winter home safety and preparedness tips, plus a look at a day in the life of an “Avy” (or avalanche) Search & Rescue Dog. Chinook is also excited to announce a limited time offer for reduced pricing and free shipping on TMK-ME (Medic) Packs!

Due to overstock on our medical aid backpacks, we are currently offering reduced pricing and free shipping on our TMK-ME (Medic) Packs. 

Designed with operations medics in mind, the TMK-ME (Medic) sets the standard for medical aid backpacks. The TMK-ME (Medic) is a medium size backpack with labeled pockets for an efficient modularized approach creating versatility in a durable package.

Right now, customers can purchase the ultra-slim, highly versatile TMK-ME (Medic) Pack in ACU at a fantastic price. And for a limited time we will also throw in free Ground Shipping, while supplies last. Simply enter the code “SHIPTMKME” upon checkout to take advantage of this great deal.

TMK-ME (Medic) Pack, ACU Only

• Retail Price: $ 289.95
• Government Price: $ 259.96
• Special Offer: $ 239.54 and Free Ground Shipping!

Chinook specializes in supporting government agencies and military units with the latest technology in medical containers, modules, supplies and kits, and provides high-quality medical solutions to organizations working in austere conditions. The company offers a wide range of tactical medical kits ranging from Individual First Aid Kits (IFAK) and All Hazards (LEMK-AH) to Combat Lifesaver (TMK-CL) and Medic (TMK-ME).

Chinook Medical Gear is proud to announce a new addition to its ranks. Anne Brennan will oversee sales and marketing strategy for Chinook Medical Gear, a leading supplier of 
custom medical solutions.

Brennan is a seasoned sales and marketing executive with over 28-years of experience, ranging from diverse industries such as cable television, education, hotel and affiliate promotional campaigns. She will oversee all sales and marketing activities for Chinook, including developing strategies for effective business retention, assisting with new product development and launches.

“As we head into a pivotal year for growth and development, we are thrilled to have Anne join our team” said Jessica Denison, COO for Chinook. “She is a top-notch sales executive with a proven track record for managing complex sales cycles and building the strong relationships necessary for successful sales results.”

A graduate of Santa Clara University in California with a B.S. in Marketing, Brennan will be based at Chinook’s headquarters in Durango, Colo., where she has lived for the past ten years.
A former Chicago resident, Brennan served as regional Vice President at AMC Networks in Chicago for five years, where she increased network penetration by 40-percent and exceeded sales goals by 50-percent for three consecutive years.

Chinook specializes in supplying government agencies, military units and corporations with the latest technology in medical containers, modules, supplies and kits. The company offers a wide range of tactical medical kits ranging from Individual First Aid Kits (IFAK) and All Hazards (LEMK-AH) to Combat Lifesaver (TMK-CL) and Medic (TMK-ME).

Chinook Medical Gear, a leader in custom medical solutions and field medical supplies for military, government, law enforcement and emergency medical services (EMS), proudly supports the Blue Star Mothers of Durango.

This month, Chinook provided packaging and shipping for 39 care packages from local families to service members deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. Formed in 1942, the Blue Star Mothers of America is a national non-profit organization with local chapters in cities and towns across the U.S., and offers support to families with sons and daughters serving in the military.

The Durango Chapter is made up of 26 active members — all of whom are mothers of active duty troops — and another 20 or so active supporters. The group sends around 30 care packages to deployed troops every six weeks with referrals for deployed troops from all over.

“Referrals for deployed troops come from all over — someone’s nephew from Georgia, a granddaughter from California, a friend from Pennsylvania,” noted Amy Yeager with the Blue Star Mothers of Durango. “There are no residency restrictions on who we send care packages to, just that they are deployed overseas.”

With postage costs averaging around $2000.00 each year, the Blue Star Mothers of Durango depends on community and business donations. All of the funds collected locally are used to support the deployed troops themselves, but the organization also provides guidance and moral support for local families.

“Care packages are a great way to show your support and gratitude for service members,” said Jessica Denison, Director of Business Development with Chinook. “It’s an honor to be able to help the local Blue Star Mothers in their mission to support our troops, especially for our sons and daughters who are far away from home during the holiday season.”

Chinook specializes in supporting government agencies and military units with the latest technology in medical containers, modules, supplies and kits, and provides high-quality medical solutions to organizations working in austere conditions. The company offers a wide range of tactical medical kits ranging from Individual First Aid Kits (IFAK) and All Hazards (LEMK-AH) to Combat Lifesaver (TMK-CL) and Medic (TMK-ME).

For more information or to get involved with the Blue Star Mothers of Durango, please visit the Durango Chapter’s Facebook page.

Chinook Medical Gear is excited to attend the upcoming 2011 Special Operations Medical Association (SOMA) conference on Dec. 10th – 12th in Tampa, Fla. As a leader in custom medical solutions and field medical supplies for military, government, law enforcement and emergency medical services (EMS), Chinook specializes in building custom medical kits and modules tested and proven for the harshest environments on earth.

In addition to showcasing the latest in product innovation for tactical medical kits and modules, Chinook will also host hands-on K-9 demonstrations and a MedSled Vertical Lift Training at the Chinook booth in the SOMA Vendor Exhibit Hall (Booth #111)

Introduced in late 2010, Chinook’s new MedSled Vertical Lift Rescue Sled is an innovative extraction device designed specifically for vertical or horizontal lift operations in difficult or hostile rescue conditions. Unlike conventional CASEVAC/Tactical Evacuation Care methods, the VL Rescue Sled offers a less complicated system for ease-of-use with improved durability — all at a more affordable price-point. Chinook will demonstrate Med Sled Rescue techniques and performance capabilities to attendees at SOMA.

MedSled Vertical Lift Rescue Sled

Also noteworthy, the MedSled VL Rescue Sled is currently being assessed by the DLA Logistics Information Services for NSN assignment. The NSN is officially recognized by the United States government, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and many governments around the world, including the Department of Defense (DOD).

Attendees are invited to stop by the Chinook booth at SOMA for product information and demonstrations, plus a chance to win a free TMK-ME Pack (Chinook Tactical Medical Kit – Medic Pack).

About SOMA
SOMA is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to enhancing professional standards and innovation through continuing education of U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) medical personnel. The annual convention provides a training and educational forum for military and civilian medical practitioners, educators, administrators and students. For more information, visit http://www.specopsmedassociation.org.

Sarver Heart Center’s newest video makes it easy to learn Continuous Chest Compression CPR. Every three days, more Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest than the number who died in the 9-11 attacks. You can lessen this recurring loss by learning this hands-only CPR method that doubles a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest.  Watch physician researchers Gordon A. Ewy, MD, and Karl Kern, MD, demonstrate the easy, life-saving method that they developed at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.

New and Improved CPR Instruction Video!

First responders are today immobilizing casualties with spinal cord injuries without having to wait for traditional equipment to arrive on scene.

By Martin Rizo-Patron, president-founder, Emegear, LLC

SEARCHING FOR THE BEST CARE

The need to improve the way c-spine management has been performed became evident to me after applying hundreds, if not thousands, of conventional c-collars on patients. As an EMS provider performing this BLS procedure, I always reassured and instructed patients to be still while informing them that the collar would work as a reminder not to move; all the while knowing the devices we were using worked marginally at best. My frustration grew as i began to question the efficiency of the devices and procedures used, and if we were actually providing the best care possible for our critical patients. I was compelled to do something that would enhance the way we approached c-spine management, expedite treatment and improve the outcomes of trauma patients.

BACK TO BASICS

This is how, with the help of many other EMS professionals, we opted to take a logical approach and go back to basics by implementing the concept of splinting.  We achieved this by designing a device to secure the head to the torso of the patient on two points anterior and two points posterior; above C-1 and below C-7.  Thus the concept of cervical splinting (CS) was born.   Unlike conventional methods, CS technology uses a new method of application to avoid any potential distraction of the cervical spine, while minimizing unnecessary movement at the site of the injury.  Using this technology a single rescuer can also splint the patient’s head in the position found thus preventing the possibility of worsening his or her condition by cervical distraction or even internal decapitation.

Cervical splinting not only improves the quality of our patient care, but also gives EMS professionals and military personnel new capabilities and several advantages increasing the effectiveness of our field work.  A CS device is designed to be used on both adult and pediatric patients.  It is adjusted on the patient during application to obtain a customized fit, thus eliminating the use of fingers to approximate size of conventional devices to the size of the patient (a very inaccurate procedure being used as the starting point to apply current CIDs).  CS also eliminates the occurrence of ill-fitted c-collars which lack the capabilities to adjust both vertically and bilaterally, and have clinically proven to do more harm than good.

During CS, a single rescuer can simultaneously control c-spine and customize the splinting system to the patient’s size and position instead of requiring multiple personnel to initiate treatment on trauma patients.  This is a critical advantage at the scene of MCIs or MVIs.  Furthermore, once CS has been performed on a patient, the level of stabilization obtained is higher than while holding manual c-spine, thus allowing providers to effectively perform early treatment on multiple patients and to address other priorities at the scene of the accident.  This capability can be a great factor in highly impacted accident scenes or for military engagements where time is invaluable.

My broad training as a soldier, firefighter, lifeguard, and deep sea diver gave me the ability to see specific needs for each field I worked in, and ingrained in me the desire to constantly be searching for new ways to improve upon life-saving devices.  For example, after developing the first cervical splinting system for EMS professionals, I saw that military and tactical rescue personnel had different needs than standard EMS agencies, and so with valuable input and suggestions from medical directors, military personnel, and tactical rescue agencies, we worked to adapt.  The end result was a compact, foldable CS device that had thicker occipital support padding and longer head restraint straps (for possible body armor), and a vacuum-sealed non-translucent package for increased durability in harsh conditions.  Also, because the CS device had the capability to be folded practically in half, it was able to fit into any soldier’s or rescue personnel’s backpack configuration, freeing up the hands for more pressing actions.  This effectively allowed the practice of Cervical Splinting to be used by entire groups of people who otherwise would not have had the ability to do so.

A NEW PARADIGM

Prior to now, matching all of these capabilities could have only been achieved through the use of additional manpower, extra equipment, additional time and substantial improvisation.  As it ensures higher patient safety, expedited treatment and better outcomes, CS is now becoming a new paradigm for the management of cervical spinal injuries in the field of EMS.

We encourage emergency providers to further investigate this topic both for an educational aspect and to improve upon their own procedures towards a higher quality of patient care.

To see the full article visit: http://issuu.com/tacticaldefensemedia/docs/combatcasualtyq32011

Cervical Splinting: A New Paradigm in EMS

With the heat taking hold this summer I thought it was appropriate to offer information on First Aid for Heat-Induced Illnesses provided by FEMA. Since the best treatment is prevention, be sure to check out the following sections of our web site for Burn Care and Hydration Therapy!

Extreme heat brings with it the possibility of heat-induced illnesses. The following table lists these illnesses, their symptoms, and the first aid treatment.

Sunburn – Skin redness and pain, possible swelling, blisters, fever, headaches

• Take a shower using soap to remove oils that may block pores, preventing the body from cooling naturally.
• Apply dry, sterile dressings to any blisters, and get medical attention.

Heat Cramps – Painful spasms, usually in leg and abdominal muscles; heavy sweating

• Get the victim to a cooler location.
• Lightly stretch and gently massage affected muscles to relieve spasms.
• Give sips of up to a half glass of cool water every 15 minutes. (Do not give liquids with caffeine or alcohol.)
• Discontinue liquids, if victim is nauseated.

Heat Exhaustion – Heavy sweating but skin may be cool, pale, or flushed. Weak pulse. Normal body temperature is possible, but temperature will likely rise. Fainting or dizziness, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and headaches are possible.

• Get victim to lie down in a cool place.
• Loosen or remove clothing.
• Apply cool, wet clothes.
• Fan or move victim to air-conditioned place.
• Give sips of water if victim is conscious.
• Be sure water is consumed slowly.
• Give half glass of cool water every 15 minutes.
• Discontinue water if victim is nauseated.
• Seek immediate medical attention if vomiting occurs.

Heat Stroke (a severe medical emergency) – High body temperature (105+); hot, red, dry skin; rapid, weak pulse; and rapid shallow breathing. Victim will probably not sweat unless victim was sweating from recent strenuous activity. Possible unconsciousness.

• Call 9-1-1 or emergency medical services, or get the victim to a hospital immediately. Delay can be fatal.
• Move victim to a cooler environment.
• Removing clothing
• Try a cool bath, sponging, or wet sheet to reduce body temperature.
• Watch for breathing problems.
• Use extreme caution.
• Use fans and air conditioners.

Did You Know…

• In a normal year, approximately 175 Americans die from extreme heat. Young children, elderly people, and those who are sick or overweight are more likely to become victims.
• Because men sweat more than women, men are more susceptible to heat illness because they become more quickly dehydrated.
• Sunburn can significantly slow the skin’s ability to release excess heat.
• People living in urban areas may be at a greater risk from the effects of a prolonged heat wave than people living in rural regions. An increased health problem can occur when stagnant atmospheric conditions trap pollutants in urban areas, thus adding contaminated air to excessively hot temperatures.

Source: http://www.fema.gov/hazard/heat/heat_aid.shtm

When a burn occurs, seconds count! Burn injuries should be cooled immediately, otherwise the heat will continue to destroy the surrounding and underlying tissue, and may progress a partial thickness (second degree) burn into a full thickness (third degree) burn injury. This, in turn, will present serious consequences for the patient and considerable extra cost for the receiving hospital/burn unit.

HERE ARE FOUR CRITICAL STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE TO TREAT A BURN:

1. Immediately stop the burning process-seconds count!

2. Cool the burn-don’t over cool the victim.

3. Provide pain relief.

4. Cover and protect the burn area against contamination.

All burns should be treated with concern. It is important to keep in mind the golden rule of burn management: If someone has a burn on his or her body exceeding the size of the palm of his or her own hand, where blisters are present, burns to genitalia, face or to any flexion point, this person should seek medical attention. All electrical burns require medical attention.

More precise treatment depends on Type, Extent and Depth of Injury

TYPE OF INJURY

Experts classify burns into three major types, depending on their cause:

• Thermal-Burns caused by flame, steam, hot liquid or hot metal.
• Electrical-Burns caused by direct contact with electrical current, or the passing of electrical current through the body, including lightning.
• Chemical-Burns caused by direct bodily contact with acids, lye, strong detergents or chemicals, or by inhalation of chemical fumes.

Each kind of burn has unique characteristics, and as a result, appropriate first aid may vary.

What are the guidelines for emergency treatment of THERMAL BURNS?

Thermal burns are caused by flame, steam, hot liquid or hot metal. When a thermal burn occurs, seconds count!

1. Immediately move the victim from the source of the burn. If the victim’s clothing is still on fire, prevent the burn victim from running, which will only fan the flames. However, standing still makes the ignition of hair and inhalation of flames more likely. Instead, instruct the victim to stop, drop to the ground and roll to extinguish the flames.
2. Spray the victim with water or wrap him or her in a blanket, heavy coat or rug to smother any residual flames-or place a Water-Jel Fire Blanket on him or her to extinguish the flames. The U.S. Military uses this method.
3. If the flames were caused by a flammable liquid, like gasoline, make sure the burned individual avoids further exposure to heat or fire, which could trigger reignition of flames.
4. Do NOT put butter, grease, dry dressings, ointments or salves on a burn; experts contend that they don’t cool the burn or relieve the pain, and some may leave behind a greasy residue that must be physically removed if the victim later requires medical attention. Instead, a one-step burn care product, such as Water-Jel First Aid Emergency Burn Dressing, is recommended. This first aid burn dressing from Water-Jel Technologies promptly relieves pain, protects the wound from further contamination, cools the burn and inhibits its progression, and helps promote healing.
5. If burned on a clothed area, apply the Water-Jel Burn Dressing or Fire Blanket directly over the burned clothing. The gel will soak through the clothing to cool the burn, relieve the pain and allow easy removal of clothing prior to treatment by a medical professional. If Water-Jel dressings are not easily accessible, quickly remove all burned clothing, as it can continue to be a source of heat even after the fire has been extinguished.
6. All burns should be treated with concern. It is important to keep in mind the golden rule of burn management: If someone has a burn on his or her body exceeding the size of the palm of his or her own hand, where blisters are present, burns to genitalia, face or to any flexion point, this person should seek medical attention. All electrical burns require medical attention.
7. If practical, elevate a burned extremity above the level of the heart while waiting for medical attention.

What are the guidelines for emergency treatment of ELECTRICAL BURNS and recommendations regarding NFPA 70 ARC FLASH?

Electrical burns are caused by direct contact with electrical current or the passing of an electrical current through the body, including lightning.

1. Before touching the victim, stop the source of the current, if possible, turn off the source of the power and deactivate the main circuit breaker.
2. Use a nonconductive item, such as a wooden broom handle, rope, dry towel or wooden chair, to disengage the victim from the current source.
3. Cool the burned area with a one-step burn care product, such as Water-Jel First Aid Emergency Burn Dressing. This first aid burn dressing from Water-Jel Technologies promptly relieves pain, protects the wound from further contamination, cools the burn, reduces its progression and helps promote healing.
4. Seek prompt medical attention for all medical burns.

What are the guidelines for emergency treatment of CHEMICAL BURNS?

Chemical burns are caused by direct bodily contact with acids, lye, strong detergents or chemicals, or by inhalation of chemical fumes. When a chemical burn occurs, seconds count!

1. Immediately flush the affected areas with large quantities of water. Do not waste time looking for specific antidotes to the chemical that caused the burn and do not take time to remove the victim’s clothing until the flushing process is well underway.
2. For a known acid burn, irrigate the area for at least 15 minutes; for a known lye burn, irrigate for one hour.
3. Apply a one-step burn care product, such as Water-Jel First Aid Emergency Burn Dressing, to the burn wound. This first aid burn dressing from Water-Jel Technologies promptly relieves pain, protects the wound from further contamination, cools the burn and reduces its progression, and helps promote healing.
4. Summon medical help.
   

   

EXTENT OF INJURY

The extent of a burn wound is defined as the percentage of total body surface damaged and may be determined by the Rule of Nines. This divides the body into areas of 9% or multiples of nine (figure I) and is modified for estimating the extent of burn injury in children (figure II).

DEPTH OF INJURY

The depth of a burn injury refers to the amount of skin, and on some occasions other tissue, damaged or destroyed. Skin has two layers, the superficial epidermis and the deeper dermis that overlies subcutaneous tissue. Burn injuries are defined as Superficial (1st Degree), Partial Thickness (2nd Degree) and Full Thickness (3rd Degree).

Superficial Burn (1st Degree Burn) 112 degrees F

• minor damage of the epidermis
• red, tender, dry, no blisters
• i.e., sunburn, heals in three to six days

Partial Thickness Burn (2nd Degree Burn) 140 degrees F

• impacts epidermis and dermis
• blisters are thick walled and sometimes ruptured
• color is mixed red and white
• painful, especially if pressure is applied
• heals in three to six weeks, potential scarring, may require hospital admission, surgery

Full Thickness Burn (3rd Degree Burn) 158 degrees F

• destruction of epidermis and dermis
• high risk of infection, loss of temperature control
• skin appears white, black, gray, leathery and charred, dry
• requires hospital admission, surgery
• months, years to heal

Visit our line of burn care products here!

Source: http://www.waterjel.com/burn-md/

The magnitude of an emergency situation is always unpredictable. For instance, a major catastrophe natural or otherwise can result in unprecedented damage to lives and property. Even well-trained rescue teams may find it difficult to cope with the huge scale of damage caused by a catastrophic event. Rescue teams and first responders should be equipped with first aid kits and emergency medical kits whenever they go on mission.

Rescue teams rely on emergency medical supplies to treat survivors before they can be shifted to hospitals and clinics. Already exhausted, dehydrated, or critically injured, survivors may lose their lives without the necessary first aid treatment that they require before expert medical attention is available. Emergency medical kits play a vital role in saving lives in such situations.

The emergency medical kit they carry should have essential medical supplies such as bandages, dressings, and tourniquets as well as instruments such as scissors, shears, scalpel, and tracheal hook. The emergency medical kit should also have emergency medical equipment such as a Cricothyrotomy Set, airway set, and laryngoscope set. With the help of these emergency medical supplies, a trained medic can give immediate medical treatment to the injured person.

Trained medics can use Cricothyrotomy Set and nasopharygeal airway devices to treat respiratory problems. Other essential emergency medical equipment that these medics need to have with them are blood pressure cuffs IV admin sets, and oximeters.

Chinook Medical Gear offers emergency medical kits, first aid kits, medical instruments, and medical equipment for emergency rescue teams, law enforcement personnel, and SWAT teams. All medical instruments and equipment featured on this online store are made from extremely durable and premium materials.

When you travel all over the world, you will gain a lot of knowledge and experience. Some travelers traverse the globe not for wealth or knowledge, but for mere fun. From businessmen to adventurers, many travel across the globe for one reason or the other. Travelers are always advised to travel with emergency medical kits because things may go wrong without warning.

Sudden illness, insect bites, and indigestion are some of the common problems travelers may have to face. When you are travelling to exotic locations, infection due to insect bites is a very common occurrence. Insect repellant sprays and lotions offer excellent protection from those tiny miscreants. Food poisoning due to consumption of contaminated food or water is another common problem travelers frequently come across. Many travel medical kits come with medications for stomach ailments. You can also add water purification tablets to your travel medical kit that may prove handy when you have to drink water from a dubious source.

Expedition teams often have to spend weeks or months in inhospitable conditions for research purposes. They always carry first aid kits and emergency medical supplies with them. If something goes wrong, they have to rely on these travel medical kits for their survival before they can receive any medical attention.

Businessmen frequently travel from one part of the globe to the other for various reasons. Sometimes they have to travel to different locations on a single day. It is recommended for them to be equipped with emergency medical kits specifically travel medical kits because often they are working with a weakened immune system from jet lag and tiredness making them more susceptible to illness.

Chinook Medical Gear offers a wide range of travel medical kits and emergency medical supplies for travelers and adventurers at great prices. Chinook Expedition Kit, Weekender Kit and Smart Travel Kit are some of the emergency medical kits for travelers available at this online store.