Everyday Carry Medical Gear

Snake Staff Systems is a Utah-based company specializing in medical gear for everyday carry (EDC). Now, EDC has come to mean a variety of things, some of which are realistic and others not. In this case, the items are actually viable for day-in, day-out use in your pockets. They don’t need a ruck or a sling bag. You can dress normally and still have them with you. As we have seen, a viable tool with you beats the hell out of a perfect one back at your house.

I was introduced to these guys at the 2024 Utah Law Enforcement action pistol match. Snake Staff Systems, in their words, works in tandem with the people at FLUX Defense (PDW designs) and Antimatter Industries (scope magnification adjustments). That year, they gave out their EDC tourniquets to the match staff.

Initial Impressions

As someone who has gone with wider is better for both belts and TQs – two separate things that shouldn’t overlap – these appeared too narrow.

In one TECC class (HERE), since then, I was shown that the view was mistaken. My perspective was shaped by TQs I was issued in the Army or purchased for L/E use.

They have since added a wide TQ model, which I have also purchased.

ETQ Gen 2

Snake Staff advertises that “The ETQ Gen 2 Tourniquet was specifically designed to fit into small spaces — your pocket, backpack, or tactical belt — so you can carry it every day without hassle. Keep one in your car, gym bag, or travel kit — it’s easy to forget it’s there until the moment it’s needed.”

Approval

The subject of whether these have been approved by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (COTCCC) is a valid topic. Based on what I have heard from multiple sources so far, COTCCC is no longer making recommendations on the viability of individual TQ designs. Snake Staff says they have confirmed, valid data on their design stopping blood flow, which is how you prevent exsanguination – death by blood loss.

Patients Who Aren’t Adults

Children? Kids? K9s? Well, fortunately, I have not had to put a TQ on any of those. Snake Staff says their designs constrict down to a one-inch (1”) diameter, which is sufficient for all those patients.

I opened and expanded a SOFT-Wide next to an ETQ-2 Wide. The webbing on both has the same width. There is, however, about a 5” difference in overall length, with the SOFT-Wide being longer.

TQ Application

While I was working on this article, multiple peers shared a recent update on tourniquet application.

First, where to place the tourniquet on the limb is dependent on the immediate circumstances. If under fire or in the “hot” zone, place it high on the limb. If not, then it goes 2-3” above the wound, provided it does not place the TQ over a joint.

Second, apply it in such a way that the tag end can be pulled outboard, away from the body’s center line. Then, it needs to be pulled as tightly as possible before continuing.

Finally, tighten the windlass until there are no distal pulses – a palpable pulse beyond the tourniquet and the injury. There can be discoloration to the limb if there a noticeable delay between the occlusion of the arteries and veins. Also, once applied, leave the tourniquet until the patient reaches definitive care.

Carrying & Sleeves

They make three sleeves for carrying their TQs. One is just a simple elastic tunnel that will retain and protect the TQ. The second has a pull loop sewn on one end to aid in removing the TQ. Option 3 has a Tegris belt loop sewn onto the elastic in the event you choose to carry it that. If pocket space is an issue, that is certainly an option.

Online, I came across this comment on the ETQs: “I love that they fit in double-stack pistol mag pouches! I like that their operation is similar enough to the CAT’s, that I assume most people who are familiar with the CAT could apply it without additional training.” There are two benefits there.

What Else?

They have developed a Pressure Pack consisting of an elastic strap and a gauze dressing inside an elastic sleeve. You can purchase plain gauze or one impregnated with a hemostatic agent.

To use this, reach the wound while assessing whether any other wounds are present. Occlude the wound with the included gauze and direct pressure. Then secure the gauze pad in place with the included elastic strap.

Note: Snake Staff has given me two of their EDC tourniquets over the past few years, and they did the same for everyone else at those events. I bought several other of their products using a discount code they provided at this year’s Utah L/E pistol match.

Final Thought

I cover medical training and equipment a fair amount. A few reasons for it – we have tended to overlook it; the first fatal casualty my battalion task force suffered in Iraq involved a failure of examination/treatment/casevac (casualty evacuation) that might not have been an inevitable outcome. When I first returned to work after that trip, I was asked about the first lesson I’d learned that was applicable to police work. I told the admin it was medical at the lowest level. It took another ten years for my old organization to follow up on that.

Snake Staff is working on innovative designs that make carrying and using those products viable for professionals with another primary job.

RESOURCE:

Snake Staff Systems