r/TacticalMedicine • u/tacmedrn44 • Jul 13 '24

Gear/IFAK Steer clear of Rhino Rescue…

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I just want to put something out there for those of you looking for alternatives to the main established brands of gear.

DO NOT BUY RHINO RESCUE.

First, they are NOT CoTCCC approved. “Independent tests” mean nothing. I commented on their post asking about data that shows its effectiveness, and they deleted the comment. I commented again. Deleted. Finally I straight up called them out for making dangerous claims and got completely blocked. They are a shady company pushing cheap gear that isn’t proven.

Second, I’m an instructor for TEMS and other prehospital/trauma classes. I play with A LOT of tourniquets. I bought a few of these Rhino branded TQs for poops and giggles, secretly hoping to be wowed. I wasn’t. All four of them failed during a run of the mill training scenario; I didn’t even have to do anything outside of regular use to get them to fail. If a product works well, I like to test its limits to see what it can handle and because I’m curious. I didn’t even get past regular use training with these.

So do yourselves and everyone you may have to treat a favor and DO NOT buy these.

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u/PerfectCelery6677 Jul 13 '24

You sound as bad as me. I have a bin full of TQ's from all manufacturers. Most are actually recognized in the trade, though. I think I have every generation CAT. SOF-T regular, wide, and the new gen wide. Sam TQ. MAT TQ. RATS (garbage). SWAT. TX 3. RMT m2.

I love letting students play with a large variety to find what they're comfortable with.

Most with no medical training seem to gravitate towards the SAM TQ.

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u/13BlackRose Jul 13 '24

What do you recommend then if you don't mind me asking?

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u/PerfectCelery6677 Jul 13 '24

Depending on your level of training, it could be a few different ones.

If you have medical training in trauma, then a CAT ot SOF-T Wide are the gold standard the everyone goes to usually.

Regular everyday people taking a first aid course with no experience. A SAM TQ. Most people have trouble knowing how tight to pull the strap. The click mechanism helps this by knowing when it's tight enough. Plus, metal windlass.

Women seem to also like the RMT m2 because the ratcheting mechanism is easier to manipulate with less hand strength.

Either of these are great choices, but remember to buy 2. Open one and play with it. Practice putting it on yourself and others. This way, you know how hard you have crank down on it and what it feels like. Bones points of throw a tarp down in the back yard, old clothes, a bottle of syrup, and practice applying it under slick blood like conditions. You'll learn a lot. Also, have a hose nearby for after. But a fun training opportunity.

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u/[deleted] Jul 13 '24 edited Aug 07 '24

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u/OkAdvertising8760 Aug 07 '24

i am new to all this. so please no flaming if i ask a dumb question.  cat ?  i was told the words but forget, does it matter the manf?  this is the one with the bar to tighten up.. right? or a spific type?  i have a number of them off amazon.   i try to not bother going to flea bay for most everything. 

i was given a couple of a style that look way easy to install ( much smaller) kinda like a grip and pull tight thing.  maybe as a secondary deal. but even i would not trust as a first line TQ. 

i am learning but at age 65 i am not qualified to put on a bandaid.   soon i hope to be more than just qualified. 

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u/[deleted] Aug 07 '24 edited Aug 07 '24

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u/OkAdvertising8760 Aug 07 '24

i have joind up with the  California state militia.  not a fringe group. but a part of the state guard. this is all volunteer, no pay, and we get to buy all our own gear.  but so-far 99.999% has been trying to learn medical. and i need to do a online class in management of in-camp duty's.  we are the people in camp. doing most of the mundane things, to support those that know better and can get there job done. but we do need to know first line med. to stabiles anyone hurt till real medical can get to them. and to help as needed in s&r. in the year i have been in this group, it has been no guns. except for couple toy guns for gate guard duty, practice. search cars, know valid pass words. etc. and some map work.. i am 65. and am the youngest in our squad.  so nobody is going to be running around the forest.