When seconds matter, clear understanding matters too. This glossary breaks down common trauma care, first aid, tactical medicine, and preparedness terms you’ll see in ViTAC kits, training, and product descriptions—so you can choose the right gear and act with confidence.
Quick Navigation
- Trauma Care & Protocols
- Kit Types & Use Cases
- Bleeding Control Tools
- Airway & Breathing
- Injury Support & Patient Care
- Gear, Mounting & Access
- Training & Response Terms
- Purchasing & Compliance
Trauma Care & Protocols
Golden Hour
The critical time after a serious injury when fast action and rapid transport greatly improve survival and reduce complications.
Tactical Medicine
Medical care focused on high-risk, high-stress, or austere environments (law enforcement, military, remote/outdoor). The priority is treating life threats quickly and efficiently.
TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care)
A battlefield-informed medical framework that prioritizes preventing the leading causes of preventable trauma death—especially severe bleeding and breathing problems.
MARCH
A trauma treatment sequence used in tactical medicine:
- Massive Hemorrhage (severe bleeding)
- Airway
- Respiration (breathing/chest injuries)
- Circulation
- Hypothermia/Head Injury
Massive Hemorrhage
Life-threatening bleeding that can cause death in minutes if not controlled—especially from arms/legs or major junctions (groin/armpit/neck).
Kit Types & Use Cases
IFAK (Individual First Aid Kit)
A compact kit designed to treat life-threatening injuries until higher medical care arrives. Often carried on a belt, plate carrier, chest rig, or pack.
Trauma Kit
A kit built for serious injuries, usually emphasizing bleeding control, airway support, and chest trauma tools—not just minor cuts and scrapes.
Bleeding Control Kit
A purpose-built kit focused primarily on stopping major bleeding quickly (commonly includes a tourniquet, gauze, pressure dressing, and gloves).
Duty/Patrol Trauma Kit
A trauma kit optimized for law enforcement daily carry, typically designed for fast access and compact storage in a cruiser or on a duty belt.
EDC (Everyday Carry)
Items carried daily on-body or in a small bag. “EDC med” usually means a minimal bleeding control setup you can access immediately.
Public Access Bleeding Control
Bleeding control equipment staged for public use (schools, workplaces, churches), similar in concept to placing AEDs for cardiac emergencies.
Bleeding Control Tools
Tourniquet (TQ)
A device used to stop life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg by compressing the limb above the wound until bleeding stops.
Windlass
The twisting rod on many tourniquets used to tighten the strap to a level that stops bleeding.
CAT Gen 7
“Combat Application Tourniquet, Generation 7” — a commonly used windlass tourniquet model widely trusted in tactical and emergency settings.
Hemostatic Agent / Hemostatic Gauze
Treated gauze that helps the body form clots faster. It’s typically used for wound packing and must be paired with firm, sustained pressure.
Pressure Dressing
A bandage designed to apply and maintain strong pressure over a wound to control bleeding (often used after packing or over gauze).
Wound Packing
Filling a deep wound with gauze (often hemostatic) to control severe bleeding where a tourniquet can’t be used, such as the groin or armpit.
Airway & Breathing
Chest Seal
An occlusive dressing used for penetrating chest injuries to help prevent air from entering the chest cavity.
Tension Pneumothorax
A life-threatening condition where air becomes trapped in the chest, compressing the lung and placing pressure on the heart. This can occur after penetrating or blunt chest trauma.
Needle Decompression
An advanced intervention used to relieve suspected tension pneumothorax. Typically restricted to trained providers and governed by medical protocols.
NPA (Nasopharyngeal Airway)
A soft airway tube inserted through the nose to help keep the airway open when someone is unconscious or semi-conscious (training recommended).
Airway Adjunct
A tool used to help maintain an open airway—such as an NPA.
Injury Support & Patient Care
Splint
A device used to stabilize suspected fractures or serious sprains to reduce pain and prevent further injury during movement/transport.
Hypothermia Prevention
Keeping an injured person warm using wraps/blankets. Trauma patients can become dangerously cold even in mild temperatures, which can worsen outcomes.
Shock (Trauma)
A condition where the body isn’t getting enough oxygenated blood to organs—often due to blood loss. Early priorities include stopping bleeding, keeping the patient warm, and getting help fast.
Gear, Mounting & Access
MOLLE
A webbing attachment system that allows pouches to be secured to belts, plate carriers, packs, and panels.
Rip-Away Pouch
A pouch that detaches quickly from a mounted panel so you can deploy a kit rapidly—useful in vehicles or team settings.
Retention
How securely a pouch holds items in place. Strong retention matters for rugged movement, vehicles, and physical work.
Rapid Access / One-Hand Access
Design features that allow fast opening and retrieval of critical tools, sometimes with one hand—important when working under stress.
Training & Response Terms
First Responder
Anyone prepared to provide immediate care—this can include trained civilians, not only EMS.
Scene Safety
Making sure the area is safe before providing care. This is essential in roadside incidents, outdoor rescues, and tactical environments.
Triage
Sorting multiple injured people by urgency so limited resources help the most people effectively.
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation—chest compressions (and sometimes breaths) used to support circulation during cardiac arrest.
AED
Automated External Defibrillator—an electronic device that can deliver a shock if it detects a shockable rhythm.
Purchasing & Compliance
HSA/FSA Eligible
Items that may qualify for purchase using Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account funds (eligibility depends on the plan and product classification).
GSA
General Services Administration—U.S. government purchasing platform used by many agencies.
Need help choosing the right kit or training path?
Explore ViTAC trauma kits, bleeding control kits, and training options built for real-world response—because being prepared isn’t luck. It’s a decision.
Our Mission.
We've been downrange. We know what it costs to be unprepared. ViTAC was built by U.S. Army Special Operations veterans to make sure the people who run toward the threat — and the families who depend on them — have gear that works when everything is on the line.
— ViTAC Solutions Founders | 40+ years combined Special Operations experience
