Building a Civilian Active Shooter Response Bag

A quick example of a civilian active shooter response bag. This particular bag utilizes a Vertx sling bag with CCW and armor capabilities, and is set up to treat up to three patients in the event of a mass casualty.

[trailhunterWNC]

I noticed the gloves were blue, some ppl like to use black gloves bc they say draws less attention to a shooter. But ive learned that with black gloves especially in lower light conditions its harder to detect blood from patients vs a lighter colored glove.

[BigJoe]

Back in 2017, I was working security for a major level 1 trauma center when we had an active shooter on property. He shot one of my officers. I always kept (and still do as a Police Officer today) a trauma kit molled on the outside of my bag and ended up using it. Had I not had that equipment there, my Officer would have died from blood loss because they wouldn't let the medics in yet.

Always be prepared, stay vigilant and train as much as you can because when you think it won't happen to you, it will.

Thanks for the video too as I'm creating an entire bag currently vs having a pouch on my duty bag.

[janiecegehrke]

I’m a teacher and I love these options. Is there a way to get a list of stuff that you’ve included? Clearly there are some med-specific items I wouldn’t carry but after yesterday, I’m more and more worried about my school, my daughter, my students and myself. Thank you for this video.

[jasonmeister]

I love that Vertx makes their bags in color schemes not looking too tactical. These bags can look like a construction worker has lunch in them while in reality, they are very tactical use. I mean everyone can spot a 5.11 but these are still very covert.

[MunchWillbeBlue]

4:14 In the Netherlands, we have rules for tourniquets. Black is only for medical professionals, law enforcement, military and firefighters. Blue is for training and orange/red are for civilians / people who know how to do first aid. The thought is that black is for people who had extensive training on using a tourniquet, where orange is for people with some training to no training at all. This way, a surgeon who will actually treat the victim will have some idea as to who applied it. This does not mean that civilians can't buy a black tourniquet from say china, but civilians who had some training will know this color coding. For large scale incidents, the government has reserves that they can hand out to civilians at the scene of that major incident.

[zazeechmoreno]

I really appreciated the point you made about the higher prevalence of torso trauma in civilian context. In the kit I've been putting together to be able to help multiple people, I have three tourniquets, but just one set of chest seals. I think just one thing of packing gauze too. I'm now going to increase my capacity to respond to torso trauma. I will now also consider adding chest seal to my everyday pocket ifak (instead of the one petrolatum gauze and some tape I got goin' there now for space). Thanks so much.

[BetaBuxDelux]

Uvalde police response bag: sleep mask and sleeping pills, cigarettes, decaf coffee, earbuds (to block the sound of children screaming), and pepper spray for parents trying to get to their children?

[LGITFIXIE]

honestly Vertx makes the best gear period. Tons of R&D go into every nook and cranny of their gear. Always blown away with the features and this sling is epic!!

[thisiconisactuallygoofysfa]

Used this same setup for my law enforcement job. Pretty small area I’m assigned to and nearly 1/5 of it are just schools and their campuses. Had a student one time assault anyone in sight with homemade weapons and me being one of the only officers in the area quickly deployed non lethal and took care Of some like 8 injured people. This thing works great and even though you said the bag isn’t the BEST or that we feel we should have it for this situation, it worked absolutely flawlessly. Thanks Sam!

[sfcrmsa]

Thank you for this video and information. Growing up in Philadelphia and being stationed in North Carolina in the Army, trouble and bad things just do not happen in big cities. Trouble is defined as an “encounter” which can happen at a rest stop off of I-40 outside Greensboro, or a roadside BBQ off of I-20 in Georgia. Don’t base your response and equipment only from incidents that you think will happen in urban areas, big cities and population centers. You can meet up with some unsavory characters on the road and in the deer woods just the same. Also, consider that the further you are away from populated areas; response time for help is longer, an ambulance that take 15 minutes to get to you, takes 15 minutes to get back or longer.

[oooo]

outstanding piece of kit. I'm an infantry NCO, and having a kit like this is essential. I will be revising my own kit to upgrade to higher specs. thank you

[kevinshumaker]

The only thing I have different is I use a number of carabiners (not the 'real' ones, the inexpensive ones to hang keys and such) to clip the dual zippers together to act as locks. I try to color code them, too. Works on almost any pack, gives you a place to hang stuff, small bags, etc. They also clip into the molle loops and other places, can be used as door jam blocks and other things.

[blankstare]

I live near Grand Rapids Michigan, this is going to help me stay safe as well as help anyone who has been shot.

[alexkirk]

I appreciate your passion for helping others when they are hurt/keeping them safe! Thanks for making these videos.

[nihiliz]

We need to expand access to the amazing work you folks do.
We need to have these kits in every school, theatre, venue, office, etc and everyone should have access to a combat IFAK.

We'll never agree on the answer to these horrific events but I think every one can agree on IFAKs and stop the bleed trainings.

[kurtbellens]

Great video as always. Thanks! Maybe a small tip for the bulky Pocket Mask. Laerdal has 'Face Shields', they are a lot smaller and fits in most wallets. I always carry one with me.

[rogercrouch]

Love this bag and great idea for all good citizens to have ! Well done ! Need different levels for more people to be able to afford to have ! I would like to see more available for people

[masonlopez]

Wow never been this Early! Love the Content, been watching you for about two years now. love the indept. attention to detail and explaining how you have things set up, and why you have them set up that way. you've inspired me over the course of the time that i have watched you, to learn how to use a CAT TQ, Chest Seals, etc..
Keep doing you Sam!

[erehweslefox]

Interesting Kit. I am a Wilderness First Responder, and add to this a set of Berman Airways, an OTC packet, Blood pressure rig + pulse ox meter, and use a pocket BVM instead of face shield, + some Coban tape, some Leukotape, and a Sam splint (much more likely to come across a splinting situation than chest trauma), glucose and rehydration salts and a water bottle, and a couple pre-loaded sterile saline irrigation syringes. That is basically my go bag. Oh yeah, and a wag bag +TP, someone on scene always seems to have to need to poop! Of course, I have a much different response scenario than 'urban active shooter'. Oh yeah, plus I carry a SOAP note pad and some triage tags, for hand-off to EMS< makes it a lot easier than reading off my hand.

[Dedric]

13:20 "Tourniquet?"
"Oh no, thanks."
"So you have chosen death.."