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  1. #1
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    Dark Angel Medical - Direct Action Response Kit

    I ordered two D.A.R.K. kits, one for myself and one for my wife. I haven't used them and I hope I don't have to so I can't comment on the contents of the kits or the usage but I can comment on the following.

    Ease of Ordering; Website is simple and was easy to get what I wanted.

    Customer Service; Shipping and communication on the status of my order was very quick.

    Quality; I chose the bright Safety Orange kits. I wanted them to be very easily identifiable should I need to access or ask someone else to access them. Quality of the kit is very high. The nylon bag is stitched well and thick. Velcro is strong and straps work great on a belt, MOLLE or other parts of gear for affixing.
    Mine is on my work bag.

    While I hope I never have to, I will update this post should I have to open it and use it.


    Dark Angel by Damage Photos, on Flickr

    Contents (NOT MY PIC I'm not opening it just to take pics. )
    Ground Defense 1, Blade Defense 1, Defensive Pistol 1 & 2, Aliance Shoot House, When Things Go Bad, YSINTG, Carbine 1, DART Medical, NRA Range Safety Officer
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  2. #2
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    Please add a CAT tourniquet to that kit.
    "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - - Albert Einstein

  3. #3
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    Dark Angel Medical - Direct Action Response Kit

    Or a RATS tourniquet. We actually switched to them here at work since they work just as well and are a lot cheaper.

    PS: I could have hooked you up with just about all of that minus the pretty carrying case. Decent little kit though.

  4. #4
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    Good point! Why is that not in their pic? I opted for the CAT.



    Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
    Ground Defense 1, Blade Defense 1, Defensive Pistol 1 & 2, Aliance Shoot House, When Things Go Bad, YSINTG, Carbine 1, DART Medical, NRA Range Safety Officer
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dstrbdmedic167 View Post
    Or a RATS tourniquet. We actually switched to them here at work since they work just as well and are a lot cheaper.

    PS: I could have hooked you up with just about all of that minus the pretty carrying case. Decent little kit though.
    I priced things individually before purchase and after my discount (thanks to some local training affiliation) it came to be close enough in price that I ordered and got the "pretty case".

    Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
    Ground Defense 1, Blade Defense 1, Defensive Pistol 1 & 2, Aliance Shoot House, When Things Go Bad, YSINTG, Carbine 1, DART Medical, NRA Range Safety Officer
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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pyzik View Post
    I priced things individually before purchase and after my discount (thanks to some local training affiliation) it came to be close enough in price that I ordered and got the "pretty case".

    Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
    Fair enough... lol


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  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dstrbdmedic167 View Post
    Or a RATS tourniquet. We actually switched to them here at work since they work just as well and are a lot cheaper.

    PS: I could have hooked you up with just about all of that minus the pretty carrying case. Decent little kit though.
    RATS do NOT work as well!

    The best TQ option at this point is a CAT or SOFT -T Wide. The DOD and CRASH-2 study show this. RATS would be an option...

    Take the wrappers off. No sense spending gray-out time fumbling with a bloody wrapper.
    There's no "Team" in F**K YOU!

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dstrbdmedic167 View Post
    Or a RATS tourniquet. We actually switched to them here at work since they work just as well and are a lot cheaper.
    I've heard many folks argue that the RATS is not a good TQ; I know Kerry Davis of Dark Angel has stated that he thinks they're only appropriate for canine use during my class.

    As for the kit itself, IIRC the pouch is manufactured by First-Spear specifically for Dark Angel.

    Have you had training to use the kit? If not, I would highly suggest you seek training for it. Otherwise, it would be akin conceal carrying without any training.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joelski View Post
    RATS do NOT work as well!

    The best TQ option at this point is a CAT or SOFT -T Wide. The DOD and CRASH-2 study show this. RATS would be an option...

    Take the wrappers off. No sense spending gray-out time fumbling with a bloody wrapper.
    Been using them for a couple of years now. If a TQ stops blood flow it works well. Have both and they work equally the same.. ymmv...


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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Joelski View Post
    RATS do NOT work as well!

    The best TQ option at this point is a CAT or SOFT -T Wide. The DOD and CRASH-2 study show this. RATS would be an option...

    Take the wrappers off. No sense spending gray-out time fumbling with a bloody wrapper.
    The kit is vacuum sealed with an easy wear open. I think if I opened it, I'd never get it all back in perfectly. The way it is now, pull tab, kit flies out, tear open fairly easily. The TQ though I guess I probably should take out of the plastic. That would make sense.

    Quote Originally Posted by Default.mp3 View Post
    I've heard many folks argue that the RATS is not a good TQ; I know Kerry Davis of Dark Angel has stated that he thinks they're only appropriate for canine use during my class.

    As for the kit itself, IIRC the pouch is manufactured by First-Spear specifically for Dark Angel.

    Have you had training to use the kit? If not, I would highly suggest you seek training for it. Otherwise, it would be akin conceal carrying without any training.
    Not yet. There are two classes here in MI. One this summer I won't be able to make and one in Oct. It's $450 and as long as it doesn't fill before I can pay for it, I am going to try to.
    They fill fast though.
    I'm NOT down playing training as I do understand I need it and it's on the list but I don't think it's quite the same as carrying a gun with no training. At a minimum I can hand the kit to someone who may be able to help but doesn't have gear with them. A first responder who is off duty, ect.
    Hell even with the quick clot and the CAT I could probably extend my life or someone elses with internet knowledge.

    Again, that's not to minimize training, just that I am better off with the kit than without it.
    Last edited by Pyzik; 22 February 2017 at 11:51.
    Ground Defense 1, Blade Defense 1, Defensive Pistol 1 & 2, Aliance Shoot House, When Things Go Bad, YSINTG, Carbine 1, DART Medical, NRA Range Safety Officer
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  11. #11
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    Thanks for the info James. It didn't even cross my mind to ask you about the stuff. Hell you use it everyday. I'm sure you've forgotten more than I'll learn with one class and some online videos.
    Ground Defense 1, Blade Defense 1, Defensive Pistol 1 & 2, Aliance Shoot House, When Things Go Bad, YSINTG, Carbine 1, DART Medical, NRA Range Safety Officer
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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pyzik View Post
    Thanks for the info James. It didn't even cross my mind to ask you about the stuff. Hell you use it everyday. I'm sure you've forgotten more than I'll learn with one class and some online videos.
    Sure thing. It's nice to have options.

    I agree it's much better to have the kit than not having it. Training with it when you can is of course recommended but most is pretty self explanatory.


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  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pyzik View Post
    Good point! Why is that not in their pic? I opted for the CAT.
    It's not in the picture because the picture is of the contents of the insert. As you obviously know, the TQ is not a part of the vacuum sealed insert.

    Quote Originally Posted by Pyzik View Post
    Not yet. There are two classes here in MI. One this summer I won't be able to make and one in Oct. It's $450 and as long as it doesn't fill before I can pay for it, I am going to try to.
    They fill fast though.
    I'm NOT down playing training as I do understand I need it and it's on the list but I don't think it's quite the same as carrying a gun with no training. At a minimum I can hand the kit to someone who may be able to help but doesn't have gear with them. A first responder who is off duty, ect.
    I think it's an apt comparison, as many folks conceal carry with no training beyond their CHL courses, and yet prevail in their defensive situations. While it's certainly better to have the kit than not have one, there is a financial cost to all that; after all, you could have saved for the class instead, and gotten a kit out of that (all students get a kit), plus the training; instead, you have two kits and possibly no training. Not hating, just trying to provide my POV; TQs are certainly fairly self-explanatory, and you can kinda learn how to use hemostatics and chest seals via video. I'd also consider getting an extra TQ for practice, so you can leave your TQ fresh and unused in the kit. A TQ isn't hard to use once you've been trained, but if you've never had any hands on time (or your wife, for example), then it can be quite confusing, particularly something like one-handed application.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Default.mp3 View Post
    It's not in the picture because the picture is of the contents of the insert. As you obviously know, the TQ is not a part of the vacuum sealed insert.

    I think it's an apt comparison, as many folks conceal carry with no training beyond their CHL courses, and yet prevail in their defensive situations. While it's certainly better to have the kit than not have one, there is a financial cost to all that; after all, you could have saved for the class instead, and gotten a kit out of that (all students get a kit), plus the training; instead, you have two kits and possibly no training. Not hating, just trying to provide my POV; TQs are certainly fairly self-explanatory, and you can kinda learn how to use hemostatics and chest seals via video. I'd also consider getting an extra TQ for practice, so you can leave your TQ fresh and unused in the kit. A TQ isn't hard to use once you've been trained, but if you've never had any hands on time (or your wife, for example), then it can be quite confusing, particularly something like one-handed application.
    I thought about waiting and getting one at class (It's a $140 difference to not get the kit at class and I paid $144 shipped so i'm only out $4 per kit). However, I MAY not make it this year. I do have two other classes and ammo to pay for as well. And my wife wouldn't take the the class. So I was going to need to buy her a kit anyway. Her's is in her car. I plan to transfer as much knowledge to her as I can but as I said before, if someone comes to her aid she can hand it to them or say "grab the orange pack and help me".

    I am picking up at least one more TQ (maybe two) for the wife and I to play with. That was also a recommendation from previous attendees and trainers locally.

    I understand your argument and position and you have valid points. Just the way I decided to do things with my limited funds and training time for the year.
    Once kids are bigger and in school I'll have more time and money.
    Ground Defense 1, Blade Defense 1, Defensive Pistol 1 & 2, Aliance Shoot House, When Things Go Bad, YSINTG, Carbine 1, DART Medical, NRA Range Safety Officer
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  15. #15
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    I believe that the CAT is the easiest for self application. I do maintain a large incident bag that primarily contains SOF-T Wide for tourniquets. I am not yet convinced on the efficacy of the RATS nor its self application.
    "The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." - - Albert Einstein

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