Don’t Buy Chinesium Medical
Importance of Avoiding Private-Labelled IFAKs Made in China
When it comes to individual first aid kits (IFAKs) available in Canada, not all kits are created equal. While it might be tempting to purchase inexpensive, private-labelled IFAK from China, there are several important reasons to avoid these kits, especially if they do not contain CoTCCC (Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care) approved medical devices.
Quality and Reliability of Components
PPE (Nitrile Gloves): High-quality nitrile gloves are crucial for protecting yourself from contaminants. Kits from reputable manufacturers ensure these gloves are durable and reliable. Private-labelled kits may include substandard gloves that can easily tear, compromising safety, or possibly be contaminated with traces of undesired chemicals and compounds.
Tourniquets: A CoTCCC approved tourniquet like the SAM XT Tourniquet or North American Rescue CAT Tourniquet is essential for effectively controlling severe bleeding. Non-approved tourniquets found in many Chinese kits, whether they are knock off or original design like Rhino Tactical or Recon Medical, might fail under pressure putting lives at risk. There is a reason they have not received CoTCCC approval. Article: Recon Medical proof of failure during lawsuit.
Wound Packing Gauze and Hemostatic Gauze: Products like Compressed Responder Gauze and ChitoSAM Z-Fold hemostatic gauze are designed to effectively control bleeding. Inferior gauze from private-labelled kits might not perform adequately, leading to dangerous outcomes. Similar to gloves, there is also the risk of chemicals and compositions being directly inserted into the body, which may lead to serious health concerns down the road.
Pressure Bandages: High-quality options like the Olaes 4" Dressing or Israeli Emergency Pressure Bandage are critical for managing severe wounds. Substandard pressure bandages may not provide the necessary compression or stability, and have been shown to completely fail under a regular application.
Certification and Testing Standards
The CoTCCC approval process involves rigorous testing to ensure that medical devices perform reliably in high-stress, life-threatening situations. Devices lacking this approval, which are often found in private-labelled kits, have not undergone the same stringent testing and may not function properly when needed most. That’s not to say ALL devices that are not CoTCCC approved are garbage, BUT, there is a reason they have not been approved, and I don’t personally feel like being a test subject for a potentially unproven product.
Accountability and Standards
Reputable manufacturers of first aid components adhere to high regulatory standards and are accountable for their products. Private-labelled kits may not provide the same level of accountability or adherence to standards, increasing the risk of equipment failure. Many of the IFAKs that we offer are considered Class 2 Medical devices, due to the contents including items designed to be introduced directly in the human body, such as gloves, hemostatic gauze, etc. This requires that the manufacturers are licensed by Health Canada, to ensure standards are met, and if any product issues or recalls occur, it is handled properly and all of the effected products are removed from circulation. Quite often these made in China products do not even have lot numbers or expiry dates, which makes the notion of conducting a recall literally impossible.
Longevity and Durability
Approved medical devices are designed for longevity and durability, and have stamped expiry dates where the products may not adequately perform outside a specified shelf life. Substandard products may have shorter shelf lives or be prone to failure, which can be especially problematic in emergency situations. Likewise, they may be perfectly suitable for use within a certain window, but without a known expiry, we are rolling the dice on how long that sunset may be.
When assembling your individual first aid kit, it is crucial to prioritize quality and reliability over cost. It’s completely understandable that quality medical supplies can be expensive, and we do our best to keep the prices as affordable as we can. $175 for an Intermediate IFAK is barely much more than some of these ~$100 made in China kits.
Avoiding private-labelled kits from China that do not contain CoTCCC approved medical devices ensures that you are equipped with the tools needed to effectively respond to emergencies. Now, some of the items contained in these kits are perfectly adequate, and it’s worth noting that many good quality kits also contain a few limited components that are made in China. MyMedic for example has reasonably OK First Aid kits, and simply chooses to include the really really terrible RATS TQ in their trauma kits. The basic items are otherwise perfectly acceptable, and the hemostatic gauze is actual Quickclot.
Always consider what data exists to support the devices in each kit that are specifically intended to stop life threatening bleeding, like tourniquets, hemostatic gauze, or other advanced interventions like needle decompression kits. If that private label brand has no data to show for their critical products, like Rhino Rescue/Tactical, it’s a massive red flag.
Investing in high-quality components and proper training can make all the difference in saving lives. Always choose reputable brands and verified equipment to ensure the highest level of safety and preparedness, whether you’re purchasing from us here at OFFSPECWAR, or from any other supplier.
If you’re ever in doubt about the quality of a product, even if you’re looking to buy from another company to shop a sale or a deal, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask. We will give you the 100% honest truth about the product/kit, how to identify what you’re looking for, a link to the CoTCCC list to review for yourself, and a recommendation on what you’re looking to buy.
