Introduction to Trauma Medicine – A Critical Element of Responsible Gun Ownership

If you ever end up in a situation where you need a gun to defend yourself, you will likely need medical gear. Gunfights are inherently medical emergencies—but also consider that medical emergencies are not just limited to gunfights.

Every day, people die from car accidents, home accidents, sports-related injuries, and much more.

If a responsible gun owner is prepared to use a firearm to save a life, then part of being a responsible gun owner is also being prepared to respond to a medical emergency.

It Is a Question of Odds and Stakes

Today over 20 million American adults have obtained a concealed carry permit, not because they feel the odds of needing a firearm to defend oneself are high, but because the stakes of not being prepared to do so are very high.

Medical emergencies present similar stakes to potential deadly attacks. Both could mean the difference between life and death.

Medical emergencies, however, have much higher odds of happening to any of us on any given day. Ask yourself, for example: are you more likely to be carjacked or to be in a serious car accident?

I’ve been carrying a gun almost every day of my adult life and have (knock on wood) never had occasion to use it. However, I’ve found myself in several situations where I could deploy my trauma gear to help an injured person while waiting for emergency medical services (EMS).

Boy Scout Skills

When we talk about saving a life in a medical emergency, we’re not talking about complex skills that require years to master.

Emergency trauma skills are best thought of as basic, learnable skills—the kind of things we’ve traditionally taught to 12–14-year-olds—and they’re skills anyone can learn.

Don’t let ignorance or lack of training hold you back from beginning your medical preparedness journey. The truth is: learning the basics is simple, inexpensive, and in some cases even free.

Obtaining Quality Training

Here are two credible (and free) resources that provide an excellent foundation in trauma medicine for everyday people:

• Stop the Bleed – Short, widely available courses focused on bleeding control. Search for a class by entering your zip code here.
• Emergency Trauma Response Course by Mountain Man Medical – A free online video course tailored for gun owners and shooters. Start the free course.

Reasons Why People Don’t Carry Medical Gear

• “I don’t see the need.” Until you witness a bad wreck or a deep laceration, it’s easy to underestimate the likelihood of needing trauma gear. Statistically, you’re more likely to use medical gear than your concealed handgun.
• “I don’t have enough space.” A well-stocked trauma kit can live in your glove box, center console, backpack, range bag, or office drawer. If you prefer, a compact tourniquet can ride on-body—but the priority is having a complete kit within reach.
• “I lack the training.” As noted above, the training barrier is low. You can learn the essentials in just a few hours.
• “It’s too expensive.” A quality kit often costs about the same as a nice holster or a couple of boxes of ammo—and unlike ammo, it doesn’t get used up at a range session.

Kit Placement: On-Body vs. Nearby

Carrying a tourniquet on-body is a great option for some, but it isn’t the only way to be prepared. What matters most is that you have a complete, quality trauma kit close by and accessible. Consider a small, on-body item in addition to placing a fuller kit in your vehicle, EDC bag, range bag, workplace, and at home. Redundancy wins when seconds count.

What a Good Everyday Trauma Kit Includes

• Wound packing gauze
• Pressure bandage
• Chest seals
• Tourniquet
• Trauma shears, medical gloves, permanent marker
• Tape and/or elastic wrap; compact emergency blanket

Buy once, cry once: choose components that are field-proven and keep them organized so anyone can deploy them under stress. I can't emphasize enough the importance of buying quality. Do not purchase a random kit on a random website or Amazon until you have received training and have researched quality gear. Stick to the name brands components and authorized resellers.

Final Thoughts: A Firearm and a Trauma Kit Belong Together

Being a gun owner is about more than carrying a firearm. It’s about embracing a mindset of responsibility—protecting yourself, your loved ones, and your community.

If you’ve made the decision to carry a gun because life is worth defending, then it only makes sense to carry the tools and skills to save a life after the fight. Keep a well-stocked trauma kit nearby, learn the basics, and refresh those skills regularly.

As authorized resellers of the most proven names in trauma care we sell the absolute highest quality trauma kits at a very competitive price.