Gear
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One of the most quintessential items that a four-wheel driver, or in fact anyone, should have is a decent first-aid kit. There are dozens on the market, and you can pick one up from a chain store, discount shop, online, or just about anywhere. But which one is right, and do they all do the same job?
Being on the road most days of the year – exploring remote destinations, hiking, and spending time outdoors – means I prefer to have a decent kit. My go-to for years has been a bag full of the right gear from TacMed, based in Coffs Harbour.
TacMed began more than 10 years ago when owner Jeremy Holder (Jez to his mates) transitioned from the Army, where he served in Special Operations as a medic in various hotspots around the world. After leaving the Army, he joined the ambulance service as an intensive care paramedic.
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Needless to say, Jez has seen the worst of the worst. While serving as a paramedic, Jez and his team often had to beg for supplies to help the injured, sometimes waiting weeks for deliveries to arrive from overseas. That experience inspired him to start selling a few small items online – and today his company has grown into a national operation handling major government contracts across Australia.
From Jez working out of a small room to now employing nearly 20 full-time staff at the Coffs Harbour warehouse – and with multiple trainers based around Australia – the team has grown into one of the country’s best. These guys and girls come from backgrounds in the military, special operations and paramedicine.
Not only do they supply government agencies such as Fire and Rescue, the military, law enforcement, Surf Life Saving, NPWS and St John Ambulance, but the general public can also buy directly from them. They offer a wide range of first-aid kits, and if they don’t have exactly what you need, they can custom-build one or source specialised items for you.
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The team at TacMed has decades of experience across the military, paramedic and rescue industries, and the kits and services they provide are built to save lives. Their mission is to achieve zero deaths at the point of injury – a principle Jez has always stood by and one of his core values. Online, the company has more than 1600 five-star reviews for its gear and training courses, having built its reputation on quality – if they don’t trust it, they won’t sell it.
I’ve been carrying a TacMed Vehicle Trauma Kit for a few years now, and even though the bag has seen better days, I know that what’s inside could save my life – or better still, someone else’s. Why this one? Well, it was designed by the team at TacMed as an adventurer’s kit, housed in a tough, US-made Conterra bag and packed with everything you’d need – from treating a small scratch through to a major wound, snakebite bandages, burn dressings and even a SAM splint.
Over the years I’ve used a few of the smaller items, and TacMed offers refills and replacement components to make restocking easy. If you need to top up any kit, it’s as simple as jumping onto their website to place an order or sending them a quick message.
They recommend checking your kit every 12 months, especially in harsher conditions where dust and moisture can affect consumable items. All of TacMed’s kits are designed for critical emergencies and use the same equipment trusted by military medics, paramedics and emergency responders. Each kit is built for rapid deployment in life-threatening situations where seconds matter.
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Not only does TacMed sell high-end products, but its training is second to none across Australia. The company runs accredited programs, custom courses, and public training sessions. From the AFP, NPWS and NSW Police to Tasmanian Parks and Surfing NSW, they train the best of the best to keep people safe and alive when disaster strikes.
Their training programs cover everything from Tactical First Aid and major bleeding control to workplace accidents, CPR, remote care and high-risk medic-level response. While most of these courses and training packages are beyond the reach of the average four-wheel driver, it’s good to know that TacMed practices what it preaches.
TacMed’s website is a wealth of knowledge, packed with relevant information and everything you need to know about first aid – from workplace accidents to bleeding control. Online, they also maintain active social media pages and a YouTube channel that provide even more useful content.
RRP: From $319.95 (Vehicle Trauma Kit)
