REVIEW: PHOKUS Research SONS Trauma Kit LE

An ultra-thin trauma kit - designed to be worn behind the SAPI plate. Sounds pretty good, something different and maybe an innovation? The basic idea is simple: Phokus Research Group wanted to design a trauma kit that is not attached outside the protective vest, to minimize the risk of it being lost in combat, blown off in an explosion, or rendered unusable by a projectile hit. But how does it all work in practice? We at SPARTANAT tested the SONS Trauma Kit for you.

The contents of the SONS Trauma Kit in the Law Enforcement version available to us were:

1x Celox Rapid Z-Fold Gauze (equivalent to Combat Gauze)

2x 4" Z-Fold Gauze Bandage

2x Occlusive Dressing (equivalent to HALO Chest SEAL)

1x SWAT - T

2x 2" Safety Pins

1x Nitrile Gloves

1x 2Yds Medical tape

Everything you need for treating a trauma injury. The package is extremely flat and has the shape of a SAPI plate. Everything inside is vacuum-packed and very neat. But how does the whole system work? The advantage of it is also its disadvantage at the same time. The trauma kit is behind a SAPI plate, and in some test trials and operational tests in combat environments, wearing it behind the chest plate proved to be incorrect. It interrupts a trained drill, specifically the Initial Trauma Assessment (ITA) MARCH - Massive Bleeding.

Let's say a colleague, comrade is shot. The first thing to do is to stop the bleeding. For this, I now have to remove the plate carrier from him or the plate, which in some cases proved to be very difficult in different positions. Once the vest or plate has been removed from the injured person, it is difficult to rebuild it to its original state.

If the person only has a leg or upper arm injury, by removing the vest in the ITA I am already far ahead, and many are accustomed to continuing the drill here, instead of moving on to the head/neck area for example.

The downside here is that I can only tear open the trauma kit to access the SWAT Tourniquet. After that, everything else flies loose in the bag.

The bag is torn open by inserting the index finger into the small tab and holding the large tab with the other hand. Under stress and adrenaline, with too much force, the entire contents can be scattered in front of you. The case must be completely torn open to access the important Celox. In poor lighting conditions, the trauma kit is almost unusable after opening it, especially if you no longer have night vision, as valuable time is lost rummaging in the bag to search for things. The biggest problem here turned out to be the HALO Chest Seal, as it is packed in the same material as the bag, making it very difficult to distinguish with gloves on; furthermore, the HALO often stuck to the inside of the bag and was often missed.

To still benefit from the compact size of the system, one must attach a Combat Application Tourniquet to the outside of their vest. The SWAT - T should only be used as a maximum support here. Experience also shows that the SWAT Tourniquet has significant disadvantages compared to other C.A.T.s when it comes to heavy bleeding and self-application.

Here is another disadvantage of this Trauma Kit: the wounded person is no longer or only very difficult able to self-care, but this is incredibly important. In a firefight where the shooter has been injured and is conscious, it is his task to bandage himself and care for his wounds and continue the firefight until a comrade arrives.

The Trauma Kit in the LE version also comes without airway security, which in my opinion is very negligent as a plastic Wendl-Tube does not take up any space in this package. (Note: It is included in the MIL version.)

To turn the Trauma Kit into a somewhat functional kit, it should be attached behind the back plate to make it easier for comrades to start the ITA and not interrupt the drill process. Furthermore, everyone who uses the kit should make sure to attach all the things they need for self-help on the outside where they can easily reach them - like an ISL bandage and tourniquet, for example.

CONCLUSION: Dividing the SAN equipment on the body should be avoided, everyone in the team should carry everything in the same place. As an additional device behind the back plate, the SONS Trauma Kit would be okay, but as a standalone trauma kit, not. It is only suitable for police use when medical support is available in 5-10 minutes. The basic idea of the system is good, but unfortunately, in our opinion, it cannot be implemented as the manufacturers would have liked.

The movie for the military version.

The SONS Trauma Kit comes in military, police, and civilian versions. The price ranges from 135 to 99 dollars. HERE the SONS Trauma Kits from Phokus Research Group are presented exactly.

Deployment Configuration

QuikClot Combat Gauze x1

4" Z-Fold Gauze Bandage x2

14G Needle x1

Occlusive Dressing x2

NPA w/ 550 x1

3" Elastic Bandage x1

2" Safety Pins x2

Nitrile Gloves x1

Casualty Card x1

Security Force Configuration

Hemostatic Z-fold Gauze x1

4" Z-Fold Gauze Bandage x2

Occlusive Dressing x2

SWAT-T x1

Nitrile Gloves x1

2 yd Medical Tape x1

Low Vis Configuration

Z-Fold Hemostatic Gauze x1

4" Z-Fold Gauze Bandage x1

Occlusive Dressing x2

SWAT-T x1

Nitrile Gloves x1

2 yd Medical Tape x1