Flight Medic Builds a Modular Chest Rig With FirstSpear Tubes, Garmin inReach
Most medic bags are built for a truck or a station, not the back of a helicopter. In a video from PrepMedic, Sam, a critical care flight paramedic and non-armed TEMS medic, breaks down a chest rig he built specifically for those cramped, high-stakes environments where fumbling for gear costs time.
Snapshot
Sam walks through a modular chest rig designed for helicopter operations and complex search-and-rescue work, where a bulky bag or inflexible kit gets in the way. His main point: the setup trades a one-size-fits-all bag for a configurable placard system that puts frequently used medical gear within immediate reach while letting bulkier items detach when the mission or aircraft demands it.
Key points
- Modular placard base: Sam builds the rig around a placard so pieces can be reused or later moved onto a plate carrier.
- Quick-release hardware: FirstSpear tubes and an H-harness conversion speed up donning and doffing, which he says helps users with shoulder mobility limits.
- Front-loaded essentials: Syringes, IV-start supplies, flushes, airway and chest-trauma tools like a cric kit, decompression needle, and chest seal sit up front for fast access.
- Dedicated slots for tech and comms: A radio sleeve and phone/EUD mount keep protocols, checklists, navigation, and team tracking organized instead of hanging off the rig.
- Detachable bulk items: The IFAK, hand warmers, and winter layers can be removed so the rig still fits helicopter seating and harnesses.
Quick take
Sam is clear this isn't a universal recommendation — it's a purpose-built answer for flight and SAR medics who need speed and adaptability over sheer storage capacity. For that niche, his emphasis on testing gear in the actual aircraft before trusting it seems like the real takeaway.
Watch the full video: PrepMedic