Equipping yourself with the correct equipment in an emergency can be life-saving. Tourniquets should be a staple part of every EDC adventurer’s first aid kit and should always be considered a must-have item. There are several types of children’s tourniquets, adult tourniquets, and pets tourniquet in the market.
Finding the ideal tourniquet can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! With these helpful tips and tricks at your disposal, finding the ideal tourniquet won’t be an overwhelming process!
This military tourniquet is a one-hand operation tourniquet, easy to use, and inexpensive way to stop hemorrhage on the battlefield. The high visibility red tip makes it easy to locate and identify in any situation, making it ideal for home or professional first responders, hunters, and outdoorsmen alike.
The Caretek CM-6356 Spinning Military Tourniquet is an effective solution for stopping life-threatening external hemorrhage caused by limb injury. It has been widely adopted by both military forces and, since 2005, by the US Army Institute of Research as a tool in combat environments.
- CAT GEN7
The CAT GEN7 Tourniquet is widely considered one of the finest on the market. It has been field tested by US Military personnel and law enforcement personnel on numerous missions both abroad and domestically.
This durable windlass system features a patented free-moving internal band that applies true circumferential pressure to an extremity, stopping bleeding instantly, and an adjustable hook and loop retention strap to secure it during casualty evacuation.
The CAT GEN7 is a customizable pattern tourniquet and can be found in tactical medic kits, mutual aid trauma kits, EDC (Everyday Carry) IFAKs and many other Rescue Essentials kites. A blue trainer version is also available for hands-on training and tourniquet application practice. As a CoTCCC-recommended tourniquet it exceeds the new ANSI/ISEA Z308.1-2021 Standard for Tourniquets; making it the fastest, safest, and most effective prehospital field tourniquet that will save lives when properly deployed at the right place at the right time.
- SOFTT-W 1.5′′
The SOFTT-W 1.5” is an improved version of the original SOF(r) Tactical Tourniquet, developed through a 24-month research initiative that combined user research and laboratory tests. Constructed with high-strength lightweight alloy components in critical areas for reliable use on large limbs while reducing weight by approximately 15%, this tourniquet can withstand even extreme conditions with ease.
It also features a retention clip which helps secure the windlass by locking it into place when applied. This is especially helpful for one-handed applications, doubling its security when combined with the tri-ring during patient movements.
- SWAT-T
The SWAT-T is a multipurpose tourniquet created by an operational medicine veteran with 14 years experience as a USAF Pararescue Journeyman (Para-Jumper or PJ), Contractor DoJ/FBI SWAT Operations, National Registry Paramedic, and Emergency Medicine Physician.
This trial demonstrated that many tourniquets were ineffective at stopping the fluid from seeping into a perfused arm model. However, the SWAT-T proved to be one of the few successful solutions in stopping water flow.
- X8T Tactical Tourniquet
The X8T is the only tourniquet on the market that meets or exceeds all requirements set out by DOD in 2010. This device was researched and designed by a tactical physician and mechanical engineer with input from soldiers, law enforcement personnel and medical professionals.
The X8T features a patented windlass design that tightens a strap around the wound area, making it easier to apply with one hand, gloves on, in wet or dark conditions – and more reliable than other tourniquets.
Conclusion
Caretek Tourniquet use has proven effective in controlling extremity hemorrhage, yet its widespread acceptance among prehospital civilian trauma care practitioners remains controversial. To ensure their use is appropriate and without fear of complications in appropriate cases, practitioners must become knowledgeable about its indications for use and be ready to apply them without hesitation. If you wish to know how long can a tourniquet be left on? Click here!
