Grasping Life: Combat Tourniquet Techniques in the Field

Sudden life-threatening injuries can strike anytime and anywhere—both on and off the battlefield, and that’s precisely why it’s necessary to be prepared for any eventuality. This is where the North American Rescue Tourniquet comes into the picture. If used correctly, it can literally mean the difference between life and death!

What Exactly Is a Tourniquet?

This is a device designed to staunch the blood flow of any injured extremity. It can prevent an injured person from bleeding out by blocking the arteries that are pumping blood to the injured area.  

Field Operation

It must be carefully placed and tightened around (and if required above) the injured area to restrict the blood flow. Once it is properly tightened, it will squeeze and pinch the main blood vessels supplying blood to the affected area. This means that as the medic increases the pressure, the blood flow will drop to the barest trickle or completely stop, saving the critically injured individual’s life. 

Frontline combat troops as well as their SWAT team counterparts regularly carry the CAT, or Combat Application Tourniquet, whenever they go into harm’s way. It’s ideal for every emergency where troops need to stabilize their gravely injured comrade. Ultimately, the CAT will help keep soldiers alive until they are evacuated to the nearest emergency healthcare center or field hospital.

A Sturdy and Durable Windlass System

The CAT is based on a unique windlass system that’s as durable as it is reliable. This ingenious system has its own patented free-moving internal band, which provides the requisite circumferential pressure needed to secure the injured extremity. Once the CAT has been tightened as required, it will stop excess bleeding. After the medics check to ensure the blood is not pumping out of the body, they will safely secure the windlass by locking it into place. 

The CAT is suitably well-equipped with its own windlass-operated loop and hook retention strap. This strap is designed to secure the windlass and ensure the tourniquet doesn’t open even when the patient is hoisted onto a helicopter. The CAT’s windlass will automatically retain pressure on the injury throughout the evacuation. 

This highly distinctive dual and safe securing system ensures the CAT is the best tourniquet available today. This critical survival tool should always be present in every backpack in the field where it’s likely that lives will be on the line. 

The CAT is also simple to operate. Just simply use the windless to lock the tourniquet into place. There are no complications like screws and clips because they may be difficult to use under the extreme stress of a combat situation. It’s also possible to operate this tourniquet even if fine motor skills are not fully functional due to the injury or even during the heat of a firefight.