Tourniquets are the first line of defense against a massive hemorrhage event, when arterial bleeding is involved. There are many tourniquets on the market, and there are also improvised options. The key element of the tourniquet is a band which wraps around the limb, and can be pulled or twisted tight to compress an artery, thus occluding blood flow. There are many common misconceptions surrounding tourniquets, including the myth that a tourniquet ensures the loss of limbs, that improvised methods are as effective as manufactured tourniquets, or that all tourniquets are the same.
Manufactured Tourniquets
Manufactured tourniquets are the most common EDC type tourniquet. The most common type of tourniquet is the North American Rescue CAT-T, with a very high success rate. Others include the RMT, and the SOFT. When buying a manufactured tourniquet, it’s important to make sure you buy from an authorized dealer, and invest in a tourniquet that is approved by the CoTCCC (Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care). This ensures the tourniquet has undergone significant and rigorous study and testing, to ensure the highest possible success rates. There are many fraudulent copies of prominent, high quality tourniquets, that are made from inferior materials.
Improvised Tourniquets
Improvised tourniquets are a whole different beast from the manufactured types of tourniquets, and bear a far lower success rate. The reason for that is that they are very hard to self apply and it’s very hard to keep them in place when moving. Belts are generally too thick to twist well, and rope or wire should never be used. Generally, you’ll want a fabric that is two inches wide and thin enough to resist a lot of pressure. I’ve decided that the most effective material in my possession is a Shemagh scarf, for it’s length, strength, and ability to get a uniform width. As a note, I would never personally use an improvised tourniquet if I had another option. This is a last ditch bottom of the barrel process with severe limitations, and I would never recommend it over buying a 30$ piece of kit with a nearly guaranteed success rate.
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