Tourniquet Daily Carry.....Options?

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Hello all,

Naturally I keep a well stocked (to my abilities) first aid kit in my vehicle and also in my laptop/work bag. Lately though I've been considering the mechanics of carrying a tourniquet on my person. For those that do, how do you do it?

Looking for low profile belt pouch solutions that are concealable under an untucked T-shirt (summer) or sweater/hoodie (winter).

Assume that I'm:
1) not always wearing cargo shorts
2) not wanting to look like I'm wearing Batman's utility belt.
3) already have a Shield 9mm, spare mag, 1-2 blades and a flashlight on my person.

Go....
 
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For EDC I use dark angel medical pocket kit like this one
http://darkangelmedical.com/pocket-d-a-r-k-jr-trauma-kit-ifak-med-kit/

IMHO by size/usability SWAT-T is way ahead of competitors. RATS and CAT may be easier to use but take way more space and are limited to very specific use. This is good to have them in belt, home or car kit, but for pocket...
 
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Tourniquet Daily Carry.....Options?

Go....



Fold your tourniquet as shown in the video @Mike V posted.

Get a couple lengths of shock cord...say around 15" in length. Take each piece, find the center, form a bight and tie an overhand knot to form a 3/4" - 1" pull tab. Tie the ends of each indivdual piece together, forming a loop that's around 2 1/2" in length and trim the excess cord.

IMG_5448.JPG

When you put on your belt, slide one of the shockcord sections on the belt, thread the belt through the center loop in your pants, then, slide the other shockcord loop on your belt....

IMG_5446.JPG

Once you get your belt buckled, take the tourniquet, reach back, pull up on one of the tabs and slide one end of the tourniquet under it. Do the same for the other side of the tourniquet...

IMG_5441.JPG

IMG_5442.JPG

It's relatively low profile and it's easily accessible situated at the small of your back.

To get ahold of it should you need it, reach back with either hand, pull up on the tab (right tab with the right hand or left tab with the left hand. Pull straight out on the tab and to the right/left, depending on which hand you used to access the tourniquet....

IMG_5443.JPG

Grab the free end of the tourniquet, pull up and away as though you were using the tourniquet as a pry bar...

IMG_5444.JPG

Pull the tourniquet to the right/left and away from your back...

IMG_5445.JPG

This is what works for me. Your mileage may vary, but thought I'd throw the idea out there in case you wanted to try it. I like having the tourniquet at the small of my back. If my right or left arm/hand is f*cked up and out of service, I can still use my other arm/hand to get the tourniquet.
 
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I like the Dark Angel kits as well as the ITS EDC Trauma Kits.

If you are simply wanting to carry a tourniquet, you could use something like the Phlster flat pack or the method that @wsfiredude showed.

I use a Eleven10 holder to carry one on my belt at work, however you may find it bulky to EDC.

I would find something that you can access by both hands.

I would not carry the RATS as my primary tourniquet, buy a CAT or SOFF-T from a reputable vendor to avoid fakes. If you are absolutely pressed for space I would consider the SWATT tourniquet.
 
Serious question... Why..? Are you a medic/emt/1st responder? Do you do anything in daily life that would necessitate the regular, or even occasional, need for one to the point that your car/office/house/pack isn't close enough?

Just curious what the reasoning is...
 
Well, I carry a gun all the time. More likely to need a tq than a gun. So when I have cargo pants or shorts on, one pocket has a tq.


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Well, I carry a gun all the time. More likely to need a tq than a gun. So when I have cargo pants or shorts on, one pocket has a tq.


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Are you though? I don't know about that. I guess statistically, maybe by a small margin on average but I would like to see some data to back that up. I haven't looked at the numbers. I have needed my gun on multiple occasions. Never had an opportunity or situation that would have been served by a tourniquet outside of medical classes.

I really can't imagine it's a prolific enough risk for people outside the medical field to warrant on-body daily carry. If it is, how do you deal with the anxiety when you aren't wearing cargo pants/shorts? Kind of joking, but seriously. If you carry it half the time when you don't care about fashion/dress and it's a low likelihood need, the odds aren't good you'll have one if the need ever does arise anyway. Seems like a silly item to pack.

I have so many things I actually use that I carry everyday. I can think of SO MANY things that I could carry and don't that would be more useful than a tourniquet.

Don't get me wrong. I have them in my vehicles and in my bag, and if I was @Slacker or @Scsmith42 out running chainsaws alone in the woods I'd have one on me at the time maybe, but in my pocket at all times? Nah...

I wear a belt though...
 
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90% of the time at least.
I haven’t needed either yet.
Car accidents are probably the biggest additional risk. Aftermath of using gun possibly. Other accidents. I don’t stress about it.


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Serious question... Why..? Are you a medic/emt/1st responder? Do you do anything in daily life that would necessitate the regular, or even occasional, need for one to the point that your car/office/house/pack isn't close enough?

Just curious what the reasoning is...

Are you though? I don't know about that. I guess statistically, maybe by a small margin on average but I would like to see some data to back that up. I haven't looked at the numbers. I have needed my gun on multiple occasions. Never had an opportunity or situation that would have been served by a tourniquet outside of medical classes.

I really can't imagine it's a prolific enough risk for people outside the medical field to warrant on-body daily carry. If it is, how do you deal with the anxiety when you aren't wearing cargo pants/shorts? Kind of joking, but seriously. If you carry it half the time when you don't care about fashion/dress and it's a low likelihood need, the odds aren't good you'll have one if the need ever does arise anyway. Seems like a silly item to pack.

I have so many things I actually use that I carry everyday. I can think of SO MANY things that I could carry and don't that would be more useful than a tourniquet.

Don't get me wrong. I have them in my vehicles and in my bag, and if I was @Slacker or @Scsmith42 out running chainsaws alone in the woods I'd have one on me at the time maybe, but in my pocket at all times? Nah...

I wear a belt though...

If I can pull it off without great effort, why not?

Not just thinking about bullet holes here, but car accidents or other trauma.

In looking at some of the info above as well as some solutions online I have an idea for a kydex solution. As I get time to work on it a bit I'll post pics here. Probably won't be for a few weeks though. Busy time coming up.

I wear a belt too, but it's one of Curt's and it would make a crappy tourniquet. I suspect most good gun belts would be the same. They're not really flexible enough to do the job.
 
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How come? Asking for my personal information and growth as thats what I edc although I have CATs in my trauma kits. But what is your thoughts or concerns on the RATs?

You took my class....right? Or am I having a stroke and misremembering?

The data on the RATS ain't good, they are not nearly as good as the CAT/SWATT, not by a large margin. CAT/SWATT > RATS > nothing.

@NCMedic , I like Dark Angel, too, but like a lot of those companies they shove $50 of items into a kits three times as expensive. I think IFAKs are best DIY unless you have the disposable money to just throw at it.
 
You took my class....right? Or am I having a stroke and misremembering?

The data on the RATS ain't good, they are not nearly as good as the CAT/SWATT, not by a large margin. CAT/SWATT > RATS > nothing.

@NCMedic , I like Dark Angel, too, but like a lot of those companies they shove $50 of items into a kits three times as expensive. I think IFAKs are best DIY unless you have the disposable money to just throw at it.

I did!!! It was a great class, I enjoyed it so much that its actually the reason i pursued my emt national cert to volunteer on a crew.
We talked about it a bit back then and the more I looked into it, and because I have small kids, it makes sense for me to carry the rats because I know it will fit them if needed. Also, for me, my brother in law was and fdny emt firefighter and had good things to say about them along with someone who served in Iraq. I know thats not clinically proven data etc but for me that gives me comfort in carrying it. The CAT is better im sure but the rats is very compact and just really easy for me to throw in my pocket everyday its about as big as a bundled shoelace. I practice every couple weeks taking it out and applying it then checking for pulse and it seems to do the job.

Again I am not a pro or as seasoned as alot of guys on here, thats just what works for me and the reasons I chose it. I do believe the rats should be coming up for tccc approval I think I heard but cant back that up with anything credible.

Again thanks for that class!!! Its what made me pursue my emt.
 
I did!!! It was a great class, I enjoyed it so much that its actually the reason i pursued my emt national cert to volunteer on a crew.
We talked about it a bit back then and the more I looked into it, and because I have small kids, it makes sense for me to carry the rats because I know it will fit them if needed. Also, for me, my brother in law was and fdny emt firefighter and had good things to say about them along with someone who served in Iraq. I know thats not clinically proven data etc but for me that gives me comfort in carrying it. The CAT is better im sure but the rats is very compact and just really easy for me to throw in my pocket everyday its about as big as a bundled shoelace. I practice every couple weeks taking it out and applying it then checking for pulse and it seems to do the job.

Again I am not a pro or as seasoned as alot of guys on here, thats just what works for me and the reasons I chose it. I do believe the rats should be coming up for tccc approval I think I heard but cant back that up with anything credible.

Again thanks for that class!!! Its what made me pursue my emt.

So excited that you moved forward with more training! The more you know....and every person you see makes you a better clinician!

TCCC (as has everything in medicine) has moved to evidence-based/outcomes-based practice, so unless/until there is evidence to support a particular plank in their platform, they won't fully endorse it. Now, I fully admit that since I have been in grad school I haven't looked for any, or read any, studies on the RATS; if there is data to support it, by all means. It kinda sorta makes sense with kids, so from that perspective, sure. I don't buy into anecdotal support because as a researcher and clinician, anecdotal support is about equal to voodoo in terms of veracity and trustworthiness.

I am certainly have an open mind and if the Committee (for TCCC) has data that endorses the RATS as a "as good as" product, I will certainly hawk it as I know they have done due diligence and research.
 
Are you though? I don't know about that. I guess statistically, maybe by a small margin on average but I would like to see some data to back that up. I haven't looked at the numbers. I have needed my gun on multiple occasions. Never had an opportunity or situation that would have been served by a tourniquet outside of medical classes.

I wear a belt though...

In the classes i have taken at Apex Defense Group the belt thing doesn't work. You should apply a belt to your arm or leg and check for a pulse. That should tell you.
The truly Tactical Timmy's carry all manner of stuff. I have an IFAK in the car, but i don't cone one in my office. I have thought about buying one for the office. I was taught by Ryan you have two minutes for an arterial bleed. Can i run to the car and get back and put on a CAT 7 on in two minutes? Maybe. But to be honest, if i need to use it at work it's because of an active shooter, so "real world" i think that blows the two minutes out the window. For it to work in the RL you would need to stop the active shooter first then get to injured. That two minute timer is tick tick ticking away.

Now if i am carrying concealed and out and about, i think have a CAT7 on you isn't a bad idea. Neither is having a knife, flashlight, spare mags, etc. I don't want to carry 8 pounds of stuff. I'm not quite full on Tactical Timmy though. Your mileage may vary.

V
 
It's not so much "how likely am I to need this" as it is "what will happen if I need it and don't have it?"

I do not (yet) EDC a tourniquet but if I can figure out how to add it without adding bulk I'll do it.

As far as statistics go active shooters are less likely than a lightning strike. I am more worried about an injury from a ND or even from a workplace accident.
 
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It's not so much "how likely am I to need this" as it is "what will happen if I need it and don't have it?"

I do not (yet) EDC a tourniquet but if I can figure out how to add it without adding bulk I'll do it.

As far as statistics go active shooters are less likely than a lightning strike. I am more worried about an injury from a ND or even from a workplace accident.

Exactly. If you look at the odds there are probably a great many things you are far more likely to have use of.

I get the accident aspect. That's far more likely than active shooter stuff...

Just seems like overkill...
 
I guess the difference to me is that a) when you need one, there isn’t a good substitute, b) when you need one you need it right now, and c) it is life or death.


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How come? Asking for my personal information and growth as thats what I edc although I have CATs in my trauma kits. But what is your thoughts or concerns on the RATs?

Sorry it took a bit to reply, that being said @Chuckman basically said everything I was going to say.

Is the RATs bad if that's all you have to work with? Better than nothing. My biggest issue with them is the lack of evidence that shows any benefit over it vs a CAT or SOFT-T, or even the SWAT... there's a lot of reasons why one would be better over another and we could have a super in-depth conversation about it, however the TL;DR version is this:

Improvised TQs rarely work.
Buy it from an approved vendor.
Carry a approved, clinically reviewed TQ
Train with it.
You can apply a CAT to small children or adults.
Early rapid application is better than later
Hope you never need it.
 
I carry the one I bought at the Canadian Meet and Greet from several years ago (the SWAT wrap and tuck one) - took the trauma/gunshot first aid class and got it there.

Haven’t had any need for it yet thankfully, but better to have it and never need it, plus it’s remarkably easy to use.
 
I carry the one I bought at the Canadian Meet and Greet from several years ago (the SWAT wrap and tuck one) - took the trauma/gunshot first aid class and got it there.

Haven’t had any need for it yet thankfully, but better to have it and never need it, plus it’s remarkably easy to use.
Yay! Good to hear!
 
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@rantingredneck I have been using Dark Angel Medical's ankle kit for 6 months now. It's not going to work with shorts obviously, but has worked out better than I imagined otherwise. SOF-T Wide TQ, quick clot gauze, small pressure bandage, and gloves. Works with shoes or boots for me. I originally tried it with a CAT, but found it to be too bulky (although I find it easier to use than a SOF-T.)
 
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@Love2shoot , I reached out to a couple guys I know still in the biz (one, a SF medic; the other, a SARC with MARSOC). I reached out because I have been out long enough and things change, so I wanted to get their take. Here is what they said about RATS:

"Of the items I note, the RAT fails the safe test time and again. The pressure it exerts on the tissue underlying its application far exceeds the maximum allowable to be considered safe. This is due to the width of the shock cord used. Guys if we could get away with making a safe AND effective TQ using a more narrow band, thereby increasing the chances a COP would carry it both Composite Resources and TAC-Med Solutions would both be doing so. There is a reason Tac Med went from a 1” to a 1-1/2” wife band with their Gen-2 SOFTT. Regardless of how many “wraps” you get on the RAT, there will be some space between the wraps thus negating the idea that it’s wide enough to be safe. For those who still want to argue it’s ability to stop arterial blood flow I say this, I can stop arterial bleeding with a stick and piano wire but it doesn’t mean I should do so when there are safe alternatives that are as portable - there is no reasons to use this thing."

And:

"I tried some in a LTT course a few months ago. I found that they slipped quite a bit and wrapping multiple times around non standard limbs (obvious fractures/avulsions/partial ampuations/etc...) was difficult. Every extremity with a RATS required an additional TQ within a few minutes. They may be compact and lightweight, but if it doesn’t work then what’s the point?"

With that said, RATS if you have nothing else, but wanted you to hear it from guys still in the field. TCCC may have a different take with the next set of recommendations.
 
@Love2shoot , I reached out to a couple guys I know still in the biz (one, a SF medic; the other, a SARC with MARSOC). I reached out because I have been out long enough and things change, so I wanted to get their take. Here is what they said about RATS:

"Of the items I note, the RAT fails the safe test time and again. The pressure it exerts on the tissue underlying its application far exceeds the maximum allowable to be considered safe. This is due to the width of the shock cord used. Guys if we could get away with making a safe AND effective TQ using a more narrow band, thereby increasing the chances a COP would carry it both Composite Resources and TAC-Med Solutions would both be doing so. There is a reason Tac Med went from a 1” to a 1-1/2” wife band with their Gen-2 SOFTT. Regardless of how many “wraps” you get on the RAT, there will be some space between the wraps thus negating the idea that it’s wide enough to be safe. For those who still want to argue it’s ability to stop arterial blood flow I say this, I can stop arterial bleeding with a stick and piano wire but it doesn’t mean I should do so when there are safe alternatives that are as portable - there is no reasons to use this thing."

And:

"I tried some in a LTT course a few months ago. I found that they slipped quite a bit and wrapping multiple times around non standard limbs (obvious fractures/avulsions/partial ampuations/etc...) was difficult. Every extremity with a RATS required an additional TQ within a few minutes. They may be compact and lightweight, but if it doesn’t work then what’s the point?"

With that said, RATS if you have nothing else, but wanted you to hear it from guys still in the field. TCCC may have a different take with the next set of recommendations.

Wow! Thank you so much for that info, that was really helpful and enlightening. Really appreciate the time you took to do that, and it makes very much sense. Going to really take a hard look at trying a CAT carry instead.
 
I’ve EDC’ed a SWAT-T in my back pocket for years. Carries like a wallet. It is not as good as a CAT but one of those isn’t riding in your pocket. I have a CAT handy in the truck and in a blow out kit.

My girlfriend fell while we were in Egypt and I was able to use it as a compression bandage to stabilize her knee. It’s pretty handy.

I’ve since used that now opened tourniquet to practice.
 
@rantingredneck thanks for this thread.
A few weeks ago my son had a hatchet skip off cedar heart wood and sunk in his leg, then had to pack up two young boys and walk out > 1/2 mi to the car.
I need to get 4 tourniquets or kits for us.
This was after the hospital cleaned him up, that's @ 3" below the knee.
Z Calf.jpg
 
@rantingredneck thanks for this thread.
A few weeks ago my son had a hatchet skip off cedar heart wood and sunk in his leg, then had to pack up two young boys and walk out > 1/2 mi to the car.
I need to get 4 tourniquets or kits for us.
This was after the hospital cleaned him up, that's @ 3" below the knee.
View attachment 130225
Man, should have thrown some butterfly bandages on that cut and rolled on.....lol. Seriously, that's a pretty good gash there. Bet that throbbed good for a little bit.

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Man, should have thrown some butterfly bandages on that cut and rolled on.....lol. Seriously, that's a pretty good gash there. Bet that throbbed good for a little bit.
The worst was a week later when the muscle would cramp and pull apart. They only gave him a local (into the meat) and ibuprofen. Times have changed from a year ago. He would have walked out with 30 Oxycontin, and that wouldn't have been good. I expected them to give him at least 3 days of pain killers.
 
Yeah, for sure times have changed. It sucks for people who really need them, but this pill problem has gotten pretty bad. Where is that gash at, front of leg or back. Looks like calf area.

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Edit, I see now on the jpeg it says calf. Damn phone wasn't showing me the full pic.
 
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The worst was a week later when the muscle would cramp and pull apart. They only gave him a local (into the meat) and ibuprofen. Times have changed from a year ago. He would have walked out with 30 Oxycontin, and that wouldn't have been good. I expected them to give him at least 3 days of pain killers.

My 18 year old daughter had 3cm of her left femur removed last Thursday and a nail drilled in the length of her femur with screws top and bottom to secure it. They sent her home Sunday with 10 (yes one-zero) Oxy. She had a bone cut in freaking half.....

We got a refill today for 20 more. The nurse that took my wife's call couldn't believe it either.
 
@rantingredneck thanks for this thread.
A few weeks ago my son had a hatchet skip off cedar heart wood and sunk in his leg, then had to pack up two young boys and walk out > 1/2 mi to the car.
I need to get 4 tourniquets or kits for us.
This was after the hospital cleaned him up, that's @ 3" below the knee.
View attachment 130225

A good kit would include a CAT-T, Israeli bandage (a specific type of compression dressing), and combat gauze (gauze with quick clot). Those are the basics for the TCCC line of thinking. Read up on the quick clot though, it’s something to only be used in certain situations due to the damage the stuff can do to tissue.
That nasty wound there would have best been addressed with an Israeli bandage.
 
Great confirmation from those in the medical/SF industry regarding RATS. In today's society you aren't going to get more than one RATS wrap on most folks IMO... so I had been questioning this for a while.

Also, spoiler tags on that image would have been great ... scrolling through this thread at work :p
 
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