CAT TQ vs SOFT-T TQ

The CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet) by North American Rescue vs the SOFT-T Wide (SOF® Tactical Tourniquet Wide) by Tactical Medical Solutions. These are both very popular tourniquets and are both approved by TCCC committee.

Gen 7 C-A-T TQ Video:

SOFT-T Wide Video:

Thank you Drumm Emergency Solutions for the blood!

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[dvoz]

I recommend to write the time on the forehead of the injured person. The tourniquet is covered in blood so a sharpie won't write well. Also, to prevent shock you put a emergency blanket around the person. The medic team has to search for the timestamp. If it has written on the forehead the medic team sees it in a pinch. 👍

I've learned to write it as followed :
* T (for tourniquet)
* 0000 (current time of application)
Wright now it would looks like this:
T2304

[showoffyoureverydaycarry]

I just started carrying Med in my EDC. I went with the SOFT-T. ... Thanks for the tip about putting a knee on the femoral artery.

[COMtnPilot]

Great vid Skinny! Firefighter Medic, Pro Skipatrol here … IMHO, both are great! The CAT is great for pretty much every situation except snow. The SOF-T is better for Ski Patrollers and backcountry skiing adventures because the Velcro on the CAT tends to fail in snow and colder freezing conditions. It gets packed with snow and ice and will not hold as well. Other than that, both are awesome products that I have personally used! 😎🇺🇸

[TheUSAforever]

Just took a class yesterday using both. I liked how the soft T could be undone so you didn't have to slide it all the way up a limb, but if you weren't careful the strap would turn sideways when pulling tight. I will still run both in my kits though.

[bbs]

I just got one. I knew I needed one, and finally decided to buy one. I went with the SOF T, only reason being the CAT tourniquets are supposedly only a one time use, so you shouldn't practice with it, as the velcro can wear and not hold anymore, where as that isn't the case with the SOF T. Seems great, feel like I could practice with this thing for eternity without ever worrying about it not being 100% reliable in a real situation

[jtmonsman]

Nice overview. That puddle of blood wasn't that big.... looked like how much I'd lose when I started an IV back when I was new! Lol. Thanks for the vid!

[reneklein]

Great video!
SOFTT wide:some chaps complain about setting it in the triangle is a bit difficult under stress....but I prefer that to may have to fiddle it through the buckle as with the SOFTT locking mechanism is superior here(imho!)
Also the material of the CAT is more prone to collect debris.

[cthompson]

War story warning: I remember going to EMT school school in the late 80's and being career EMS in the early 90's. Back then if you used a tourniquet for anything less than a traumatic amputation you would need to brace yourself for the walk of shame into the ER. You were also supposed to write the letter "T" on the patient's forehead along with the application time just in case the ER staff was slow on the uptake and missed the tourniquet during their assessment. It's still amazing to me how elevation, pressure points, trendelenburg, etc has gone out the window over the years.

[clovisprojectdiy]

yeah bro. I carry a R.A.T.S., for edc, and have a few cats. definitely worried about breakage at this point(3 or so years old, and I keep them on the outside of whatever bag I'm carrying that day, ALWAYS IN SUN). Either way, been wanting to support your work/shared info for a while, other than the useless YouTube comments... expect an order from me soon, thanks.

[joecool]

Thanks. It made me pull out my cat t and looks like mine is almost 7yrs old. Time for a new one. Thanks

[Citizen__]

Awesome bro. Woke up to order these for the first time. Knew you would have a video to explain this. Thanks so much!

[blythjr]

Hey there SM. Would you consider redoing this video?
With you having on a black shirt making up the background, seeing the TQs and what you were doing with them was very hard.

[ScottyM]

Great video Doc! I wouldn't complain this heat and humidity is everywhere

[SimplicityForGood]

All new here… but a store that seem to sell all blue force gear for two times the price said I cannot practice with a real one but need a trainer to practice with, is this correct?… i see blue force got a blur trainer, though that is the c-a-t and not the soft T which is the only one they got in storage right now…
Can I train with the cat and still learn to be fast and correct with the soft T or is that not a good idea as a beginner?

I was thinking to order the soft T and the blue c-a-t trainer and their trauma kit now medium with a hammock for the tourniquet…
What do you think?

Thanks!
🙏🏻 I am a fast learner from 🇸🇪 with many Ukrainian friends

[VashGames]

Where do you tuck the tail of a SOFT-T when in use?

[TBart-nztb]

Have you tested the SAM XT Tourniquet from SAM Medical already? Would be interesting, to Hear your opinion on this product.

[grouch]

I have a cat and I really like it. I like to store it looped so if I need to apply it one handed it should slide onto my arm easier than having to fiddle with the buckle. If I'm applying it to my own leg then I'll probably have both hands

[SuperTango]

Great vid, great info, the Softt take less space to store in to your ifak! Thank you.

[dragomxsoldier]

Muchas gracias por la información, me gustan sus videos muy claros

[nicholassparks]

The only thing that I see as a concern on the Soft T is how the windless is secured. Theres nothing actually "locking" it in place in the triangular clip. A good enough bump to the windless itself could release the tension on the clip and let the windless loose. With the cat this isn't an issue with the way its designed especially with the velcro tab secured over it.