Fold and Stage a CAT Tourniquet

This video will demonstrate how to properly fold and stage a North American Rescue Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) so it can be rapidly deployed in an emergency. An improperly folded tourniquet could be the difference between life and death.

[williammadison]

I'm a cop and I used his second technique to set up my tourniquet. It ended up saving a victim's life a few days ago (as his foot had been cut off from his leg and I had to place it on his thigh). Very good video and I highly recommend the second way to fold the tourniquet.

[zebdawson]

This channel actually saves lives. Absolutely one of the greatest channels on the platform, hands down.

[jodyhill]

Thank you PrepMedic, from an old Viet Nam vet. I still train often with friends and always bring a Blowout Kit. Two training weekends were with Kris Paronto (Tanto) and Dave Benton (Boon), the real guys of “13 Hours in Benghazi” book and movie. One drill was to sprint 100 meters carrying a cinder block, apply a Tourniquet to one of your own arms, then shoot the target.
I periodically review stop the bleed procedures to remind myself what to do. Thank you and all the U.S. Army Medics and Dust Off helicopter pilots, as well as those before and after Viet Nam. They have saved countless of our Brothers and Sisters.
Your video is awesome, thank you again.

[ART]

Me: watches video
Also me: fixes tourniquet immediately after finishing video

[lrfdfirefighter]

Always ran the first method, really like the second method....over 20 years as a professional fire fighter and can always learn something.Thats why its such a great job.

[moduman]

You've missed an important point, its important that the strap is a little bit offset so you can open the strap easily with gloves on.

[ninjagaming]

This was a great video and I am so lucky I jumped on it. Currently my national guard unit is getting certified in CLS (Combat Life Saver) and our new IFAKs come with two tourniquets. Being able for us to set these up correctly is a must. Also within this month on my 21st birthday I am finally going to be gaining experience on the civillian side in EMS as a driver and working my way up to EMT and eventually Paramedic. Proud and long term follower here :)

[austindoug]

Thanks for this. May is Stop the Bleed month and I took a class at a library in Lincoln, Nebraska that used the NAR training kit. (I was LEO pre-tourniquet carry) I just received my CAT 7 so good timing on finding your video. In the class they told us of a local radio personality who was hit on his motorcycle. An unknown person (possibly LEO) applied a tourniquet before EMS arrived and saved his life. Lost his leg but he lived and is very active. New subscriber.

[MrJohnnygalan]

In the grunt Corp we were taught by our navy docs to keep the tourniquet open and not in a loop. We were also taught that you need to use both openings in the plastic buckle to ensure a tight hold. Straight, flattened, folded to length, security tab out of the way, and easy access to the red tab. You cannot count on slipping a loop over a messy wound and worse with obstructions like debris or nasty leg amputations. Learning to apply without the loop still allows for a 30 second or less application with less complications. We were also taught to keep multiple tourniquets ready to apply a second higher up on the wound. I carried 3 on easy access in Iraq.

[efreddy]

I find it best to meet halfway on the time stamp strap aspect. Folding it back on itself with a small piece hanging above the windless so there is something to grab instead of trying to peel it off the velcro. Also I’ve been trained to keep in mind single hand application to yourself when determining packaging. Great video and CAT are best tourniquets I’ve used out of several options on the market.

[danielmarshall]

OUTSTANDING. Thank you for your time and effort bringing us this video. Tourniquets are now becoming a "THINK" here in the UK, your insight is very much appreciated.

[alliwantisfinancialstabili]

Thank god I decided to watch this, I had my tourniquet staged exactly like the mistakes you mentioned. The velcro on the time strap kept rubbing my arm so i just wrapped it around so that it'd be easier to pull out from my vest, and I had the loop pulled small and narrow, not knowing any better.

Currently carrying a cheap 10$ tourniquet, after seeing a bunch of people talk about CAT tourniquets, I decided to go buy a handful asap. This $10 one will work great for training purposes though. Need to get myself skilled at applying a tourniquet.

[Jon-ddtw]

where i serve we learned to do it different, you are right about the time strip and the windlass. also before putting the strap thru the buckle, pull it so there is no slack on the windlass. We fold the strap around 1/3th but don't fold the 2 sticky parts to each other and fold the red end so you can easly grab it with combat gloves. the important part about our folding method is that you can use the TQ one handed on yourself and that the strap doesn't stick to each other but just falls open and you can use it without struggling.

[sundance]

Thank you for doing this! We just received our tourniquets and only received basic instructions on how to use it. Forwarding this to the rest of my guys.

[fatboyrowing]

I have never used a CAT, but want to add it to the company kit at work (machinery that generated hundreds of tons of clamping force) and to my vehicle kit. Thanks so much for an incredibly useful and important video.

[minilockwood]

After watching this video I really liked the “new” way of staging tourniquets. The only thing I changed is the time stamp tab...I have one corner not attached to the Velcro so it is easier to grab with bloody gloves or in a high stress situation where fine motor skills are decreased.

[micah]

Thank you! Just purchased a tourniquet case for my belt (training as an emt, going for my license in the next several months depending on the status of covid) and had trouble re-wrapping mine. With this video, I did it in less than a minute. Thanks!

[turdfurg]

"Being prepared buys you time and time buys you options" - john Carrara from active self protection

[K.J.Conradd]

Thank you again, sir! I got my very first tourniquet and I dont know how to properly fold and store it. I went to your channel to see if there is any tips and you never fail! I'm learning the basics of first aid and proper ways for a civilian to use emergency medical tools.

[mr.puddles]

Thanks dude. I have been using the first folding method, but I left the time tab over the windless.

I will change that pronto.