Special Forces Medic Reviews Tourniquets | Tactical Rifleman

This week, on Tactical Rifleman, we are going to cover Tourniquets. We get a lot of questions about the Med Kits we carry.

If you are looking for the tourniquets used in this video

CAT Combat Application Tourniquet - GEN 7

SOFTT-W Tourniquet

TK4 Tourniquet

When you talk Medical Gear, first and foremost, we want to push Tourniquets. The best way to prevent Hypovolemic Shock, is to keep those Red Blood Cells inside the body.

I want that last sentence to sink in… The best way to prevent Hypovolemic Shock, is to keep those Red Blood Cells inside the body. Imagine, middle of the gun fight, you see your buddy lying there bleeding bad. You are 50 feet from good cover. How long would it take you to drag him 50 feet over rough terrain? How long would it take you to scoop him up and “Fireman’s Carry” him 50 feet? Now, as fast as you think you are, it’ll probably take twice that long real world. Next question: How long would it take for him to bleed out 2 liters of blood from a major injury? I say 2 liters, because that’s all it takes to push someone into Uncompensated Shock. So, what do we do about it? We put Tourniquets on ASAP, before we drag him to safety.

As a Special Forces Medic (18D), I was taught to clamp bleeders and all kinds of other great ways to stop bleeders. We were taught that Tourniquets were a last resort. We were taught WRONG. This little 15 year war (thanks politicians) has cost us thousands of lives, and has been a great case study on the treatment of trauma on the modern battlefield. We now teach TOURNIQUETS IMMEDIATELY.

Once you put it on, leave it on. Don’t worry about damaging the limb or crushing injuries. The doctors have protocols for dealing with tourniquets and their removal. Let the Docs in the hospitals remove the tourniquets.

Thanks for watching. Strength & Honor, TR

[clarkrichards]

My better half and our 3 sons can apply self aid and buddy aid with a TQ and IFAK. Been a trained medic for 15 years. Still lots to learn and enjoy these videos. Thanks guys.

[casams]

I’m just a civilian paramedic, no military experience, and I swear by these tourniquets. Excellent selection, Karl. Not that I have to tell you. Tourniquets are by far, in my opinion one of the most important piece of kit ANYONE can carry on their person. If you cut your femoral artery for example, you have 2 1/2 minutes before you bleed out. That’s faster than I can respond with my ambulance. You don’t have to be shot in a combat zone. Protect yourself, protect your loved ones, protect your neighbor. Excellent video again TR!

[orionfixr]

I'm a total noob to all this first aid stuff and just wanted to let you know I appreciate your putting this vid. out there.

[packerjansen]

Huge simple takeaway I got from this...I have a chest wound sealing kit and an Israeli bandage in by battle backpack, but not a tourniquet I can access quickly from my plate carrier. I need to upgrade to be ready. Thanks so much!

[seeker]

Man that Doctor in the background truly has no soul.

[hossv]

This was something I've always wondered, what type of Tourniquet was used by our fighting men and women. CAT-T, I'm guessing is what it was called, seems simple enough a big goof like myself could use in any dire situation. Thanks for this upload and always looking for more from this channel.

[ron-yvjx]

This is one lesson I hope none of us AMERICANS Need to use but if I do I have so much of a clearer understanding of how to do things. Thank You Karl for one more tool for my tool box. Have a great night..
BIG RON OVER AND

[onturrage]

This tourniquets video is very informative. I have watched around a dozen of your videos so far and the list is growing. Many thanks to those of Tactical Rifleman for sharing your expertise.

[bufferbuffer]

Besides "Tactical" use, add one of to your car first aid kit and take one with you when going hiking (=> every place, where cell phone service may not be available and/ or where the ambulance may need some time to get to you) as well as while doing any other sport with high risk of traumatic injuries (like biking, an unofficial soccer match (or any other team sport)). These things are easy to use by everybody (in case of a severe bleeding, especially non-professionals will struggle with the widely taught compression bandage). In my opinion as a paramedic, these little things can be a gamechanger.

[Ronin____]

This is almost the same comment I have been posting to many channels lately, but the purpose and appreciation is the same. I have been clicking the "like" button on many of these videos, but when I go back and check these videos I've watched before; youtube has taken down the like, or I have to re-like it. I'm not sure what's going on there, but I know you would have many more likes from me if youtube wasn't trying to be censorship Commies. On that note; thank you for making these videos. As a person who has to carry a trauma kit both for my own support, but as a part of my profession, I appreciate all your hard work on producing these videos. They are an indispensable resource and a great way to stay in the zone and relevant in a dangerous world.

[jackg.]

Great video covering an extremely important topic. Everyone you who is around firearms and especially shooters need to learn how to effectively apply tournaments IMHO. You did a fantastic job delivering this important information in a very clear and concise manner. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[BunsAndGunsCalendars]

Thanks, I was SF Medic mid 1970's and have forgotten many things, these are helping bring memories back and also helping me learn new stuff. 10th SFGA ODA 216

[frankiefrank]

Thanks a lot man. I got one of the larger tourniquets for when me and my family go shooting and didn't realize it wouldn't fit my kids. I got the chills when you said it won't.

[garretthinrichs]

Basically trained in TCCC through USMC, ended up stationed in DC where only saw the field a 5 or 6 times a year, as on 03 I volunteered for most of them so I got a load more training than others. TQ's were rarely talked about although we were taught how to use them. Now I am a TAC-MED instructor for my PD, and I preach about the knowledge of them all the time. Easy life-saving measures. My main talking point is the mindset youve got to have to provide self/ buddy aid. Which I generally only see in former military guys. Great video. Thanks

[josephblackston]

Great stuff and love your site. I'm an ER physician and Instructor in Advanced Trauma Life Support. (The American College of Surgeons oversees the ATLS course, which is designed for all physicians who work in an Emergency Dept). While they don't go into much detail with regard to tourniquet use since this is USUALLY a battlefield tool, we do see them occasionally in the civilian setting. One thing I learned is the inexperienced person tends to apply the tourniquet far too loosely, thus not effectively occluding arterial flow.

I was always taught that the tourniquet has to be applied tight enough to "hurt" - and if it isn't hurting, then it's not tight enough. Great job with summarizing the use of tourniquet in urgent (life and death) situation!

Thanks again!

[segrientboar]

I really appreciate you sharing your expertise Karl.
Though it wouldn't replace the CAT or SOF-T W for a warfighter, especially for self application, I have equipped my wife with the SWAT-T and have a few among my bush gear. SWAT-T is Stretch, Wrap and Tuck tourniquet. It is a very wide rubberised band with graphics printed on it to show when appropriate tightness has been reached.
These were chosen for versatility. They can do K9 and children. They can be used for a range of other first aid interventions other than purely as a tourniguet and in my opinion with common sense can be used as a snake bandage-important where I live.
I'm not a medic but was TCCC trained. Now I'm just a guy on a budget and limited room in my bush kit.

[curtwhite]

Great channel, great video. Love the extended description. Keep up the great work.

[nathanschachle]

I've been waiting for this video! Great Content!

[Vandallolwut]

Good vid.
I run my softt-w hooked but with just enough of a loop to go around my leg with just a little more slack. So I just need a good pull/jerk then wind it up.

Keep the vids coming. Stay safe.

[Mizone]

Mate u r down to earth honest about gear and how its used. Refreshing to see. All those shiny kit syndrome children out
there need to realise it just needs to work not how it looks or how much it costs.