{"id":19944,"date":"2026-11-13T18:59:37","date_gmt":"2026-11-13T18:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/?p=19944"},"modified":"2026-11-13T18:59:37","modified_gmt":"2026-11-13T18:59:37","slug":"cat-tourniquet-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wideners.com\/blog\/cat-tourniquet-review\/","title":{"rendered":"CAT Tourniquet Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve worn a badge, worked around firearms for most of my adult life, and spent time in emergency departments where seconds can change the outcome for a patient. In both law enforcement and emergency nursing, I\u2019ve learned one lesson that applies to almost every serious bleeding emergency: I don\u2019t want to be looking for the right equipment after someone starts losing blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I consider a quality tourniquet one of the most important pieces of emergency equipment you can carry. The Combat Application Tourniquet, better known as the CAT or C-A-T, has become one of the most recognizable tourniquets available. Police officers<\/a>, firefighters, EMS providers, military personnel, and civilians carry the device, manufactured by North American Rescue.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also seen plenty of confusion about when to use one, how tight it should be, and which tourniquet someone should actually buy. Here\u2019s what you need to know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is a CAT Tourniquet?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"What<\/p>\n

The Combat Application Tourniquet<\/span><\/a> is a mechanical device to stop life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg. The CAT Gen 7 is the latest model. It uses a strap, buckle, windlass rod, and stabilization plate to create enough circumferential pressure to stop arterial blood flow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A key feature of the CAT is that it can be applied with one hand, which is essential when self-applying the tourniquet if one arm is wounded. The CAT is best known for military use. However, it\u2019s a valuable tool for law enforcement, first responders, and civilian trauma care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0The American College of Surgeons\u2019 Stop the Bleed program teaches tourniquet use as a primary method for controlling life-threatening bleeding.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is a CAT Tourniquet Used For?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I reach for a tourniquet when someone has severe, life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg and I need to stop blood loss quickly. The bleeding can stem from a gunshot, a stab wound, an amputation, a penetrating injury, or any other damage that produces uncontrolled extremity hemorrhage. In those situations, direct pressure may not control bleeding adequately, especially when I need to do other tasks and free up my hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You should not use a CAT for minor cuts or ordinary bleeding. You can\u2019t use it on the neck, chest, or abdomen. It is designed for use on limbs only.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Does a CAT Tourniquet Work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Combat Application Tourniquet works by tightening a band around the injured extremity until the device compresses the arteries and stops blood flow. The windlass provides the mechanical advantage that lets you tighten the tourniquet much more than simply pulling the strap.<\/span><\/p>\n

When applying the tourniquet, pull the strap as tight as you can. Then, twist the rod until bleeding stops. Secure the rod in the built-in clip and use the retention strap to keep everything in place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The important word is tight. The tourniquet needs to be uncomfortably tight. In a tactical medical course I attended, which followed DHS curriculum, we were instructed to apply the tourniquet to ourselves and our training partners during various drills. These drills familiarized us with CAT tourniquets and showed how tight they need to be.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If bleeding continues after you tighten the tourniquet properly, apply another tourniquet above the first. Apply tourniquets between the wound and the heart. For instance, if the wound is on someone\u2019s biceps, apply it above the wound, closer to the armpit. The tourniquet won\u2019t work if it is on a bony joint, such as a knee or elbow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Apply a CAT Tourniquet\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"a

Application: Place the CAT at least 2-3 inches above the wound, directly against the skin, tighten the strap, and twist the windlass.<\/p><\/div>\n

First, identify the source of life-threatening bleeding and place the CAT at least 2-3 inches above the wound, directly against the skin when circumstances allow. Never place it over a joint, such as a knee or elbow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t quickly identify where the bleeding is on the limb, follow the high-and-tight rule. That means high up on the biceps or shoulder, but not on the AC joint, or high into the thigh or groin for a leg wound, but not on the hip bone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, pull the CAT strap as tight as possible and secure it. Remove as much slack as you can before you touch the windlass. Then, twist the windlass until the bleeding stops. Secure the windlass and record the application.<\/span><\/p>\n

If the bleeding continues, tighten the existing tourniquet if possible. If you have one, apply a second tourniquet. If possible, apply direct pressure to the bleeding site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Long Should a CAT Stay On?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

If you are a bystander waiting for EMS, do not loosen or remove the tourniquet because you think it has been on too long. Leave it in place and tell arriving medical personnel when you applied it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do not put on a tourniquet and start a countdown to when you should take it off. Apply it, control the hemorrhage, and get the patient to a place where they can receive medical care.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CAT vs. SOF-T vs. SWAT-T<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"CAT

What is the Combat Application Tourniquet? Better known as the CAT or C-A-T, this first-aid item can potentially save a life.<\/p><\/div>\n

The CAT is not the only quality tourniquet available. <\/span>The Special Operations Forces Tactical Tourniquet (SOF-T or SOFT-T)<\/span> also uses a windlass design. Like the CAT, it provides mechanical compression and can control severe extremity bleeding. The current SOF Tourniquet supports one-handed application and features an aircraft-grade aluminum windlass.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Stretch, Wrap, and Tuck Tourniquet (SWAT-T)<\/span> is what I was originally issued when I joined the police department. My agency favored the SWAT-T because it was compact, easy to stow in our vests, and cost-effective.<\/span><\/p>\n

The SWAT-T reminds me of a bicycle tire inner tube. The elastic band is designed to be stretched, wrapped, and tucked around the limb, above the bleed. You can also use the SWAT-T as a pressure dressing or elastic wrap, which makes it more versatile in a trauma kit. One key benefit of the SWAT-T is that it has no minimum circumference, so you can use it on young pediatric patients with small limbs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The major downside to the SWAT-T is that it\u2019s extremely difficult to apply with one hand. Additionally, it gets very slippery when it gets bloody.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I like the CAT and SOF-T because I can apply them quickly, including with just one hand. Both tourniquets are great options. While the SWAT-T has its place in a trauma kit, I wouldn\u2019t make it the only tourniquet I carry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

CAT Tourniquet Pros & Cons\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"a

EDC: Consider adding a Combat Application Tourniquet to your everyday carry if you conceal carry a gun.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

The CAT offers several perks, including:<\/strong><\/p>\n