My opinion is very clear, the market is beeing flooded with tourniquets, its a fast expanding market. Very few of the new tq’s have any avaliable data, stick to what we know works. Read the studies and recomendations of experts, instead of buying on the basis of advertising and “fastest bla bla” anekdotes. My opinion is and will continiue to be CAT or SOF (w) until someone provides substantial evidence that another design works better, in terms of not just speed, but also mortality, ergos, safety etc. In my opinion, no one has been even close yet.

I’ve been trained on the CAT, the SOFTT-W, and the SAM XT. Instructors I trust all agree: the CAT is better for self-aid than the SOFTT-W, which in turn is better for buddy-aid. I really like the SAM XT but I won’t carry it until CoTCCC weighs in.

The SWAT-T isn’t great. During live testing (with no casualties or blood) they tend to break before full occlusion occurs. Despite the additional bulk I’ve taken the SWAT-T out of my laptop bag kit and replaced it with a CAT.

One consideration is could you have a need to treat a child. According to Doom and Bloom, CATs are not certified for use in a child

Weko said: ↑
One consideration is could you have a need to treat a child. According to Doom and Bloom, CATs are not certified for use in a child
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thegrouch314 said: ↑
True, I’d imagine the base plate is too big on a CAT to go around a childs arm. Possible on a leg but only an older child.
I can’t speak for the SOF-T because I haven’t handled it but it seems to be a similar size so probably runs into the same problem.

Only one I’d use on a child, given the choice, would be the RATS. IMO the SWAT would be too fiddly on that small a limb.
That said, if all I had was a CAT, I’d give it a :censored: good go
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That is a myth. CAT can be used as a pediatric tourniquet and works very well. The myth has been debunked by DOD. The problem is the other way around, the larger the limb, the higher faliure rate. Dont forget kids require only half the tq pressure compared to adults. Often direct pressure and compression bandage like the olaes is more than enough. kids tissue is also softer and even their arterial wall is softer compared to adults.
https://www.crisis-medicine.com/do-commercially-available-tourniquets-work-on-kids/
The Cotccc approved touniquets are certified and TQ used on pediatrics is included in Pediatric Tactical Emergency Casualty Care
http://www.c-tecc.org/images/content/FINAL_V.1.0_Pediatric_Guidelines.pdf

Survey of Trauma Registry Data on Tourniquet Use in Pediatric War Casualties
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a616969.pdf
“The survival rate of the present study’s casualties is
similar to that of 3 recent large nonpediatric-specific studies. Although
current emergency tourniquets were ostensibly designed for modern
adult soldiers, tourniquet makers, perhaps unknowingly, produced tour-
niquets that fit children.”

93% Survival Rate!

And dont forget RAT is not approved by anyone what so ever and certainly not certified for pediatric use 😉