A tourniquet is one of the most important items to have in any IFAK(individual first aid kit) or on a Kit(tactical loadout). For that matter inclusion in a vehicle is a great idea as you never know when an auto accident may occur and someone needs help.
This video shows how to use a CAT Tourniquet (Combat Application Tourniquet).
Please Note: If you are under fire, use the “high and tight” method (over clothes and very high on the extremity). When safe, apply TQ above and closer to the wound (usually 2-3″). Apply a back-up tourniquet above the first one if rebleeding is noted or retighten 1st TQ if no backup available.
Need a tourniquet? Check out this link.
Take one wherever I go… I actually take a second one as well. One is just for MY treatment…. The other is for someone else…. It also isn’t a bad IDEA to put your blood type on the IFAK (patch or embroidered). If YOU need it, it’s reasonable to assume YOU are hurt bad, and further that you might not be able to respond quickly. A CAT is to stop the bleed, so you survive. Everything else follows the bleed and respiration in triage. Meaning you may need some and type is a thing if the universal donor “O type” isn’t available, which is likely. If I got tattoos, one of them would be blood type. A friend we all have in common says something like, “You gonna stop this bleeding anytime soon ? I only got so much of that Red shit in me”. A paraphrase
Stay Safe!
GG58