"Anyone got a tourniquet?"

The biggest thing after having some kit or training (anything is better than nothing) is the mindset to try!
An interesting take on things from across the Channel.

Unknown.webp


In France it is an offence, to fail to come to someone's aid.


Article 223-6 of the French Penal Code provides that the offence of failing to render assistance to a person in danger is constituted either by failing to prevent the commission of a crime or an offence against the physical integrity of a person, or by failing to render assistance to a person in danger by one's own ...:-|
 
I got myself too many kits:
1. American JFAK from eBay - Ukrainian war showed that Celox works fine even 5 years after expiry date. JFAK came with two CAT7 new version tourniquets in own pouches
2. British Osprey bag with Israeli bandages and CAT7 new version
3. Chinese Rhino Rescue full kit with one CAT7 - they gained very good reputation because of the war and quickly expanded the production. However, they do not have haemostatic agents. Still, the blood is mainly stopped by the applied pressure, haemostatic agent may enhance the result by about 15%, so the pressure is much more important than the haemostatic agent
And then I found that I bought two CAT7 older version in 2018 and now use them for training while I am zombifying myself on YouTube
I also bought myself RATS because they are much more compact and I have one in all my bike jackets when I ride my scooter (I have JFAK under the seat), in my office bag and gym bag. RATS are not approved my US army or paramedics because they cause too much tissue damage. However, RATS should not be used as CATs - they should be applied only temporarily until you can get CAT7 that should be applied until you get proper medical help. RATS is more intuitive to use when compared to CAT7 for people who were not trained how to apply CAT7 and many were taught at school how to make a tourniquet using available materials. And RATS, while is more damaging to tissue, can work better on legs - yes, I tested and I can stop blood flow on my legs, but not always
 
If things have got to the stage where you need a TQ (or Cellox)- if you do not use it, the 'patient' will die.

Your job, is to get them to stay alive long enough, to get them to hospital.

Chances are, if you can do that, then the 'patient' gets to die another day, and the Medics can 'tidy up' any issues that may have been caused in order to get that patient to them.
My Last first aid course was a 6 hr emergency aid, run by the scouts (far shorter than previous course) even on that, the course director covered TQ"s and Cellox briefly as an aside to the main content (with the proviso of get training if you need to use it)
His words were that a surgeon would rather sort out any issues caused by TQ or Cellox on a living casualty, than not seeing them as they were in the morgue.
(He was an retired firearms officer)
 
Any one would think your all off to Afghanistan.

Not even Afghanistan.

Try the GP from Devon - who fell through a glass door whilst decorating - cut her femoral artery and bled to death.

A terrible waste of a life, and whilst there are no guarantees, had she had a TQ 'available'. she may have been able to keep herself alive long enough, to have survived.
 
I got myself too many kits:
1. American JFAK from eBay - Ukrainian war showed that Celox works fine even 5 years after expiry date. JFAK came with two CAT7 new version tourniquets in own pouches
2. British Osprey bag with Israeli bandages and CAT7 new version
3. Chinese Rhino Rescue full kit with one CAT7 - they gained very good reputation because of the war and quickly expanded the production. However, they do not have haemostatic agents. Still, the blood is mainly stopped by the applied pressure, haemostatic agent may enhance the result by about 15%, so the pressure is much more important than the haemostatic agent
And then I found that I bought two CAT7 older version in 2018 and now use them for training while I am zombifying myself on YouTube
I also bought myself RATS because they are much more compact and I have one in all my bike jackets when I ride my scooter (I have JFAK under the seat), in my office bag and gym bag. RATS are not approved my US army or paramedics because they cause too much tissue damage. However, RATS should not be used as CATs - they should be applied only temporarily until you can get CAT7 that should be applied until you get proper medical help. RATS is more intuitive to use when compared to CAT7 for people who were not trained how to apply CAT7 and many were taught at school how to make a tourniquet using available materials. And RATS, while is more damaging to tissue, can work better on legs - yes, I tested and I can stop blood flow on my legs, but not always
Rhino are chinese copies, I'd not carry them.
Rats aren't great, they take too long and offer poor occlusion.
How have you proven that you can stop blood flow?
 
I don't want to advertise on an active post, but great to see people discussing medical equipment!
Lots of misinformation out there on the internet in general, and has been mentioned, lots of fakes, and plenty of kit that seems 'cool' but isn't actually very useful in the field.
Medical kits ultimately have to be personal, portable enough to actually be carried, and familiar enough to actually be used!
Our core team work/have worked in theatre/intensive care/A&E/mountain rescue and more so have played with lots of kit, but wouldn't want to sell it for use in the middle of nowhere.
If anyone would like some more information or something put together for them by UK registered professionals, just drop me a message.
 
Not even Afghanistan.

Try the GP from Devon - who fell through a glass door whilst decorating - cut her femoral artery and bled to death.

A terrible waste of a life, and whilst there are no guarantees,. she may have been able to keep herself alive long enough, to have survived.
@stoker150
Yes the D in SD is for Drama, hindsight is easy "had she had a TQ 'available"
"!Had the Titanic not hit an Iceberg"
Had the officer not run over the cow.
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@Deerkeeper

Not a record I am proud of, just the harsh realities of trying to get the 'dead' back to life, without the proper kit.
I used to think of it as a win if they were still going when the paramedics arrived ..... if they passed after that, I had tried.
Mostly in my role it was not just cardiac arrest but multiple injuries as well from RTC's. straight Cardiac 100% as well.
 
Well I'm glad I read to the end of this thread!

When I first started reading, realising it would be more than wise to add these items to my kit, I jumped on amazon and added a few cheap ones to my basket.

They are now removed and I will be ordering some proper stuff when I get paid. And learning how to use them properly

Good thread, lots of good advice
 
Bought theses after completing the EFAW + F. Already had basics in vehicle, the attached packs up quite small to fit into vorn rucksacks if required. Hopefully will never need to be used.
 

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Just a quick note, with first hand experience of both. In large bleeds the Celox gauze is much easier and more effective to use than the sachet of granules. The gauze allows you to put direct pressure onto the wound with the benefit of Celox, rather than trying to sprinkle something in when liquid is squirting the other way!
 
Did a first aid course at the weekend for my club. Chap running it was ex military combat medic. He was explaining about torniquets and the fact they are a last resort as the outcome, if the patient survives, they will loose the limb.
 
Did a first aid course at the weekend for my club. Chap running it was ex military combat medic. He was explaining about torniquets and the fact they are a last resort as the outcome, if the patient survives, they will loose the limb.
Still slightly better than being dead.......
 
Did a first aid course at the weekend for my club. Chap running it was ex military combat medic. He was explaining about torniquets and the fact they are a last resort as the outcome, if the patient survives, they will loose the limb.
Not quite strictly true in that if the patient survives, they will not definitively lose the limb because of a tourniquet. However, it does raise a good point. A tourniquet is used when you are prioritising a patients life over the potential loss of a limb. So by using one, you are prepared to lose a limb to save a life. It doesn't necessarily mean you will, but that is the decision you're making.
 
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