NAR CAT Gen 7 Tourniquet Review: Don't Buy a Fake
The Good
- The global standard for TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care)
- One-handed application (you can save yourself)
- Reinforced windlass rod wont snap under pressure
- Red tip tab for high visibility
The Bad
- Single-use item (cannot be reused after real application)
- Market is flooded with dangerous fakes
- Painful to apply (this is a feature, not a bug)
Let's be blunt. If you or a loved one has an arterial bleed (bright red, spurting blood) from a limb, you have 3 minutes to live. The ambulance is 10 minutes away.
You need a Tourniquet (TQ). And you need the real one.
The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) Gen 7 by North American Rescue is the gold standard. It is used by the US Military, Police, and EMTs worldwide.
North American Rescue CAT Gen 7
The Official Tourniquet of the U.S. Army. 100% Genuine.
Check PriceThe Danger of Fakes
Go to Amazon and search "Tourniquet." You will see 2-packs for $15. DO NOT BUY THESE.
- The Failure: The windlass rod (the stick you twist) is made of cheap plastic. When you twist it tight enough to stop arterial flow, it snaps.
- The Result: The patient bleeds out.
- Identification: A real CAT TQ costs ~$30. If it is $10, it is a fake. Look for the "CAT" raised lettering on the buckle and the manufacturing date stamp.
How It Works
- High & Tight: Place the strap as high up the limb (arm/leg) as possible. (Or 2-3 inches above the wound, but "High & Tight" is safer under stress).
- Twist: Turn the windlass rod until the bright red bleeding stops. It will hurt. A lot. Scream-level pain. Keep twisting.
- Clip: Lock the rod into the plastic clip.
- Time: Write the time on the white strap.
Training Required
Buying this does not save you. Putting it on your kit does not save you. Practice saves you. Buy one "blue" trainer TQ to practice with, and keep your "black" real TQ sealed and ready.
One-Handed Operation
The genius of the CAT is that you can apply it to your own arm with one hand. If your left arm is mangled, your right hand can strap, cinch, and twist the TQ to save your life. Other TQs (like the RATs) are much harder to do one-handed.
Verdict
This is not a "cool gadget." It is life insurance. Every car, every range bag, and every kitchen drawer should have one. Do not cheap out. Buy the real North American Rescue Gen 7.
Rating: 5.0/5 Stars Recommended for: Everyone. Period.