I work as a electrician and I keep a rats tourniquet in my tool pouch at all times you never know when you will need it. I also keep one in my belt loops for EDC. I’ll have to try out the other one you mentioned.
Nice! The SAM XT is a really great option as well. They’re on the website and a YT discount code should be in this video description. If not check some of the other video descriptions! -Gary
I picked up a rat tq for my med bag recently since I wasn’t sure which one to use. Like most people I’ve heard the rat or cat are the top two. I ended up with the rat since it’s a little easier to carry, a simple design and was a little cheaper! Glad to see I made a good decision, I’ll be grabbing a few more! Also, thank you for the informative video and insight on which ones you prefer, helps a ton!!
Here in Australia we don't use Tounrquet we just chew that defective lim off and crawl home on the stump. Jk Nice video I like the content goes with your channel
How would you go about self applying a Rats tourniquet on an arm stuck under something like a car or rock ? Also I‘ve heard of studies saying that a RATs isn‘t as effective as a correctly applied CAT
There are lots of situation where one TQ would be the preferred choice over the other. You can what if that all day. What studies? TQs do basically 1 thing and they either do or don’t and that’s cut off blood flow. RATS work and work really well. If you don’t like them… fine, carry something else. The SAM XT is a CAT but 10x better. Find what you believe, know how to use and then carry it. Thanks for watching! -Gary
@@paramounttactical for example the study „Preliminary Comparison of New and Established Tactical Tourniquets in a Manikin Hemorrhage Model“ which found the CAT superior in terms of time to hemorrhage and fluid loss. And I am just trying to find the right tourniquet for me personally to edc which is why the RAT with it‘s compact form factor looks quite convenient. So I was merely interested in whether it would be applicable in some of the scenarios that seemed reasonably likely to me, so I thought I might as well ask an expert. Also agree that the SAM XT is simply an all around improvement of the CAT, but it shares its larger form factor.
@@John-lr3ix what I can tell you is, in combat I’ve only seen one TQ fail and it was a CAT. Two failed on one partially severed leg, the windlass snapped and from that moment on my ODA only used SOFT-W. I’m not a big fan of the CAT and even less of a fan of NAR. I think they’re guilty of some pretty despicable business practices. As for the RATS I can tell you I can apply that TQ and get blood flow slowed or completely occluded faster than any other TQ and have no pulse every time. The answer is get several TQs and train with them. In our TCCC courses we have students putting on TQs all day and we have 3 or 4 different ones. We have them apply each one a few times then switch out for a different one. By the end of the two day course they know which ones they like. You should do the same. Thanks, Gary
@@paramounttactical ok, so I‘ll best upgrade to an aluminium windlass TQ like the Sam XT or the SOFT-W then. Also, could you tell me more about the despicable buisness pratices of CAT as I would never want to support something like that. All I‘ve heard of in that regard is that the RAT‘s company bought a website under the name of CoTCCC so they can say that the RAT was CoTCCC approved, when the actual Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care never did that. Anyway, thanks for the advice, John
I've heard from quite a few people that the RAT, while yes being versatile, it is also one of the most damaging tourniquet due to it's narrow and high pressure band, and is much more likely to cause compartment syndrome, unlike wider tourniquets that are generally 1.5"+. While I am not an expert by any means on the topic, wouldn't a TK4 serve better due to it being wider, still elastic and basically able to go onto any sized person / animal?
Brandon, I hear this a lot and the only conclusion that I can come to is that the people propagating this have clearly never used it. In our courses people apply RAT TQs to standard (full blood occlusion and no radial pulse) dozens of times in a day with no “damage”. Sometimes some mild bruising but that will happen with any TQ that is applied to standard. CAT TQs are known for pinching and drawing skin up into the buckle... as for the TK4, it’s one of the worst TQs on the market. It’s difficult to apply and the metal hooks often dig into people’s skin. TQs are almost a religion. We test and evaluate every new (and old) TQ that comes to market and our medical staff which is comprised mostly of SOF medics with extensive combat experience agree that the TQs we recommend are the SAM XT, TMT, RAT, SOF T WIDE (Gen 2), and CAT. Ultimately, you need to try a few a determine for yourself as well as attend training. This is why during our med courses we make all the above and several more that we don’t recommend (including the TK4) available to our students to use throughout the day. Students are shown how each tourniquet is properly applied and they switch multiple times through the two days of training to ensure everyone gets multiple repetitions with each one so they can determine which are best for them. The SAM XT and RAT are far and away our biggest sellers. Get what you have determined works best for you. Thanks for watching! -Gary
@@paramounttactical So from what I have found after an unknown amount of hours researching from my initial post is that the RATS seems to be just as, if not more effective in all areas, allegedly less damaging, no documented cases of any compartment syndrome. The design comes from the WWII era where German surgeons saw a huge increase in survival when they started to use tubing and cleats as a tourniquet, and still no documented cases of compartment syndrome from that either. Furthermore, any and all deficiencies that the RATS has, is also found in every other tourniquet made, including those recommended by the CoTCCC. Thanks for your earlier reply and I would love to hear if you have anything else to say on the topic as well.
@@brandonh4527 😂 I think that about covers it! The only other thing I would add is that unlike most other TQs, training with a RAT doesn't significantly degrade its structural integrity. Almost all windlass based TQs, tightening them once to standard greatly increases the likelihood that they will break if used again in a real emergency. We have RATs we've had in our training TQ bins for 5+ years that I would still carry. All the others show significant wear and tear after a couple of uses. For the record, most people love to praise the CAT and act like its the end all be all, but I've personally seen multiple CATs fail in combat on legs (windlass snapped). As a matter of fact its the ONLY TQ I've seen fail. They've improved the design but there are still a lot of shortcomings on it that people don't talk about because apparently choosing a TQ is like choosing a religion to most people. "Its the ONLY good one" 🙄 I regularly carry a RAT due to the many ways you can easily carry it low profile and SAM XT is in my vehicles and larger kits. After extensive testing and use... those are my two favorites.
Nice vid, but I absolutely disagree on the RATS. The RATS is painful crap, made to make bad things worse. Get a SWAT-T. But anyways, nice vids. Keep up, please. Best regards from a German medic.
Thanks. And while you’re welcome to disagree on whether or not you like/dislike or recommend... let’s keep the discussion factual since we are taking lifesaving equipment. First, SWAT-Ts are by far the most difficult TQ to self apply especially by newbies. RATS are by far the fastest. They are also the easiest to learn and to remember (skill retention) and these statements are all backed by real world testing we’ve done in our courses. I don’t believe RATS are any more painful than any other TQ that is properly applied and tightened to standard. I know there’s a lot of haterade directed towards the RATS but you absolutely cannot argue its efficacy. Either way, I appreciate the kind words and hope to see you in the comments often! -Gary
Very educational. I was EMS for 5 yrs before college. I shared this with family.
Always nice when the technical genius behind the scenes is recognized. Whatever you're paying him, you should double it!
He is paid in ice cream!
Gary, you’re awesome brother! I’m so glad I found out about you, keep it going brother!
I work as a electrician and I keep a rats tourniquet in my tool pouch at all times you never know when you will need it. I also keep one in my belt loops for EDC.
I’ll have to try out the other one you mentioned.
Nice! The SAM XT is a really great option as well. They’re on the website and a YT discount code should be in this video description. If not check some of the other video descriptions! -Gary
Great demonstration of the two different styles thank you
Great video and I agree completely what you mean!! Retired Marine here and I have had Cat fail on me
Just ordered one from you guys 👍
Thanks Darryl! And thanks for your service! We appreciate the order. Hopefully you subscribed and I hope to see you in the comments often! -Gary
I picked up a rat tq for my med bag recently since I wasn’t sure which one to use. Like most people I’ve heard the rat or cat are the top two.
I ended up with the rat since it’s a little easier to carry, a simple design and was a little cheaper! Glad to see I made a good decision, I’ll be grabbing a few more!
Also, thank you for the informative video and insight on which ones you prefer, helps a ton!!
Glad you enjoyed the video and even happier to hear you’re one of the few people actively carrying med gear. Thanks for watching! -Gary
I pray I never have to use one. Scares me to think about bleeding out without some type of tourniquet.
Here in Australia we don't use Tounrquet we just chew that defective lim off and crawl home on the stump. Jk
Nice video I like the content goes with your channel
Let us know when you are in Sydney I will take you down the range with my 6.5 tac A1
How would you go about self applying a Rats tourniquet on an arm stuck under something like a car or rock ? Also I‘ve heard of studies saying that a RATs isn‘t as effective as a correctly applied CAT
There are lots of situation where one TQ would be the preferred choice over the other. You can what if that all day. What studies? TQs do basically 1 thing and they either do or don’t and that’s cut off blood flow. RATS work and work really well. If you don’t like them… fine, carry something else. The SAM XT is a CAT but 10x better. Find what you believe, know how to use and then carry it. Thanks for watching! -Gary
@@paramounttactical for example the study „Preliminary Comparison of New and Established Tactical Tourniquets in a Manikin Hemorrhage Model“ which found the CAT superior in terms of time to hemorrhage and fluid loss. And I am just trying to find the right tourniquet for me personally to edc which is why the RAT with it‘s compact form factor looks quite convenient. So I was merely interested in whether it would be applicable in some of the scenarios that seemed reasonably likely to me, so I thought I might as well ask an expert. Also agree that the SAM XT is simply an all around improvement of the CAT, but it shares its larger form factor.
@@John-lr3ix what I can tell you is, in combat I’ve only seen one TQ fail and it was a CAT. Two failed on one partially severed leg, the windlass snapped and from that moment on my ODA only used SOFT-W. I’m not a big fan of the CAT and even less of a fan of NAR. I think they’re guilty of some pretty despicable business practices. As for the RATS I can tell you I can apply that TQ and get blood flow slowed or completely occluded faster than any other TQ and have no pulse every time. The answer is get several TQs and train with them. In our TCCC courses we have students putting on TQs all day and we have 3 or 4 different ones. We have them apply each one a few times then switch out for a different one. By the end of the two day course they know which ones they like. You should do the same. Thanks, Gary
@@paramounttactical ok, so I‘ll best upgrade to an aluminium windlass TQ like the Sam XT or the SOFT-W then. Also, could you tell me more about the despicable buisness pratices of CAT as I would never want to support something like that. All I‘ve heard of in that regard is that the RAT‘s company bought a website under the name of CoTCCC so they can say that the RAT was CoTCCC approved, when the actual Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care never did that.
Anyway, thanks for the advice, John
I guess you gotta pay your crew with food. Great info once again.
Thanks John! I pay him in ice cream
Great video. 👍
I've heard from quite a few people that the RAT, while yes being versatile, it is also one of the most damaging tourniquet due to it's narrow and high pressure band, and is much more likely to cause compartment syndrome, unlike wider tourniquets that are generally 1.5"+. While I am not an expert by any means on the topic, wouldn't a TK4 serve better due to it being wider, still elastic and basically able to go onto any sized person / animal?
Brandon, I hear this a lot and the only conclusion that I can come to is that the people propagating this have clearly never used it. In our courses people apply RAT TQs to standard (full blood occlusion and no radial pulse) dozens of times in a day with no “damage”. Sometimes some mild bruising but that will happen with any TQ that is applied to standard. CAT TQs are known for pinching and drawing skin up into the buckle... as for the TK4, it’s one of the worst TQs on the market. It’s difficult to apply and the metal hooks often dig into people’s skin. TQs are almost a religion. We test and evaluate every new (and old) TQ that comes to market and our medical staff which is comprised mostly of SOF medics with extensive combat experience agree that the TQs we recommend are the SAM XT, TMT, RAT, SOF T WIDE (Gen 2), and CAT.
Ultimately, you need to try a few a determine for yourself as well as attend training. This is why during our med courses we make all the above and several more that we don’t recommend (including the TK4) available to our students to use throughout the day. Students are shown how each tourniquet is properly applied and they switch multiple times through the two days of training to ensure everyone gets multiple repetitions with each one so they can determine which are best for them. The SAM XT and RAT are far and away our biggest sellers. Get what you have determined works best for you. Thanks for watching! -Gary
@@paramounttactical So from what I have found after an unknown amount of hours researching from my initial post is that the RATS seems to be just as, if not more effective in all areas, allegedly less damaging, no documented cases of any compartment syndrome.
The design comes from the WWII era where German surgeons saw a huge increase in survival when they started to use tubing and cleats as a tourniquet, and still no documented cases of compartment syndrome from that either. Furthermore, any and all deficiencies that the RATS has, is also found in every other tourniquet made, including those recommended by the CoTCCC.
Thanks for your earlier reply and I would love to hear if you have anything else to say on the topic as well.
@@brandonh4527 😂 I think that about covers it! The only other thing I would add is that unlike most other TQs, training with a RAT doesn't significantly degrade its structural integrity. Almost all windlass based TQs, tightening them once to standard greatly increases the likelihood that they will break if used again in a real emergency. We have RATs we've had in our training TQ bins for 5+ years that I would still carry. All the others show significant wear and tear after a couple of uses. For the record, most people love to praise the CAT and act like its the end all be all, but I've personally seen multiple CATs fail in combat on legs (windlass snapped). As a matter of fact its the ONLY TQ I've seen fail. They've improved the design but there are still a lot of shortcomings on it that people don't talk about because apparently choosing a TQ is like choosing a religion to most people. "Its the ONLY good one" 🙄 I regularly carry a RAT due to the many ways you can easily carry it low profile and SAM XT is in my vehicles and larger kits. After extensive testing and use... those are my two favorites.
Nice vid, but I absolutely disagree on the RATS. The RATS is painful crap, made to make bad things worse. Get a SWAT-T. But anyways, nice vids. Keep up, please. Best regards from a German medic.
Thanks. And while you’re welcome to disagree on whether or not you like/dislike or recommend... let’s keep the discussion factual since we are taking lifesaving equipment. First, SWAT-Ts are by far the most difficult TQ to self apply especially by newbies. RATS are by far the fastest. They are also the easiest to learn and to remember (skill retention) and these statements are all backed by real world testing we’ve done in our courses. I don’t believe RATS are any more painful than any other TQ that is properly applied and tightened to standard. I know there’s a lot of haterade directed towards the RATS but you absolutely cannot argue its efficacy. Either way, I appreciate the kind words and hope to see you in the comments often! -Gary