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I hesitated for a long time before choosing a tourniquet. I had no doubts about the value of such equipment, but I had to find the ideal model.

Before going any further, a few reminders on the proper use of tourniquets: first, the fitting of a tourniquet does not condemn the limb on which it is placed, as long as the medical treatment is rapid. Most studies show that below 2 hours of exposure, the risks of complications and permanent damage are very low (source: study "Tourniquet use in the civilian prehospital setting"). Second, the tourniquet is not the magic wand that will fix all bleeding. Most bleeding is treatable with direct compression. In addition, some hemorrhages are not garrotable, the tourniquet can only be applied to the limbs. So don't use the tourniquet as the only treatment for hemostasis: compression dressings and hemostatic gauzes also have their place. Thirdly, and most importantly, the use of the tourniquet should only be considered in the case of massive bleeding, which threatens the person's life in the short term, such as that caused by tearing or bleeding. dislocation of a limb, or by damage to an artery. Finally, before you rush on the equipment, train yourself!

RMT tourniquet demonstration

Now let's come back to the choice of RMT. Among the materials used and recognized by professionals, we find in addition to RMT, SOFT-T and CAT (both validated by the Tactical Combat Casualty Care committee). The SOFT-T and CAT are great, but can only be used once, which makes it impossible to train with (unless you buy a second exercise tourniquet, which increases the budget). RMT tourniquets can be used hundreds of times, allowing for regular training at no extra cost. In addition, ratchet tourniquets like the RMT allow finer tightening, which requires less force, and tightening without risk if the limb ever begins to bleed again. All these advantages made me lean towards the RMT.

It remained to determine the version. I opted for the tactical version of 1.5 inches wide (3.8 cm like the CAT and the SOFT-T), the most compact and light, because I am only a simple citizen not particularly exposed. The folded tactical version is approximately 23cm long, 3.8cm wide and 3.2cm thick (due to the buckle). Its weight is 101g.

The price remains slightly higher than that of CAT or SOFT-T, but much lower than that of CAT or SOFT-T coupled with a training unit. Count around $ 36 at israeli First Aid which offers the best prices for the RMT range.

This article was written by Sébastien Billard, visit his blog for more great content.