Free real tourniquet checklist

Where you buy it

• Buy the C-A-T from North American Rescue or an authorized dealer.
• That's it. That's the big rule.
• Cheap ones on big shopping sites can be fakes. Even when the photo looks real. Even when the name looks real.
• If the price seems way too low, that's a warning sign.
• I only carry tourniquets that are on the CoTCCC list. If it's not on that list, I don't carry it.

A C-A-T is not sized for an infant.

The package and the parts

Fakes keep getting better. So looks alone won't tell you for sure.

• Look at the printing and the labels. Sloppy printing or spelling mistakes are a red flag.
• Look at the rod you twist, the clip that holds it, the buckle, and the strap.
• On a real one, they feel solid. On a fake, they can feel thin or cheap.
• If you're not sure, don't trust it. Buy a new one from North American Rescue or an authorized dealer.

A look-alike is not carry gear

• If you find a look-alike in your kit, take it out.
• Don't keep it as a spare.
• A look-alike is not carry gear.
• It doesn't go in any kit.

Get trained

• I'm not going to teach you how to put one on here. A tourniquet is something you learn with your hands, from a trainer.
• Take a Stop the Bleed class. They're short, and a lot of them are free.
• If someone is bleeding badly, call 911 first.