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Dad Kit Check

Free real tourniquet checklist

I'm Ryan. A real tourniquet and a fake one can look almost the same. One of them is made to save a life. The other one might break when you need it most.

A tourniquet is a strap that goes around an arm or a leg to stop very bad bleeding. It's not for small cuts. It's for the kind of bleeding where every minute counts.

The most important thing isn't how it looks. It's where you buy it.

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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.

Call 911 in an emergency.

This is education, not medical advice.

Medical disclaimer

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