Frag Out! Magazine

the lower limb, a band should be put by interlacing a strap through the whole ladder. After a short training, a tourniquet is put intuitive- ly. Without greater problems after disconnecting (opening a buckle) it can be put on and woven by the two holes on the lower limb, even when not looking at it. Undoubtedly, its disadvantage con- sists in the external factors which can be dry grass, snow and mud penetrating a piece of the Velcro what reduces its adhesion. Therefore a need of maintenance of the tourniquet which is in the outside part of the equipment. The second disadvantage is a different way of putting it on the lower and upper limb. A Tactical Medicine Solutions SOF Tactical Tourni- quet Wide (SOFTT-W) equals the CAT in terms of popularity. It is also a tourniquet chosen by many users all around the world as a basic element which can save life. It consists of the flat, webbing base on which is placed an aluminum windlass in- terlaced with a strap creating a loop and a triangle plastic element, used to lock a windlass after twist- ing a band. It is mobile and moving it in one level can be used to secure a compressing tourniquet. The first version of the band had a narrower band, two triangle assembling elements and a self-clamp- ing buckle with a screw which served to the com- plete locking of the movements of the strap. Now- adays, a SOFTT-W tourniquet is simplified to such an extent that it is enough to pull a strap, make a few twisting with a windlass needed to stop hem- orrhage and secure with compressing tourniquet in the protective triangle element. Also in this band on the strap there is a "TIME" writing, next to which one should record a time of putting it on. A tourniquet is intuitive in usage, how- ever when putting it on the lower limb, in the situa- tion when there is no possibility to put a wounded leg through a loop (especially when a leg is inert, in a boot, with a knee pad), it is necessary to open it and close again on the in- jured limb. It requires an excellent knowledge of the tourniquet design and skills to use it in the situ- ation of the strong stress. It is resistant to dirt (mud, snow, sand, etc.), although because of the metallic el- ements more time is need- ed for its maintenance, especially during activities performed at sea (salt water). A little bit more complicat- ed tourniquet is the MAT – Mechanical Advantage Tourniquet, which as the first one literally "overflow" the Polish Army. Regretful- ly, it was so common, that it still is in many stocks. Why regretfully? Well, from my own experience, providing trainings and res- cue operations I know that a tourniquet, despite a very intuitive appliance, is rather big, inconvenient, and above all a little effective with hemorrhages in medium built (muscled) limbs. And about such we will talk in terms of the tactical rescue servic- es! Besides it, the MAT carried outside an original packaging became moistured, and elements of its links responsible for peripheral tensioning became expanded and twisted so a proper operation was unable. The greatest disadvantage of the MAT is undoubtedly a self-opening of the buckle while www.fragoutmag.com

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