Thought this was a good article:
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A replacement for the CAT tourniquet?
Depends on the application.
If you need finely adjusted pressure for a less than major bleed, or pediatric use, maybe.
If you need to stop major artery hemorrhaging RIGHT NOW or else the person will bleed to death, no.
ChatGPT:
Real-World Effectiveness Comparison
| Feature | CAT Tourniquet | Slishman Pressure Wrap |
|---|---|---|
| Primary design | Arterial tourniquet | Compression wrap |
| Reliability for arterial bleed | Very high | Moderate–variable |
| Works on large thighs | Yes | Sometimes difficult |
| One-hand self-application | Excellent | Variable |
| Multi-use | No | Yes |
| Size/weight | Larger | Very compact |
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Primary reason to use a tourniquet, is to prevent bleeding to death. Period. They’ve never been a tool for long term use. It’s an immediate remedy, to get the patient to quick medical care.
Here. from the article link in the OP:
“I’ve seen tourniquets that have been left on for days, often for injuries that could have been stopped by other methods. Then [the patient] has to have their limb amputated because the tissue has died,” Captain Stevens told The Telegraph.
But if left on over two hours, they can cause tissue death, meaning the arm or leg which has the tourniquet on is no longer viable and requires amputation.
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From what I remember, always pack with hemostatic gauze and direct pressure first, like the slishman. If bleeding slows your good. If it continues to bleed heavy then tourniquet. If its a severed limb injury I’m always going with the CAT.
The cool thing about the Slishman is it has multiple uses and can replace a lot of kit: sling, splint, ace bandage, head injury wrap and possibly direct pressure around the torso. Depending how big you are.
The problem is in combat, you generally don’t have children, so the need for a pediatric compatible tourniquet is few and far between. US Military also has logistics to evacuate most, so the CAT fits with US combat doctrine.
Does it mean it’s the best option for civilians? No. Depending entirely on your use case. For this reason, I carry a CAT for me, and a SWAT for animals/children and it also doubles as a pressure bandage.
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