REVIEW: R.A.T.S. Rapid Application Tourniquet System

The Combat Application Tourniquet (C-A-T) has become a standard in every trauma kit. It's no wonder, the CAT can be applied quickly and securely with one hand. It is quite compact and easy to operate even under stress. The CAT is a standard. Besides the CAT, there are some other implementations of tourniquets - one of which is the R.A.T.S. Tourniquet, which we have tested for you.

First of all, the question arises: Why should one use something other than what is known and proven? In our opinion, the R.A.T.S. Tourniquet is not a replacement for the CAT, but rather a supplement. The manufacturer advertises that R.A.T.S. is the fastest TQ on the market. Furthermore, it is cheaper than a CAT and can be better stored due to its design. Other advantages mentioned are "no corners or edges" that can cause pressure during application, and the R.A.T.S. moves better because it is elastic. Additionally, it can also be used on children and animals because it does not have as large of a footprint as the CAT. So, there are quite a few potential advantages. Let's take a closer look at the R.A.T.S.The tourniquet consists of a 116 cm long rubber tube, about one centimeter wide. At the end, there is a so-called shock plate, which is intended for hooking and securing the rubber tube.The application is simple and is intended to work even when only gross motor skills are available. One forms a loop, applies the TQ, and then wraps the remaining tube around the body part until only a small piece is left.Then you hook it onto the plate, done. The wrapping also creates the desired width of 3.8 cm to 5 cm recommended to effectively stop bleeding - you do not wrap over each other.

There are a lot of controversies regarding the R.A.T.S. Tourniquet - American forums are full of them. It is argued that the R.A.T.S. is not combat-proven, not effective, and can cause damage when used. We also found a video showing how difficult or impossible it is to apply the TQ to one's arm when unable to move it - compared to a CAT:

All of this may be true, however, we believe that the R.A.T.S. Tourniquet definitely deserves a place in the equipment due to its nature and price.Ideally, one should not only have one tourniquet with them, so the R.A.T.S. definitely has its justification - even if it is repurposed as a sling, tying rope, and so on. Especially in the case of treating a leg injury, we even see an advantage over the CAT, because it can be applied very quickly with both hands and remains elastic.

For transport or storage on the equipment, the company has a few products to offer. For example, there is an elastic loop that can be worn on the belt.Then there is a holder that stores the TQ lengthwise on the belt. This pouch is also excellent for wearing under the belt.Alternatively, you can also purchase a sling for the long gun that can accommodate a R.A.T.S. TQ.Finally, a few words from the manufacturer including a demonstration:

CONCLUSION: The R.A.T.S. Tourniquet will not replace a CAT or similar - but supplement it? Definitely. Due to the attractive price and nature of the system, we believe a R.A.T.S. Tourniquet should not be missing. Especially interesting for the loyal four-legged friend and their owner.

The R.A.T.S. Tourniquet is available at CSC European Defense Business Management GmbH for 17.95€

CSC is currently setting up an online shop, in the meantime, you can place your order by phone at +49 (0) 6029 9780326 or by email at [email protected].