Where to buy RAT (the tourniquet) and what price should I ex

[pupeno]

Hello,

I want to buy a few RATs to keep in the car, at home, in my bug out bag and the cheapest I can find I'm sure it's a RAT cost 30GBP:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00 ... Y0BQ&psc=1

There are a lot of cheaper knock off and I have no way of knowing their quality.

Does anybody know where I should buy it and how much I should pay for it?

I'll also buy some RATs, which are cheaper, about half. I think the RAT is easier for self application, but the CAT can be put *over* a wound to keep pressure on it without actually using it as a tourniquet, which is a nice extra use.

Thanks.

[jansman]

There are medics here who will know,and I ain't one of 'em! However,what I do know is that this is very specialised kit and can cause serious damage if you are not trained ...do you know how to use it?

[sniper 55]

I must admit I like the RATs, mainly because it's small and flat, it'll vanish in a half decent pocket.
Try and find a proper one, the main difference between the knockoffs is the metal part is steel rather than alu, this means you cant snap off the "wings" to remove it (although it's not really difficult) and the elastic bit is often shorter on the knockoffs.
I have heard of people buying the cheap knockoff and replacing the elastic with a heaver duty stuff like the originals to save money, as I say you can still remove them easy enough.

[Drcamburn]

...

[soutie]

rather try something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biostat-Celox- ... T6FH6QXM0M safer than a tourniquet !!

[pupeno]

There are medics here who will know,and I ain't one of 'em! However,what I do know is that this is very specialised kit and can cause serious damage if you are not trained ...do you know how to use it?

I'm planning on doing a dedicated first aid course within the next few months, but I attended a survival course in which the use of tourniquets was covered and my girlfriend is a doctor, so, we talked about them a lot and she gave me some lessons.

It's actually not that hard: once you apply a tourniquet, leave it in, only an actual doctor will know how to remove it (and deal with the issues caused). The longer it is the more likely it is the limb will be lost, this is a last resort when you are trying to save a life, so, don't use it lightly. But to be honest, in 90% of the UK you'll get medical assistant before the limb is risked, so, if there's a car crash and someone is bleeding to death, it can save a life without too much risk. Having said that, it's a last resort for when clotting material, bandages and pressure have failed or cannot be applied.

[pupeno]

rather try something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Biostat-Celox- ... T6FH6QXM0M safer than a tourniquet !!

I'll have clotting gauze (I have some already, but not enough) as well. One does not replace the other, they are for different things and yes, clotting gauze + trauma bandage it is safer and should be used if it works before a tourniquet. The RAT can actually be used to apply pressure on the wound with the clotting compound and gauze.

[pupeno]

I want to buy a few RATs

I just realized I made a mistake. This post was supposed to be about CATs, not RATs.

The RATs are actually not so expensive on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/%EF%BB%BFR-A-T ... tourniquet

The ones I can't get are the CATs.

I want to have them both.

[pupeno]

I must admit I like the RATs, mainly because it's small and flat, it'll vanish in a half decent pocket.
Try and find a proper one, the main difference between the knockoffs is the metal part is steel rather than alu, this means you cant snap off the "wings" to remove it (although it's not really difficult) and the elastic bit is often shorter on the knockoffs.
I have heard of people buying the cheap knockoff and replacing the elastic with a heaver duty stuff like the originals to save money, as I say you can still remove them easy enough.

Yeah, I like how small the RAT can get. My girlfriend doctor mentioned that you could use a CAT to apply pressure on a would, because it's a wide ribbon, but you cannot do the same thing with a CAT. My plan is to have one of each on the big first aid kits and just a RAT on the small ones.

[pupeno]

I had a quick Google search and for some on the official site for 17 dollars so 30 quid seems a bit steep. Might be worth shopping around a little. The only thing if say is avoid places like Amazon and eBay and look look on a proper medical supply shop or tactical gear shop. As a cheap one could wither be useless or dangerous.

Yeah... I made a mistake. This post was to be about CATs, not RATs. The RAT goes for 15GBP on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/%EF%BB%BFR-A-T ... tourniquet

so that's ok. The problem is the CAT.