Primary Arms

Military Hardware – SAVE Tourniquet

Utilizing a Boa closure, the SAVE tourniquet is definitely a different take on windlass-free designs.

Microsoft Word - Tourniquet Brochure Booklet.docx

Click to view .pdf

You can also check out this video taken by my friend Thumpy at Marine South of the SAVE tourniquet.

shop.militaryhardware.us/SAVE-Tourniquet

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18 Responses to “Military Hardware – SAVE Tourniquet”

  1. d says:

    I dunno. Maybe in a hospital or MEDEVAC setting.

  2. bulldog76 says:

    interesting

  3. Chris says:

    Since evidence based is how medicine rolls these days, this TQ needs to go up against the standards (CAT and SOF-T Wide).

    I am not a fan of the buckle. While not as bad as the original MAT (they modified it to work safer and stay locked) this buckle is the weak point in the system. Catch it on a mag pouch, belt buckle, etc. and open it during patient movement and you risk increased blood loss while you may not be paying close attention. Improve the buckle and this may be a decent contender.

  4. james says:

    I don’t like the tiny slippery looking dial, and the targeted compression means it acts more like a pressure point device( like a junctional tourniquet) -fine if you know the anatomy, not so much if you don’t.

    • Doc K says:

      I was looking at that tiny little dial too. Doesn’t seem like a great design considering the user’s hands will likely be covered in blood.

    • Chris says:

      Agreed on both points. I didn’t look close at that bar underneath.

      In addition I could not tell how the release mechanism works, could be accidentally activated during patient movement?

      • SSD says:

        You have to pull it out toward you. It takes some doing.

      • mike says:

        As the Admin said you have to pull it straight up toward you and it takes a little heft to break the click, The wheel is coated in a textured rubber that should resist a great deal of slipping. As long as the cords are properly contained within and the whole rig can stand up to TQ stressed this looks pretty cool. As a complete amateur I look forward to the field-feedback before I make any determination, but it looks good. I hope it gets people looking for better ways to make the mouse trap.

        • james says:

          The small size is as much a concern as the texture. It is an interesting ideal. For a well trained medic or Doc there is nothing wrong with the concept, just a mechanical method of occluding arteries at pressure points. However, the site specific application would make it a nogo for most people.Too low,too high,or rotated on extremity won’t work unless you have compression all the way around. If this applies enough radial pressure,the the bar is no advantage and would probably make it more painful. YMMV

  5. LCSO264 says:

    seems like re-inventing the wheel, and/or fixing something that isn’t broken?

  6. Bill says:

    Whoa, wait a second – did I read the .pdf correctly? There’s different units for arms and legs? That’s a deal-killer for me, and I’m guessing a lot of guys who aren’t in dedicated EMS/TCCC roles.

    The BOA knob idea I kind of like, but it could be improved by having a flip-up/fold down handle or extension. Or make it a big honkin orange faucet-like handle – this doesn’t look particularly compact to begin with.

  7. jbgleason says:

    From a practical standpoint (not bitching about price because I know how Eric feels about that) it is on their website at twice the price of a CAT or SOFTT-W. I would be hard pressed to recommend it over the current standard when they could have two of those for the price of one of these. Especially when you are talking budget limited LE agencies.

    • SSD says:

      Value, that’s the discussion to have.

      • Nattydreadbushdoc says:

        Even for organizations that have unlimited budgets this TQ has serious flaws. If you can’t loosen the device slowly, in measurable increments it is very bad for the patient. If the internal workings where constriction takes place are too narrow it is very bad for the patient. The early models of the SOFT-T and CAT-TQ’s were found to be too narrow and subsequently widened. In the case of the CAT the width of the TQ wasn’t obvious initially because the 3/4 inch band that was actually doing the work was mostly concealed in a much wider sleeve that did nothing to stop blood flow. If this thing has nothing more than a couple of steel cables inside doing the work then I would be even more cautious. That being said the fact that you can’t reduce this device in a slow and measurable way is an absolute no go. All TQ’s get reduced at some point and no one with knowledge of human physiology would suddenly release a TQ.

  8. Nick says:

    Every BOA boot/shoe etc I’ve owned has broken and failed on me… so the closure type is a hard sell to me. Windlass’s are simple and effective.

      • Bill says:

        Often the cables will break on snowboard boots. Talking to the local snowboard shops they say they generally end up replacing the cables on about 1/10 BOA boots they sell over any given winter. The dials will break as well, but more on a 1/100 scale. BOA generally gives snowboard boot shops a steady stream of new wires and ratchet dials.

        Hopefully this design uses stronger cables and internal parts than many of the recreational boa products. As of now however, I would stay away from this. Especially when there are cheaper, proven designs that most users are already trained and proficient on. If they can address the reliability concerns however, more options are always welcome.

  9. Nattydreadbushdoc says:

    The SOF TQ standard is, “One handed self application with the non-dominant hand under simulated combat conditions. Must also possess the ability to be incrementally loosened.” If a guy has to gyrate his “injured” arm to get in on one handed then it may not truly be a one handed device. I would have to practice some “dead arm” drills with it to know for sure. Also, it appeared that he suddenly loosened the TQ with the push of the button. The sudden release of a TQ is not good medicine and won’t satisfy the second half of the SOF TQ requirement. I am curious how wide the part that constricts actually is? At that price point this thing doesn’t have a chance. I will stick with my SOFT-T(wide) and my SWAT’s.