CAT Gen-7 Tourniquet: How to Stage, Carry, and Train With It

The Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) Gen-7 by North American Rescue is the most widely fielded tourniquet in the world — standard issue across the U.S. military and the benchmark against which every other windlass tourniquet is measured. But owning one isn't the same as being able to deploy it in the dark, under stress, with one hand. This guide covers the three things that matter after the purchase: staging, carry, and training.

1. Stage It for One-Handed Deployment

A CAT that's still in shrink-wrap at the bottom of a bag might as well be at home. Staging means preparing the tourniquet so it can be applied — including to yourself, with one hand — in seconds:

• Remove all packaging and the paper band label.
• Re-thread the band so the free-running end is ready to pull — most users stage with the band fed through the buckle, leaving a large loop.
• Fold the excess band flat and secure the windlass in its clip so nothing snags on the draw.

Every UMG pre-built kit — from the AID-PAK Gen-2 to the TRK-1 — reserves an outer position for the tourniquet precisely because it's the first item you'll reach for under the MARCH protocol (M = massive hemorrhage comes first).

2. Carry It Where Your Hands Can Find It

Speed of access beats concealment. Proven carry positions:

• Dedicated holder: a TQ-1 tourniquet holder or elastic TQ holder mounts to a belt, pack strap, or MOLLE field and keeps the CAT indexed in the same spot every time.
• Outside your IFAK: lashed under the compression straps of a FATPack-style pouch so the kit and the TQ deploy independently.
• Vehicle: visible and reachable from the driver's seat — headrest post or door pocket, not buried in the trunk. (Heat cycles degrade elastics over years; inspect vehicle-staged TQs regularly and rotate them into training use.)

One is none: many of our customers run one on-body, one in the kit, and one per vehicle. Restock from the Massive Hemorrhage collection.

3. Train Until It's Boring

• Mark a dedicated trainer. A tourniquet that's been applied dozens of times in practice should never be your carry TQ — windlass and band wear out. Mark trainers with tape.
• Practice high-and-tight on both limbs, strong hand and weak hand, eyes open and closed.
• Get formal instruction. A free Stop the Bleed class takes about 90 minutes; our education hub lists TCCC resources and video walk-throughs.

Beware of Counterfeits

Marketplace listings are flooded with counterfeit CATs that fail at the windlass or buckle under load. Buy from authorized dealers only — every CAT Gen-7 we sell comes through North American Rescue's authorized supply chain.

Disclaimer: This article is educational reference only and is not a substitute for professional medical care or certified training. Tourniquet application carries real risk — complete a certified bleeding-control course (Stop the Bleed, TCCC) before you need these skills.