Finally found a solution for carrying a tourniquet!

/ hsoi

It’s difficult to argue against carrying a tourniquet with you every day. But for sure, to carry one isn’t the easiest thing as good tourniquets (read: SOFTT-W or C-A-T) are bulky; the windlass is inescapable and forces particular constraints and realities.

Over the years I’ve tried numerous solutions and they just have not worked FOR ME. I want to stress the FOR ME part. There are solutions out there that work for TQ EDC, like my buddy Caleb Causey of Lone Star Medics uses an ankle wrap. But in the summer I like shorts and sandals, and in the winter I like boots – none of these are conducive to an ankle wrap. So solutions here are very much a “for me” situation.

About a year ago I picked up a PHLstr Flatpack Tourniquet Carrier as it looked to have potential as a solution. You can click through to read my impressions at the time, but the bottom line was simple: nice solution, but didn’t work FOR ME. The quest continued.

But some months ago it dawned on me: I don’t need a carrier, I already have one in my cargo pants pockets. I had tried it in the past but the bulk factor was a problem. The game changer? Flat-packing.

Here’s a video explaining how to flat-pack a SOFTT-W:

Genius.

I started by NOT using any sort of carrier/restraint at all, just sticking it into my pocket. The cargos I tend to wear have some inner pockets and the TQ fit perfectly. Huzzah! I’ve been able to carry a TQ on my person everywhere I go, without much problem nor notice.

Of course, an unrestrained TQ was a bit a problem because it would come unfolded. I was using a rubber-band, but Caleb cured me of that (good luck trying to apply that one-handed). So how to solve this? The problem has been with me.

The PHLster Flatpack Carrier. 🙂

I removed the belt loops from the carrier. It’s now just the backing and the shock-cord. Since the backing is cut to precisely the same size as the flatpacked TQ, no real footprint issues. It still fits in my cargo pockets like a charm. It’s bound so it doesn’t become a mess, and it’s able to be deployed quickly.

Finally.

6 thoughts on “Finally found a solution for carrying a tourniquet!”

  1. Pingback: Weekend Knowledge Dump- May 19, 2017 | Active Response Training

  2. I’m curious – what is the practical difference in difficulty/time to release the TQ from the Flatpack elastic bands, vs releasing the TQ from standard rubber bands (no Flatpack). Two-handed, I don’t see any problems. One-handed, I still don’t see that there would be much difference. I assume teeth would likely be involved in either situation, or wedging the TQ under/between some body part(s) to hold it while the other hand manipulates the bands.
    Thoughts?

    • While I haven’t sat down with a stopwatch, there is a significant difference in time (and frustration) in one-handed removal from the PHLster vs. wrapped with rubber bands. Remember, if you need to deploy a TQ, there’s some serious bleeding going on, and every second is crucial.

  3. I was involved in the development of the flatpack (actually, im the guy in the flatpacking video above). I’ve been carrying the flatpack just as you are in my back pocket since it was in pre-production. There is simply no better method for carrying a real tourniquet. The chumps who got sold on carrying glorified rubberbands due to compactness dont know what they’re missing.

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