Arterial hemorrhage from a limb can empty a casualty in minutes. The only thing that buys those minutes back is a tourniquet that goes on fast, holds occlusion, and works with the hand you have free — not a marketplace copy that snaps when it matters.
When the limb is pumping and you have one hand free, does the device in your kit actually occlude — or just look the part?
The C-A-T Gen 7 is the most-studied combat tourniquet in service. The windlass delivers the mechanical advantage to compress the artery against bone; the Single Routing Buckle removes threading steps so it goes on under stress and gloves; the wide band distributes force to hold occlusion through movement and transport. It is light enough to live in every IFAK and on every carrier.
Built To Work The First Time, Every Time
Single Routing Buckle
Fewer threading steps and faster application than earlier generations — built for stress, blood, and gloves.
Reinforced Windlass
Aggressive ribbing for positive grip when wet; the ambidextrous clip locks for left- or right-handed use.
Red Tip Technology®
Elliptical red tab gives tactile and visual confirmation the strap is routed correctly in low light.
2.7 oz / 1.5″ Strap
Light and compact enough to stage in an IFAK or on a plate carrier without bulk.
The Evidence Standard
The most evidence-supported limb tourniquet in the CoTCCC-recommended set, with the longest record of prospective battlefield study.
Genuine, Or It's A Liability
Search "C-A-T tourniquet" on Amazon or eBay and you'll find them for eight, ten, twelve dollars. Those are counterfeits — visually identical copies with weak internal bands, brittle windlasses that snap, and buckles that won't hold occlusion under real arterial pressure. In bench testing published in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (2023), look-alike tourniquets applied roughly one-fifth the force of genuine C-A-Ts, and 4% ruptured outright during application. A genuine C-A-T Gen 7 is not a $10 item.
Every C-A-T MED-TAC ships is genuine North American Rescue — sourced directly from North American Rescue, never a third-party distributor or marketplace reseller. You receive the exact device the clinical data was built on. Guaranteed authentic.
Choose The Right Color
Black — 30-0001 — standard tactical color for military and LE; minimal visual signature.
Orange — 30-0033 — high-visibility for civilian, range, EMS, and public-access bleeding control kits.
Blue — 30-0023 — training only; never load a blue trainer into an operational kit. Black and Orange are functionally identical and fully CoTCCC-recommended.
A Tourniquet Is Step One — Not The Whole Plan
A tourniquet controls extremity bleeding. Round out the rest of hemorrhage control:
The C-A-T Gen 7, Up Close
Genuine. CoTCCC-Recommended. In Every Kit.
Sourced directly from North American Rescue and shipped from a clinician-founded, veteran-led team.
Key Specifications
| Manufacturer | North American Rescue (Genuine C-A-T®) |
| CoTCCC Status | CoTCCC-recommended; U.S. Army standard since 2005 |
| Generation | Gen 7 |
| Weight | 2.7 oz |
| Strap Width | 1.5 in |
| Mechanism | Windlass with Single Routing Buckle, ambidextrous clip |
| Colors / SKUs | Black 30-0001 | Orange 30-0033 | Blue (training only) 30-0023 |
| NSN (Black) | 6515-01-521-7976 |
When to Choose the C-A-T Gen 7
Available Variants:
- Tactical Black (SKU: 30-0001, NSN: 6515-01-521-7976) — standard field-issue color; DoD-authorized since 2005
- Rescue Orange (SKU: 30-0033) — high-visibility for mass casualty events, EMS, public AED stations
- Trainer Blue (SKU: 30-0023) — training version, visually coded for scenario use only; not for field deployment
- TCCC/TECC primary limb tourniquet — the C-A-T Gen 7 is CoTCCC-recommended and has been the U.S. Army's official tourniquet since 2005. If your protocol calls for a windlass TQ, this is the reference standard.
- Law enforcement and TEMS belt kit — the rigid windlass locks into the clip after tightening. One-hand application under stress is achievable with trained technique.
- Bleeding control and public AED cabinet staging — the most-trained tourniquet in civilian B-CON curricula worldwide.
- DoD and government procurement — NSN 6515-01-521-7976 for Tactical Black. MED-TAC is SDVOSB-certified for set-aside procurement support.
- Mass casualty response — at 2.7 oz and packaged L 6.5" × W 2.4" × D 1.5", the C-A-T fits in every IFAK, ankle kit, and duty belt pouch configuration.
Application — placement is phase-dependent: In Care Under Fire, or when the bleeding source is not apparent, apply hasty: high and tight on the limb, over the uniform, as proximal as possible. In Tactical Field Care, once the wound is identified and the situation allows, apply deliberate: 2–3 inches above the wound, directly on bare skin. Never place a tourniquet across or directly over a joint — if 2–3 inches above the wound lands on a joint, move proximal past it. Route, tighten hand-over-hand, then windlass to cessation of bleeding and loss of distal pulse. Lock the windlass in the clip and secure the strap. Note the time on the white label immediately — permanent marker, not skin marker.
Critical reminder: A tourniquet that does not produce discomfort in a conscious patient has not achieved arterial occlusion in most adults. Undertightening is the leading field error. Tighten until bleeding stops — not until it "feels snug."
C-A-T Gen 7 vs. Common Alternatives
C-A-T Gen 7 vs. SOFTT-W: Both are CoTCCC-recommended windlass tourniquets. The C-A-T uses a wide friction-buckle outer band; the SOFTT-W uses a metal ring-and-strap routing system with a metal windlass rod. The C-A-T is faster for upper-extremity self-application; the SOFTT-W's all-metal windlass is more durable in extreme cold where polymer can become brittle. For most users, fleet standardization is the deciding factor.
C-A-T Gen 7 vs. RATS (Rapid Application Tourniquet System): The RATS is not on the CoTCCC recommended list. For TCCC-protocol applications, specify the C-A-T or SOFTT-W.
C-A-T Gen 7 vs. SWAT-T: The SWAT-T is a stretch-and-wrap elastic bandage useful for junctional and small-limb applications — not a primary windlass tourniquet substitute for arterial bleeds in adult limbs. Pair a C-A-T with a SWAT-T for junctional coverage; do not replace one with the other.
Operational vs. Trainer: MED-TAC stocks Tactical Black (30-0001) and Rescue Orange (30-0033) for operational use. Trainer Blue (30-0023) is color-coded for scenario training only and must never be staged in an operational kit. Confirm the color and SKU you are ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this a genuine North American Rescue C-A-T Gen 7?
A: Yes. MED-TAC sources exclusively from North American Rescue or authorized distributors. Counterfeit C-A-Ts are a documented field safety issue — they fail under tightening load. Since October 2024, a U.S. International Trade Commission General Exclusion Order bars importation of infringing windlass tourniquets. Genuine C-A-Ts are made in the United States.
Q: What is the difference between Tactical Black (30-0001) and Rescue Orange (30-0033)?
A: Functionally identical — same Gen 7 construction, same field performance. Orange is high-visibility for mass casualty events, EMS staging, and public AED stations where rapid identification matters. Trainer Blue (30-0023) is color-coded blue for training scenarios only — not for field staging.
Q: Can the C-A-T Gen 7 be applied one-handed?
A: Yes. It is designed for single-handed self-application. The friction buckle routes the band around the limb with one hand; the windlass turns and locks with the strong hand. Leg application is harder than arm application due to diameter — practice both during training.
Q: How tight do I need to make it?
A: Tighten until distal bleeding stops and there is no palpable distal pulse. This will be painful for a conscious casualty — that is expected and correct. A tourniquet that causes no discomfort has not achieved arterial occlusion in most adult limbs. Mark the application time on the white label immediately using a permanent marker.
Q: Does MED-TAC offer volume pricing for unit or agency procurement?
A: Yes. Contact us for volume pricing on 10+ unit orders. We carry Tactical Black and Rescue Orange in stock. As an SDVOSB-certified supplier, MED-TAC supports government purchase orders and set-aside procurement. Email marco@tactical-medicine.com for terms.
Related searches: CAT tourniquet Gen 7, Combat Application Tourniquet, North American Rescue tourniquet, CoTCCC tourniquet, NAR CAT Gen 7, one-handed tourniquet, limb tourniquet, bleeding control tourniquet, IFAK tourniquet, Army standard tourniquet
All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, South Florida, US of A — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.
Available Options:
- Black
- Orange
- Blue
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Width | 2.4 Inches |
| Length | 6.5 Inches |
| Height | 1.5 Inches |
| Weight | 2.7 Oz. |
| Dimensions | 37.5 Inches Open Length |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
