The SWAT-Tourniquet is a unique and multipurpose dressing. Its
name provides a description for usage Stretch, Wrap, and Tuck, but also
the communities for whom it was developed - military and civilian
Special Weapons and Tactics teams. These teams operate in an environment
that has a high incidence of penetrating trauma, and most (two-thirds)
of preventable deaths in the operational environment are from extremity
bleeding.
The SWAT-Tourniquet allows a more rapid means to control
extremity bleeding and allows application higher into the groin and
axilla than other tourniquets. Its ease of application is one of its
greatest benefits; individuals can effectively apply it in seconds with
little to no prior training. At a third of the cost and weight of other
combat used tourniquets, this tourniquet should find its way forward
with every tactical operator.
The SWAT-T is a durable tourniquet. It has been advanced aged and
heat/cold tested. This device will not fail! The SWAT-T has an
extended shelf life to 10 years.
Tourniquet:
A tourniquet is to be applied when bleeding is severe (arterial) and
loss of life is of greatest concern. In most patients tourniquets have
proven to be safe for a minimum of two hours. When used properly all
tourniquets may cause loss of limb. This is a necessary risk, to bring
our patients home at the end of the day.
Pressure Dressing:
The SWAT-T can and should be used as a pressure dressing. When
hemorrhage is controlled or for venous and capillary oozing. Place your
sterile dressing (or standard gauze / hemostatic dressing) then wrap the
SWAT-T around the area of injury. You can then tuck or tape the end,
which will maintain pressure on the wound (preventing further
contamination and re-bleeding). If the endpoints are met on the dressing
you may have a tourniquet and should check for good blood return in the
extremity (pulse and capillary refill), or you risk the complications
associated with all tourniquets. Pressure dressings should be left in
place until definitive wound management can be accomplished.
Elastic Bandage:
The SWAT-T can and should be used as an elastic bandage. Use the
dressing to hold ice near sprains and strains, stabilize a twisted
knee/ankle, or to sling a shoulder. The dressing can also be used to
loosely apply pressure across the chest or abdomen. This can be to help
close and protect wounds, contain abdominal contents in evisceration, or
to assist in stabilization of the pelvis in blunt pelvic trauma. The
SWAT-T can be used to splint an extremity to the body, other leg, or
to a rigid object for immobilization.
Background:
The SWAT-T was developed by a former Operator/Medic with 14 years
experience in Operational Medicine -former USAF Pararescue Journeyman
(Para-Jumper or PJ)), Contractor DoJ/FBI SWAT Operations, National
Registry Paramedic, and Emergency Medicine Physician.
Also available in black.