Combat Application Tourniquet® (C-A-T®) Gen 7 - Genuine North American Rescue

Key Specifications

Product Overview

The C-A-T® Gen 7 has been the Official Tourniquet of the U.S. Army since 2005 and is deployed by both conventional and Special Operations forces worldwide. The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research confirmed the C-A-T is 100% effective at fully occluding arterial blood flow in both upper and lower extremities — a benchmark no competitor has matched under equivalent testing conditions. The Gen 7 generation introduced the Single Routing Buckle, a reinforced windlass rod with aggressive ribbing for grip under stress, an ambidextrous windlass clip, and a stabilization plate that minimizes discomfort while maintaining sustained pressure. The free-moving internal band creates true circumferential pressure rather than concentrated point pressure, reducing the risk of nerve and tissue injury during prolonged application.

Clinical outcomes data underscores the life-saving impact of early tourniquet use. Research published in The Journal of Trauma (2009) documented that tourniquet application when hemorrhagic shock was absent was associated with a 90% survival rate vs. 10% without — a statistically significant result (P < 0.001) across 238 combat casualties. The landmark Eastridge et al. analysis published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (2012) further demonstrated that after full CoTCCC tourniquet fielding, battlefield deaths from peripheral-extremity hemorrhage dropped from 23.3 per year to 3.5 per year — an 85% mortality reduction. The JAMA Surgery (2011) Ranger Battalion study confirmed 94% ultimate survival among casualties who received tourniquets, with no limb loss attributable to tourniquet application in that cohort.

The Gen 7 is recognized by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC 2026 guidelines) as a primary recommended tourniquet for extremity hemorrhage control and has been awarded one of the "Top 10 Greatest Inventions" by the U.S. Army. Its Red Tip Technology® elliptical tab provides tactile and visual confirmation of proper strap threading, critical in low-light and high-stress environments. MED-TAC International stocks only genuine North American Rescue–manufactured C-A-T tourniquets; counterfeit versions sourced from Asian manufacturers lack the structural integrity required for effective occlusion and should not be used in life-safety applications.

How to Apply (One-Handed)

1. Thread the limb through the loop; position the tourniquet 2–3 inches above the wound site, directly on skin when possible.
2. Pull the free-running end of the strap tight and secure it back through the buckle, removing all slack.
3. Twist the windlass rod until bleeding stops completely — verify by checking for a distal pulse.
4. Lock the windlass rod into the clip and fold down the stabilization plate.
5. Secure the TIME strap over the windlass and write the application time on the white band immediately.

Comparison Context

The C-A-T Gen 7 and the SAM XT Extremity Tourniquet are both CoTCCC-recommended and represent the two most widely adopted combat tourniquets. The C-A-T Gen 7 is lighter (2.7 oz vs. SAM XT's 3.8 oz), has a longer operational track record in peer-reviewed literature, and is the current U.S. Army standard. The SAM XT's TRUFORCE™ Buckle auto-locks to eliminate slack — a meaningful advantage during self-application. Both are appropriate for professional and personal bleeding control kits. For a complete guide to tourniquet selection, see The Complete Tourniquet Guide 2026.

For full massive hemorrhage control kits that include the C-A-T Gen 7 alongside hemostatic gauze and wound packing supplies, see MED-TAC's IFAK & First Aid Kits collection.

All products sourced from the actual brand manufacturer or authorized master distributors. CoTCCC recommendation status verified where applicable. Ships from MED-TAC International, Pembroke Pines, FL — clinician-founded, veteran-led, SDVOSB-certified.