(0 rating, 2 votes)
Loading... 
feature_SOF Tourniquet
The Gen 5 is the latest generation SOF® Tourniquet and has a number of noteworthy features that set it apart.. It’s CoTCCC recommended and approved for use by the US Military.
Current medical protocol considers the tourniquet an initial lifesaving intervention to control massive hemorrhage from an extremity. Tourniquets are the standard of care due to their ease of use, rapid application, and complete stoppage of blood loss.
Research indicates that prehospital tourniquet use significantly enhances survival rates for those with peripheral vascular injuries (limbs). The study, titled “Civilian Prehospital Tourniquet Use is Associated with Improved Survival in Patients with Peripheral Vascular Injury,” was published on March 29, 2018, and featured in the May 2018 issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. It analyzed every patient with peripheral vascular injuries admitted to eleven urban Level I trauma centers in Texas over five years.
Applying the TacMed Solutions Gen 5 SOF®T to an arm.
The study noted “Although still underused, civilian prehospital tourniquet application was independently associated with a 6-fold mortality reduction in patients with peripheral vascular injuries. More aggressive prehospital application of extremity tourniquets in civilian trauma patients with extremity hemorrhage and traumatic amputation is warranted.” Simply put, tourniquets save lives.
A Bit of History
For the last year, theSOF® Tourniquet Gen 5 (SOF®T) from TacMed Solutions™ has been my primary tourniquet. The SOF®T has a proven record in a variety of environments. Ross Johnson, a Special Forces medic and the founder of TacMed Solutions, developed it after identifying the need for a reliable tourniquet during his 2003 deployment to Afghanistan.
The available tourniquet—from World War II – was outdated and unreliable at that time. Johnson’s determination to enhance hemorrhage control led to the creation of the SOF®TT-W, which now has the trust of elite military units and emergency responders globally.
SOF® Tourniquet in Immediate Casualty Care (ICC) IWB Tourniquet Pouch. The IWB Tourniquet Pouch is a discreet carry option for plainclothes, off-duty, or everyday carry of the tourniquet. It’s available with several different clips.
The SOF®TT-W is recommended by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC) and approved for use by the US Department of Defense (DoD). It also meets the new standards set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is the tourniquet of choice of the American Red Cross. Numerous law enforcement agencies have adopted it, including the New York Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
As part of the DoD’s Joint Trauma System, the CoTCCC develops evidence-based trauma care guidelines for tactical and combat scenarios. It also conducts extensive research and tests various tourniquets to evaluate their effectiveness.
Gen 5 Improvements
TacMed Solutions has continuously improved the SOF®T based on user feedback, material testing, and research. These enhancements led to the Gen 5, making it more effective and user-friendly. Designed for smoother and faster application with one or two hands, it is also lighter and stronger.
The SOF® Tourniquet has a white tag on the strap to document when it was applied.
Like its predecessor, the Gen 5 SOF®T does not use hook-and-loop to secure the strap. This minimizes issues with the strap getting dirty or wet and prevents the strap from grabbing onto other objects, minimizing issues while dragging a patient.
The Gen 5’s Tourniquet Retention Assistance Clip™ helps keep the windlass in position until it can be secured into the Tri-Ring Lock™.
The Tourniquet Retention Assistance Clip™ (TRAC™) can hold the windlass while engaging the Tri-Ring Lock™. This facilitates application while enhancing security during patient movements. It is particularly beneficial for one-handed applications and for individuals with limited experience using tourniquets. As with previous versions, the windlass must be secured in the Tri-Ring Lock™.
Statistics
Made from high-strength aluminum, the Gen 5’s longer windlass has conical ends and a textured grip for consistent torque. Its anodized finish minimizes environmental impacts, and the contrasting stitching confirms that all the excess slack is removed.
At 5.5 inches, the Gen 5 windlass is longer and narrower than the Gen 4, making it easier to secure into the TRAC™ and Tri-Ring Lock™. It’s made from hard-anodized high-strength aluminum and features signature conical ends and a textured grip for consistent torque, even with bloody hands.
The tourniquet weighs 3.7 ounces and measures 5.5 inches long and 2 inches wide when folded in its package, with a full length of 40 inches. It can be flat-folded to achieve an even more compact overall profile. TacMed Solutions has a video tutorial on its website showing how to do it.
Materials
The Gen 5 buckle is designed to eliminate extra slack with one smooth motion. Its shape ensures the Performance Compression Band™ tourniquet strap remains stable at any engagement angle. The buckle features an advanced, lightweight composite construction, offering enhanced strength compared to earlier models.
The SOF® Tourniquet offers easy and rapid configuration switching. The Quick Compression Buckle™, now made of sturdy plastic, has been redesigned for smoother manipulation and rounded edges. It allows for easy unbuckling using only gross motor skills to get around a limb when sliding the tourniquet over as a loop is not possible. The buckle is designed to remove excess slack in one fluid motion.
Gen 5 uses stronger webbing. A contrasting stitching color indicates when the strap has been tightened enough before winding the windlass. This reduces the number of rotations needed to achieve occlusion, addressing one of the main failures when applying a tourniquet.
PHLSter Holsters FlatPack™ is a versatile and low-profile way to carry the SOF® Tourniquet. It was originally developed at the request of Philadelphia Police detectives to carry their issue tourniquet.
The new reinforced polyester webbing is highly resistant to abrasion, UV rays, chemicals, and moisture. The Performance Compression Band™ tourniquet strap glides through the buckle for quick, snag-free operation and maintains pressure over time. It has a tag on it to document the application time.
The Gen 5 retains the 1.5-inch tourniquet strap, providing a broader compression pattern for better arterial compression and patient comfort compared to conventional tourniquets with narrower bands or tourniquets with a 1-inch constricting band moving through a 1.5-inch sleeve.
Final Thoughts
The Gen 5 SOF® Tourniquet is a significant upgrade, setting a new standard for prehospital tourniquets. It has an MSRP of $34.00 and is available in black, Rescue Orange, Coyote Tan, Red Cross Red, and Trainer Blue. Each tourniquet is made in the USA and comes with two UV-resistant black rubber bands.
TacMed Solutions SOF® Gen 5 tourniquet being applied to the leg.
Training and practice are essential for the effective and appropriate use of any tourniquet. The time to learn is not during an emergency. The best tourniquet is the one that you have trained on as long as it is with you. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) STOP THE BLEED® program is an excellent resource that can direct you to training in your area.
Resources:
NSN: 6515-01-696-4522.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended as medical advice or to replace appropriate training in the selection, safe use and application of a tourniquet or any other medical device.
