Whenever I travel, I like to make sure that I have some sort of medical supplies for me. Medical emergencies are something that you should always be prepared for. They happen when you least expect it, so the ability to be prepared for something is a top priority no matter where I am at. No matter where I go the one thing that I like to keep on me is a tourniquet. Whether there is one in my car, truck, bag, plate carrier or in every room around the house I make sure that they are accessible to me.

I was looking into Recon Medical for new medical supplies when I came across one of their Gen 3 tourniquets. We all know that when it comes to saving lives, applying a tourniquet is something that is extremely important when it comes to stopping the bleeding. After receiving the tourniquet, I quickly jumped into applying it in mock situations with myself and having others apply it as well. Over the course of this review, I will be going over key characteristics in the tourniquet that I have received and will make that this is a medical item worth using.

The first thing that I want to go over is application. The tourniquet from Recon Medical is a pretty simple design made to allow users to apply to the system with one hand if need be. What caught my attention when it came to this is there is a finger hole that allows you to get a better grip on the strap when you pull the tourniquet tight. Recon Medical explains that this is there for situations when your hands are, “wet, muddy, bloody, etc.” In order to put this to the test, I soaked my hands in water and the tourniquet to simulate a situation where it would be hard for an individual to get a grip on the tourniquet due to unforeseen circumstances. As expected with everything soaked, I was able to maintain a strong grip on the tourniquet in order to tighten it down.

• Recon Medical offers a UV protection bag that helps keep the material from deteriorating due to the elements

Something that I like when it comes to the tourniquet is that there is an area to mark the time on the tourniquet. If you are in a situation where someone or yourself needs a tourniquet, knowing the time when you applied the tourniquet is extremely important for higher qualified medical professionals that will apply further care when available. Recon Medical giving the user the capability to mark the time on the tourniquet is something that I find extremely important when it comes to tourniquets.

• The windlass is easily able to be adjusted if bleeding continues according to Recon Medical

For my final thoughts on the tourniquet from Recon Medical, I would have to say the simplicity of the tourniquet is its best quality. With the easy application that Recon Medical offers if the tourniquet has to be applied to one’s self, the tourniquet is something to hold in high regard. Tourniquets are something that I believe every individual should learn to use, and keep on them no matter where they are. These tourniquets have the ability to save lives by preventing further bleeding from occurring, allowing an individual to be able to get the chance to have their lives saved. For when it comes to the tourniquet, I believe that the one Recon Medical has to offer is top notch.