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The SWAT-T (Stretch, Wrap, and Tuck) tourniquet is a non-pneumatic, elastic tourniquet made by Safeguard Medical Technologies Ltd. This page sets out what the manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU) state, how an elastic wrap differs mechanically from a windlass tourniquet, and what a 2019 military medical journal review said about it. It is written for clinic staff, supply buyers and students who need the facts in one place.
What is a SWAT-T tourniquet?
A SWAT-T tourniquet is a flat elastic band that is stretched, wrapped around a limb and tucked under itself to compress the limb. The manufacturer’s IFU (document DTF050_0077 Rev 2, May 2022) describes it as a “non-pneumatic tourniquet designed to stop severe traumatic bleeding before or during transport to a care facility.” The IFU names first responders (including self-care), laypersons, emergency medical personnel and health care professionals as users, and states that special training is not required. The patient group is people with severe bleeding from a limb.
Who uses it: the IFU lists lay responders and professional responders alike. A separate marketer’s IFU (H&H Medical, Rev 006, 2017) notes that use may require specific training and that local guidance should be followed.
How it is built and how it works
The IFU states that the device controls bleeding by circumferentially compressing the limb above the bleed site (at least about 5 cm above it) to arterial occlusive pressure. It has no windlass rod, ratchet or buckle: the pressure comes from the tension the user applies while wrapping, and the end is tucked under the last wrap so the band grips itself. The H&H IFU describes the sequence as wrapping once to seat the band against the skin, pulling it tight until the printed graphic diamonds become squares, keeping tension while wrapping, then forming a loop with the last wrap and tucking the end under it.
The manufacturer’s four-step graphic reads: apply between the wound and the heart; wrap tightly while pulling tension; secure by tucking the end under itself; the tourniquet is on if the printed ovals and rectangles turn into circles and squares. That printed indicator is the manufacturer’s visual cue for adequate stretch.
Variants and sourced specifications
| Item | What the manufacturer IFU states |
|---|---|
| Official name | SWAT-T Stretch, Wrap, and Tuck Tourniquet (Safeguard Medical Technologies Ltd., Hope Under Dinmore, Herefordshire, UK) |
| Catalogue numbers | PDF165 and PDF166 (UDI 5060483571508 and 5060483571515) |
| Colours | Black and orange |
| Wet or dry use | Secures when wet or dry |
| Latex | Symbol: does not contain natural rubber latex |
| Sterility | Symbol: non-sterile |
| Re-use | Single use (“Do not re-use”); dispose of as clinical waste |
| Time warning | “Safe for 2 hours. Longer application may cause necessary loss of extremity.” Reassess for loosening. |
| Contraindications | Listed as N/A |
The IFU also carries a use-by-date symbol and a batch code, but it does not state a shelf-life duration or product dimensions, so none are given here. Serious incidents are to be reported to the manufacturer and the national competent authority.
SWAT-T vs CAT: what differs mechanically?
The CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet) is a windlass-type tourniquet: a strap is tightened by turning a rod, which is then locked in place. The SWAT-T has no rod; it is an elastic band whose pressure depends on how far the user stretches it while wrapping. That is the main design difference between the two, and it is why the two are grouped under different headings in our guide to tourniquet types, where the SWAT-T appears among the elastic tourniquets. For the basic definition and anatomy of the category see what is a tourniquet and parts of a tourniquet. For a related elastic product see what is an Israeli bandage, and for elastic wraps used for other purposes see Esmarch bandage vs tourniquet.
Are SWAT-T tourniquets effective?
The IFU claims the device can reach arterial occlusive pressure when applied correctly, but that is a manufacturer statement. An independent source we read is the Journal of Special Operations Medicine (Winter 2019) review “Recommended Limb Tourniquets in TCCC.” It lists the SWAT-T under “Tourniquets Not Currently Recommended by CoTCCC”, for reasons given as limited data or a data score that was too low, and describes it as “an elastic band applied with circumferential stretching and wrapping to around a limb to create compression.” The review gave it a score of 28.47. This reflects that paper only (2019); it is not a statement of the current Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care list, which should be checked directly at the committee’s own publications.
Safe use and handling basics
- Apply between the wound and the heart, above the bleed site, per the IFU.
- Keep tension while wrapping and confirm the printed shapes have changed as the IFU describes.
- Reassess for loosening. Both IFUs warn that loosening can occur after application.
- Note the time of application; the IFU warns of the 2-hour limit.
- Do not re-use. Dispose of as clinical waste.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Not pulling the band tight enough before tucking: the indicator shapes should change.
- Losing tension partway through the wrap.
- Failing to recheck for loosening after application.
- Re-using a device marked single use.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SWAT-T tourniquet?
It is a single-use, non-pneumatic elastic tourniquet from Safeguard Medical Technologies Ltd. that the user stretches, wraps and tucks around a limb to stop severe traumatic bleeding before or during transport to a care facility, according to its IFU.
Are SWAT-T tourniquets effective?
The manufacturer states it compresses the limb to arterial occlusive pressure. A 2019 JSOM review placed it among tourniquets not recommended by CoTCCC at that time because of limited or low-scoring data.
What are the differences between the SWAT-T and the CAT tourniquet?
The SWAT-T is an elastic wrap that grips itself when tucked, with pressure set by the stretch applied. The CAT is a windlass tourniquet that is tightened by turning a rod.
Which tourniquet does Shawn Ryan recommend?
This page reports only manufacturer and published-guideline information and does not cover individual endorsements.
Does a SWAT-T tourniquet have an expiration date?
The IFU shows a use-by-date symbol and a batch code but does not state a shelf-life duration.
Sources
- Safeguard Medical Technologies Ltd., SWAT-T Tourniquet Instructions for Use, DTF050_0077 Rev 2 (05-22), read 2026-11-07: manufacturer IFU (PDF)
- H&H Medical Corporation, Product IFU Rev 006 (09132017), read 2026-11-07: IFU (PDF)
- Journal of Special Operations Medicine, Winter 2019, “Recommended Limb Tourniquets in TCCC,” p. 45, read 2026-11-07: JSOM page
