We recently received a PSA from the Department of Homeland Security that there have been an increasing number of reports of counterfeit CAT tourniquets being sold in the market. As your safety and well-being are our top priority, we wanted to bring this to your attention and provide you with important information to help you identify and avoid these fake products.

Counterfeit tourniquets are typically made with low-quality materials and lack the necessary durability and reliability to effectively stop bleeding and prevent serious medical complications. In addition, they may not meet industry standards and regulations, making them potentially dangerous to use.

We strongly advise all our customers and students to exercise caution when purchasing tourniquets and to only buy from trusted and reputable sources.By doing so, you can ensure that you are receiving a high-quality product that is both safe and effective. Counterfeit tourniquets are primarily found on eCommerce sites such as Amazon and eBay. Genuine tourniquets are generally between $25-30. If you find tourniquets that are significantly cheaper, they are most like counterfeit. Customers should know that Penn Tactical Solutions only distributes CAT Tourniquets that are sourced directly from North American Rescue.

Please take a moment to review the information provided in this notice and if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us. At the bottom of this email is a link to download the PDF version of the PSA. Furthermore, DHS is requesting that anyone who was sold one of these tourniquets to report it to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at www.iprcenter.gov. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to serving you.

SAFETY HAZARD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS 

Law enforcement has identified a trend regarding the sale of counterfeited Combat Application Tourniquets medical devices. A counterfeit tourniquet is one that bears the trademark of CAT Resources but is produced by another party and is usually not made to the specifications of the original equipment manufacturer. Several public safety agencies have reported failure of the counterfeit tourniquet devices in emergency situations.

ISSUE AND COUNTERFEIT PARTS:

The Combat Application Tourniquet is constructed with a strap that is placed above the wound on the injured appendage, affixed with a Velcro strap, it is tightened into place with a small tension rod (windlass). The tightening of the tension rod applies pressure to restrict blood flow to the affected area. The counterfeit models of the tourniquets are compromised by a poorly constructed tension rod made of plastic or a substandard composite that causes the rod to bend or break, rendering the tourniquet ineffective and potentially deadly as it will not stop the loss of blood.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

Only conduct business with the original manufacturer or authorized dealer and use caution when purchasing these medical devices through e-commerce sources. Beware of “too good to be true” prices and use caution when purchasing Combat Application Tourniquets that are shipped from other countries. Authentic Combat Application Tourniquets are only produced in the United States.

CHECKING YOUR GEAR:

On pages two and three of this bulletin are photos of genuine and counterfeit tourniquets showing some indicators to look for when checking your gear or purchasing new North American Rescue Combat Application Tourniquets. Check your gear to ensure safety in an emergency medical situation.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU HAVE PURCHASED COUNTERFEITS:

Consult an original equipment manufacturer representative for advice on identifying and replacing the counterfeit medical device. If you believe you have been the victim of a crime, contact your local Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) field office to report the crime or submit an online complaint to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center at www.iprcenter.gov.