How to Stage the Snakestaff Systems ETQ Wide

If you’ve taken a “Stop The Bleed” class or some other emergency medicine or traumatic injuries treatment class, you’re likely familiar with the CAT-7 (previously CAT-5) or SOF-T tourniquets. You also likely learned how to stage it, or set it up for quick access so that it’s ready for use.

In recent years, a new tourniquet has become pretty popular, the ETQ (Everyday Tourniquet) from Snakestaff Systems. Although it’s not approved by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC), it has gained popularity due to its small form factor and ease of carry. It fits in a standard handgun magazine pouch, and Snakestaff even makes a sleeve for it, allowing it to slide into a pocket easily. It should also be noted that the ETQ is available in two form factors, regular (1” diameter) and wide (1.5” diameter). If you get one, go with the wide, as it will facilitate occlusion of blood flow much better.

I have a few of the ETQs, some I purchased and one I was gifted by Steve Moses at the Tactical Anatomy Summit (they very graciously donated one to every student). One problem I have found is that if you try and stage the ETQ or the ETQ Wide in the same manner as a CAT tourniquet or a flat-packed SOF-T, you end up with a messy pile of velcro, which can be problematic and time consuming to untangle.

After playing with it for a bit, I have come up with what I believe to be a workable way to EDC the ETQ Wide tourniquet.

The ETQ Wide in its messy, tangled up velcro state after opening it up.

First, arrange the tourniquet so that you have a loop on one side and a tag end on the other.

Loop on one side, tag end on the other, with the windlass in the middle.

Next, fold the tag end over towards the loop end. This should be done on the underside of the tourniquet. But, don’t allow them to velcro together just yet.

Before you flatten it out, do your best to make sure the loop and the tag end are as close to the same length as possible. This part can be a bit tricky. If you hold tension on it by grabbing the hard plastic piece (where the windlass is), you can use your other hand to simultaneously size the loop and tag end.

This step is tricky. Use a middle or ring finger inside the loop to hold tension while the thumb and index finger pull the tag end for proper sizing.

Once you have the loop and tag ends sized the way you want them, carefully connect the two sides of the velcro and flatten it out.

The flattened out ETQ Wide, almost ready to be staged.

The other side of the flattened ETQ Wide tourniquet.

We’re almost done! Now that we’ve eliminated the possibility of a velcro mess, we simply roll it up. Fold the tag end back over itself near the top of the tourniquet. Make sure to pinch that in place while you make the next fold.

Pinching the first fold to hold it all together while we finish things up.

Lastly, simply fold the tag end again and lay it over the top of the plastic piece. Do your best to even it up so that the pull tab lines up with the top of the plastic piece. You can then tuck the tag end underneath the buckle to keep it in place.

If it doesn’t line up the way you want, you can alway go back and resize your loop. If you’re the “neat and tidy” type, it may take you a few tries to get it right.

Preparing for the final fold.

Here is what it looks like after the last fold.

The finished product, ready to go in a pocket.

Finished product again, shown here pinched between the fingers to demonstrate how inserting it into a pocket will inevitably compress it.

If you want to clean it up, you can put a rubber band (or ranger band) around one end to keep it tight. Or, there is always the previously mentioned sleeve, which Snakestaff sells. I tend to just slip it into the pocket, as is, and allow the tension of the pocket to compress it down.

There you go. An easy way to stage your Snakestaff Systems ETQ-Wide for EDC.