Soldiers on the front line may have to worry not just about the enemy but also the medical equipment used to sustain them in case of injury, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.
The agency has issued a warning about suspected counterfeit Combat Application Tourniquets (C-A-T), a product used to stem blood loss while an injured person is transported for emergency care. The device is used by the US military as well as the fire service and police.
Genuine C-A-Ts are manufactured by Composite Resources and distributed by five authorised companies, namely North American Rescue, Cardinal Health, Owens and Minor, American Purchasing Services and Phoenix Textile Corp.
"Preliminary testing has shown that the suspected counterfeit tourniquet does not perform the same as the tourniquet manufactured by Composite Resources," says the FDA in a statement available here.
The agency's Medwatch announcement notes that the suspect fakes have a weaker windlass that can break or bend before necessary force can be applied to stop blood flow.
The counterfeits have subtle differences in stitching, printing of the logo and molding of plastic parts, according to the FDA.