I also wonder why someone didn’t use someone’s web belt as a tourniquet. I’d also guess that if the injured guy was caught in the mangled vehicle, and couldn’t be extracted in time to apply a belt, the injured guy couldn’t have tightened a tourni that was biult into his own clothes, either. I’m guessing over-simplification and dramatization from the usual clueless Associated Press reporter.
But someone else could reach in and apply it; tough to put it on with a mangled wreck in the way, in the short time you have when bleeding out.
Great idea.
Because of the way the IBA vests are worn, and the way you can attach gear to the vests, the belts are not used. I didn’t use a pistol belt at all. My rig had all 4 M-16 mag pouches attached directly to my Interceptor vest, and 4 M-9 mag pouches on the front with my M9 holster. On the back I mounted my handcuff case and Camelbak.