A portable
compression device for compressing at least a portion of a
mammal's limb is provided. The portable
compression device can use mechanical compression to apply an
external pressure to the portion of the limb to thereby propagate
blood flow return in the direction of the
mammal's heart. In at least one embodiment, the portable
compression device can accomplish this mechanical compression through the use of at least one frame,
actuator, drum, and flexible elongate member. The
actuator can move the drum between a first position and a second position. The flexible elongate member can be engaged with at least a portion of the drum and can at least partially circumscribe a portion of the limb of the
mammal, such that the movement of the drum between the first and second positions can apply tension to the flexible elongate member to thereby apply a compressive force to the limb.