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DISCLAIMER: PLEASE TAKE A FIRST AID AND CPR COURSE BEFORE TREATING ANY INJURIES. CONSULT A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY AFTER FIRST AID TREATMENT TO AVOID ANY FUTURE COMPLICATIONS FROM THE INJURY.
A tourniquet is something I always carry in my FAK (First Aid Kit). The reason is simple. If there is severe bleeding from a limb (legs/arms), you need to slow or stop the bleeding using a tourniquet.
This can be from a knife or gunshot wound, a deep cut, or a severed limb from an accident. I highly recommend an Emergency First Responder apply a tourniquet as opposed to the general public, and I recommend getting your emergency first responder certification prior to using one, but in an emergency, none of that matters as long as you know how to apply it.
Steps on how to apply a tourniquet
- Call 911 and stay on the line with them to inform them of what you are doing.
- Have the injured person lay down, and identify the location of the wound.
- Apply pressure on the wound and see if the bleeding slows down or stop with uninterrupted pressure (this means don’t lift the pressure to see progress) in 15 minutes.
- If the bleeding continues, remove or cut the clothing in the area of bleeding as the tourniquet requires direct contact to skin.
- Apply the tourniquet several inches above the wound closer to the heart.
- Tighten the tourniquet
- Time it. Tourniquets cannot be applied for more than 2 hours.
- Make sure that the injured person is provided medical attention IMMEDIATELY (in less than 2 hours).
DO NOT REMOVE THE TOURNIQUET – Have a qualified medical professional remove it.
You can buy tourniquets and holders here:
- Tourniquet
- Tourniquet with holder – MOLLE (Molded plastic)
- Tourniquet Holder – MOLLE (Fabric)
- Tourniquet Holder – MOLLE (Molded plastic)