Healthcare providers also use them when drawing blood.
Ideally, tourniquets should be applied by first responders who are trained in emergency first aid.
If these efforts don’t work, a tourniquet may be the only option.
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The goal of a tourniquet is to restrict blood flow to the injured limb and prevent life-threatening blood loss.
It is only intended as a stop-gap measure to buy time while you wait for emergency help to arrive.
They were first used to control bleeding in the late Middle Ages.
Commercial Tourniquets
Emergency medical professionals use commercial medical tourniquets to stop the bleeding.
As a rule, commercial tourniquets are not available inhome first aid kitsdue to the high potential for misuse.
Even so, you might purchase commercial tourniquets, including traditional windlass-style tourniquets and ratchet-style tourniquets.
Synthetic or silk scarves or ties are too slippery and can easily come undone.
Zip ties and cords are also not ideal as they can cause severe blood vessel and nerve damage.
Pencils and pens are not ideal for windlasses as they can easily break as you twist them.
How to Use a Tourniquet Correctly
The first step in any emergency situation is to call 911.
If someone else is with you, have them call 911 while you take immediate action.
If possible, practiceuniversal precautionsto limit your exposure to blood.
Ifpersonal protective equipmentis available (like gloves and masks), put them on before deliveringfirst aid.
If it doesn’t, you’ve got the option to apply a second tourniquet immediatelybelowthe first one.
Even if the first tourniquet has failed,do notremove it.
Instead, place the second tourniquet, following steps 3 to 6, until the bleeding stops.
By knowing what these mistakes are, you may be able to avoid them yourself.
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