Using a tourniquet is only meant as a stop-gap measure to buy time while you wait for medical personnel to arrive. If a person is bleeding profusely and help is not nearby, they may bleed out before first responders can arrive and provide necessary medical care.
By applying a tourniquet, your goal is to restrict blood flow to the injured limb to prevent life-threatening blood loss. While constricting the limb to cut off its blood supply is a temporary measure, when done correctly it will slow or stop the bleeding enough to allow emergency responders time to arrive at the scene.
This Instruction will teach you about the parts of the Tourniquet, correct placement on the extremity, and how to secure it in place.
Step 1: Tourniquet Terminology
1.Windlass Rod
2.Single Routing Buckle
3.Red Tip Velcro
4.Free-Moving Internal Band
5.Windlass Strap
6.Windlass Clip
Step 2: Apply the tourniquet proximal to the bleeding site and insert the wounded limb through the loop formed by the band. Place the Tourniquet Approximately 2-4 Inches ABOVE the Injury.
Note: You can use your fingers to estimate the distance (generally 2-4 fingers width should be sufficient)
Step 4: Pull the band very tight and securely fasten the band back on itself.
Step 5: Adhere the band around the limb. Do not adhere the band past the Windlass clip
Note: If you can get a few fingertips between the strap and the skin, it’s not tight enough.
Step 6: Twist the rod until bright red bleeding has stopped and the distal pulse is eliminated.
Step 7: Place the rod inside the windlass clip and lock it in place.
Note: Check for bleeding and distal pulse. If bleeding is not controlled, consider additional tightening or applying a second tourniquet proximal side by side to the first tourniquet.
Step 8: Adhere the band over the rod, inside the clip, and fully around the limb.
Step 9: Secure the rod and band with the strap. If possible, record time of application on white strap.
