Today an article ran in USA Today where Doctor’s in the United States encouraged Americans to learn how to use tourniquets. The rise of hyper-violent situations in America has ushered in a new age where safety is an idea of the past. Tourniquets, regardless of their brand, or manufacturer must be applied correctly in order for them to work properly.
Due to recent events and ongoing mass shootings and the potential for terror attacks we are learning as Americans how quickly a human being can bleed to death and just how vitally important it is to be able to stop a massive bleed.
With all of the information out there and products available commercially it can be a bit confusing weighing out the good from the bad. So I thought I would take this opportunity to help clarify a few things about the use of tourniquets and discuss the pros and cons of my top three choices for stopping arterial bleeding.
Understand the use of a tourniquet can and should only be used to control major arterial bleeding on an extremity. The general consensus for lay responders is to place the tourniquet as ‘high and tight’ on the wounded limb as possible.