Comments on: Save Lives Like a Combat Medic: How to Use a Tourniquet to Control Major Bleeding

By: Don

Don — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:21:23 +0000

I have two SOF-T TQs and a blowout kit within easy reach at all times, part of my EDC. Proper training is essential though.

By: XPO172

XPO172 — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:18:30 +0000

As a civilian who is a regular at a gun range and the “outdoors”, I’ve found it helpful to get updated hands on first aid training. Look first for an ex-military trainer that uses TCCC protocols. If you don’t have any classes nearby, then look for Red Cross Wilderness First Aid or worst case Red Cross First aid.

Here’s my trainer of choice in Texas.
http://lonestarmedics.com/

By: price

price — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 22:03:25 +0000

“A victim isn’t dead until he’s warm and dead” ~ favourite first aid saying when dealing with patients that you have no clue what happened to.

By: g

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:44:40 +0000

Surgeons use TQ’s to manage blood flow during surgery on limbs.

A Blood Pressure Cuff is also a TQ.

By: Gavin

Gavin — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 20:11:59 +0000

Also, remember that combat medicine is 5-10 years ahead of civilian emergency medicine.

By: Gavin

Gavin — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 20:01:52 +0000

As a combat medic and graduate of BCT3 (advanced trauma course), I can tell you that if you need to quickly apply a tourniquet, you do NOT expose the wound first. That takes way too much time. FIRST (always first!) is to apply proximal pressure. Drop a knee with all your body weight near the armpit (for arm bleed) or near the seam of old-school briefs near the crotch for leg bleeds. After proximal pressure is applied FIRST, then open the tourniquet and slide it under the leg or arm and above where your knee is located on the limb in a saw motion. Next, apply the tourniquet and turn the windlass until you cannot turn it any more, then secure it. Proximal pressure reduces bleeding while you fumble with a tourniquet. This has been proven in recent wars.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 14:33:21 +0000

One of the posted said (paraphrase) “I pray I don’t have to use these skills”. If we are trained, capable, and “ready for action” men, should we not pray that we CAN use our skills to save a life? Better us then an untrained person. We should pray (or hope, or desire) that WE are the ones put in situations to help.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 02:19:49 +0000

In the care under fire phase of T3 they are recomending the tourniquet be applied as far up as possible. Easier landmarks instead of trying to figure out two inches above the wound site. You may only see blood in one spot while the wound is superior to the bleeding. Plus its hard to see wounds under BDU and other long clothes. Purpose of the tourniquet is to stop hemmorage and to keep the blood closet to the vital organs. Also remember to apply direct pressure to the wound site while you are applying the tourniquet.

By: Rocky

Rocky — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:17:57 +0000

A combat medic, there are two phases of care. First is care under fire, just throw a tourniquet as high as possible to stop bleeding. Later on the tourniquet can be adjusted, if needed. People seem to forget that surgeons leave tournequets on for hours will no ill effects, tissue necrosis is a much lower priority than extenguation and clots are easily treated by warfarin. I’m a pa student and the same information is taught to us, I’ve used tourniquets and there is no doubt they save lives, be it improvised, a cat or more expensive soft t. Good article, it applies.

By: Bruce West

Bruce West — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 22:27:32 +0000

Lil’ Kevy,
A thrombosis (clot) is treatable through IV medication, and very serious ones can be surgically removed. Put a tourniquet on a person and they can develop a thrombosis distal to the tourniquet (farther down from), but the tourniquet keeps the clot from finding its way to the heart, just as it keeps the limb from bleeding. Fear of thrombosis is no reason not to apply a tourniquet, because if you don’t the person can very likely die. The hospital will get rid of the clot, and most of the time they’ll still save the limb. You get the pleasure of saying you’ve saved their life.