July 1st, 2021 | Updated on June 27th, 2022
Tourniquets are tight bands used to completely stop the blood flow to a wound. Traditionally, tourniquets were reserved for the worst bleeding to keep the patient from developing shock, but this is no longer the case as you can use the tourniquet for any bleeding.
Two of the most common situations people apply tourniquets are:
- When having trouble stopping the bleeding by applying direct pressure on the injured area.
- When they can’t maintain direct pressure on the injured area.
To control bleeding after an injury to a limb, tourniquets should ideally only be used by person trained in emergency first aid.
Types Of Tourniquets
If you have a home injury, you don’t have to buy a specially made tourniquet as you can easily make one from clothes.
On the other hand, if you are a caregiver or in the military, you should get professionally made, high-grade tourniquets. Some of the best tourniquets to go for are:
Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT)
This is the most common commercial tourniquet you will come across in the market. The beauty of the tourniquet is it doesn’t pinch, and it uses a windlass that makes it easy to tighten it.
It meets the US military requirements, and you can self apply it on yourself when you have an accident in an isolated area.
Special Operations Force Tactical (SOFT) Tourniquet
It’s similar to the CAT, but the CAT has a friction buckle that can be problematic to use especially if you are wearing gloves.
SOFT, on the other hand, has a unique buckle that allows you to have the end of the strap already fed through the friction slide and as a result, you have an easy time using it as you don’t have to slip a canvas circle strap over the injured leg or arm.
In the event of an accident, you only need to wrap the tourniquet around the injured limb and snap it into place.
An excellent example of this tourniquet is one made by Sam Medical Products.
SWAT-T
This one is designed for use by civilians, and it features a thick rubber that does the same job as a windlass, but unfortunately, you can’t self apply it on yourself—you have to have someone else apply it on you.
The good side with the tourniquet is you can apply it on children and even tiny adults.
An extra plus is you can cut the tourniquet into two tourniquets and apply them on two patients, which comes in handy when multiple patients have been injured.
Proper Use Of Tourniquets
You might be having the highest quality tourniquet, but if you don’t properly use it, you are as good as someone without a tourniquet in the first place.
To get the most from the unit, ensure that you don’t put the tourniquet too loosely, as, besides it being uncomfortable, it also doesn’t exert enough pressure to stop the bleeding.
After applying the tourniquet, make a note of when you do it, as leaving it in place for too long can lead to tissue damage. When it comes to removal, ensure only an experienced doctor or health care provider removes it.
Health Disclaimer :
Information provided by Newszii.com does in no way substitute for qualified medical opinion. Any text, videos or any other material provided by us should be considered as generic information only. Any health related information may vary from person to person, hence we advice you to consult specialists for more information.
