The question, “Should I carry a tourniquet?” is one we get asked quite frequently and the answer is a resounding, YES. But, as important as it is to carry a tourniquet or TQ, you should also know why.
Why should I carry a tourniquet is the question most often answered when making a case as to the importance, especially when related to civilian use versus military or law enforcement.
5 Reasons You Should Carry a Tourniquet
Severe bleeding can occur at any time
Accidents and injuries can happen anytime, anywhere. Carrying a tourniquet can help you be prepared to respond to severe bleeding and potentially save a life.
Tourniquets are simple and easy to use
While proper training is important, tourniquets are relatively simple devices that can be easily applied by anyone in a pinch.
Tourniquets are small and lightweight
Tourniquets are small and lightweight, making them easy to carry with you at all times.
Time is of the essence in controlling bleeding
Severe bleeding can be life-threatening, and the faster it is controlled, the better the chances of survival. Carrying a tourniquet allows you to take quick action in the event of severe bleeding.
Tourniquets have been proven to be effective
Tourniquets have been extensively tested and proven to be effective in controlling severe bleeding in a prehospital setting.
What Does the Research Say?
According to the World Health Organization, uncontrolled post-traumatic bleeding is the leading cause of potentially preventable death among trauma patients.
Things like falling, motor vehicle accidents, stab wounds, gunshot wounds, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, etc., are all potential causes.
A person can bleed to death from a complete femoral artery and vein disruption in 2-4 minutes.
The good news is there are options civilians can take advantage of to help deal with life-threatening extremity hemorrhage.
Tourniquets are one of the tools used to do this, especially if direct pressure is ineffective or impractical.
It’s easy for a lot of folks to comprehend the need for members of our law enforcement and military communities to carry TQ’s.
It’s sometimes harder for these same folks to see the civilian application.
In a new study, Civilian Prehospital Tourniquet Use is Associated with Improved Survival in Patients with Peripheral Vascular Injury, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, researchers make the case for prehospital tourniquet use and the direct relationship it has to drastically increase a person’s odds for survival.
“This is the first time that we were actually able to prove the survival benefit of using the tourniquet in the civilian population.”
The study spanned 11 Level 1 trauma centers from January 2011 through December 2016.
The conclusion of this study was a 6-fold reduction in mortality in patients with peripheral vascular injuries when prehospital tourniquets were utilized.
“This is the first time that we were actually able to prove the survival benefit of using the tourniquet in the civilian population,” said lead study author and trauma surgeon Pedro G. R. Teixeira, MD, FACS, of the University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School.
In another study, Tourniquet Use for Civilian Extremity Trauma, published in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, the conclusion was much the same.
“Tourniquet use in the civilian sector is associated with a low rate of complications.
With the low complication rate and a high potential for benefit, aggressive use of this potentially life-saving intervention is justified.”
Keep in mind, the average time the tourniquet was on the patients in both of these studies was approximately 75 minutes.
8 pitfalls to avoid in hemorrhage control
According to Peter T. Pons, MD, FACEP, who wrote the article Stop the Bleed: 8 pitfalls to avoid in hemorrhage control published on www.trauma-news.com, there are 8 pitfalls to avoid in hemorrhage control:
- Not using a tourniquet or waiting too long to apply it for life-threatening extremity bleeding.
- Not making a tourniquet tight enough to obliterate the distal pulse
- Not using a second tourniquet
- Periodically loosening a tourniquet
- Using an improvised tourniquet
- Packing a wound with a hemostatic gauze product and assuming you are done
- Letting the victim’s discomfort and pain interfere with what you need to do
- Doing nothing when a tourniquet or wound packing supplies are not available
The bottom line is adequate hemorrhage control is vitally important in prehospital environments.
We are in a position to provide immediate care to ourselves and those around us prior to professional intervention.
A lot of time can lapse between injury, first responder, and hospital care.
It’s what you do with this time that can make all the difference in the world.
When it comes to purchasing a “limb” tourniquet to carry, be sure to buy one recommended by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (CoTCCC).
TCCC Approved Tourniquets
- Designed specifically for use in a prehospital setting to control severe bleeding in combat or other high-stress situations
- Demonstrated to be effective in controlling severe bleeding in a prehospital setting
- Designed with safety features to minimize the risk of complications, such as nerve or tissue damage
- Constructed with high-quality materials and designed to withstand the rigors of use in a combat or high-stress environment
- Designed with clear, easy-to-follow instructions and a simple, intuitive application process
- Compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry and use in a variety of settings
- Require specific training to use properly
Non-TCCC Approved Tourniquets
- May not be designed specifically for use in a prehospital setting or for controlling severe bleeding
- May not have been extensively tested or proven to be effective in controlling severe bleeding in a prehospital setting
- May not have the same level of safety features, potentially increasing the risk of complications
- May not be as durable or able to withstand the same level of use
- May be more complex or difficult to use, potentially slowing down the application process
- May be larger or heavier, potentially making it more difficult to carry or use in certain situations
- May not require specific training to use properly
Recommended Tourniquets
As of December 2022, the CoTCCC recommendations include the following non-pneumatic limb tourniquets.
- Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) Gen 7
- Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) Gen 6
- Ratcheting Medical Tourniquet (RMT) Tactical
- SAM Extremity Tourniquet (SAM-XT)
- SOF-Tactical Tourniquet-Wide (SOFTT-W)
- Tactical Mechanical Tourniquet (TMT)
- TX2 Tourniquet (TX2)
- TX3 Tourniquet (TX3)
For a full list of CoTCCC Recommended Devices and Adjuncts, follow this link.
How to carry a tourniquet
Also, if you want to know How to Carry a Tourniquet be sure to check out our article on one practical solution.
Above all, seek out qualified instruction with current information in regard to massive hemorrhage control!