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A tourniquet, also known as a cuff, is a type of dressing used to provide first aid in the event of severe bleeding or haemorrhage.
How does a tourniquet work?
Tourniquet allows the artery to be pressed against the bone and completely closes the artery lumen and the blood flow, and is therefore helpful in stopping heavy life-threatening bleeding.
Tourniquet used by medical staff and available in pharmacies, it is 1 meter long and 5 cm wide. It is flexible, has a clasp – most often it is a button or a clasp. Before it is put on a wound, a soft pad should be used. Correct assumption tourniquet causes the pulse to decline and the skin close to its application to turn pale. Tourniquet should be removed by a doctor.
In case we do not have the original one tourniquetand the circumstances require rapid damaging of blood, any material such as a scarf, tie, strip of fabric, scarf, even a sack or other piece of fabric of appropriate length and width can be used to press the damaged artery against the bone and prevent the flow of blood. The material from which it is made tourniquet, it should be clean and even sterile, but in situations of extreme necessity (for example, when an accident is involved) this is not the most important thing; what counts is to stop the bleeding as soon as possible, which is a real threat to the life of the victim.
When and how to use a tourniquet?
Tourniquet It is assumed in cases of heavy bleeding or haemorrhage in situations such as a mass traffic accident (when it is not possible to take care of each patient for a long time while waiting for the arrival of appropriate emergency services), amputation of a limb as a result of an accident or crushing a limb associated with severe hemorrhage.
The injured limb should be lifted as far as possible.
Tourniquet it is placed about 5 centimeters above the bleeding site, never below the elbow or knee – in these places the artery will not be properly pressed against the bone and the use of a tourniquet will be pointless. It is best to put it on tourniquet in places above the middle of the arm and above the middle of the thigh. As a washer under tourniquet gauze, lignin, or some clean, soft material (but not cotton wool as bits of it can get into the wound and will be difficult to remove). Then it should be wrapped several times armband tighten it tightly. If the hemorrhage stops, it’s a sign that tourniquet it was set up correctly and fulfills its purpose.
Until the arrival of the ambulance, the injured should be placed in a calm and safe place as possible, it is best to cover him with something warm, and you can give him a warm liquid to drink.
In the event of a mass traffic accident, write down the time of application on a piece of paper tourniquet and place the card in a prominent place next to the dressing, so as to provide medical services with information about how much time is left to remove bands. Tourniquet it should not put pressure on the limb for more than an hour, maximum 90 minutes. After this time, tissue damage or necrosis may occur and even limb amputation may be necessary.