Stop the Bleed Month: How To Stage a Tourniquet

Caleb is again joined by Chris Hoyne from North American Rescue, a supplier of emergency medical kits and supplies. The guys continue our series for National Stop the Bleed Month, which is May (in case you're watching this in the future) by discussing how to "stage" a tourniquet. A tourniquet is used to stop severe bleeding from an arm or a leg, so it must be applied FAST, the faster the better to stop the wounded person from bleeding out. Staging the tourniquet is getting it ready so it can be deployed with minimal delay. That means removing any packaging it came in from the manufacturer. This is OK because a tourniquet does not have to be kept sterile, like a dressing or gauze. If one of your arms is injured, you may not have the dexterity to tear open tough, slippery shrink wrap! Even if the injury is to your leg, you have to apply pressure to the wound with one hand to stanch the bleeding until you get the tourniquet on.

A Gen 7 military-type tourniquet such as NAR's Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT), has a windlass you turn to fully tighten the tourniquet. This windlass is retained by a hook-and-look strap. Chris recommends you OPEN the strap, so there's one less thing you have to fumble with when deploying the tourniquet in an emergency.

[chriserickson]

I work at a Gun Range and am in-charge of our Trauma Bag and Boo-Boo kit. I request to the management that all our staff watch the "Stop the Bleed" video. I watched it about a year ago and I continue to revisit it every now and then. Thanks for another great video!

[mikehouser]

Not only get it ready … practice getting to it. Real deal this weekend walked into the kitchen to find my wife of 30+ years on floor with blood running on floor all around her. Was fiddle fumbling with my trauma kit and dialing 911 with my nose on the phone. Bottom line is I was not practiced at using the kit and isolated the bleeding to her arm and applied pressure under arm pit cause it was that critical and no time to Jack around with a kit I was not practiced at using. Freaked me out how unprepared I really was due to simple lack of practice. Wife is fine and only lost a pint of blood due to my pressure point training but sure would of been easier with a tourniquet if I only practiced just getting it out and deploying. Compound fracture of both forearm bones through wrist area. Practice deploying cause when the time happens it’s too easy to get stupid very fast. Praise be to the Lord for getting me tracking with pressure points.

[JJ_SDWR]

A good topic if you haven't already is when to use a pressure bandage (Israeli bandage) vs a torniquet. A deep gash doesnt require a TQ, a massive hemorrhage does. Applying a TQ when you don't need it can result in nerve damage or loss of limb, so you should only apply a TQ in very serious situations.

[Hezziilishus]

ANOTHER great Stop-The-Bleed topic in easy to understand language. Thank y'all, sincerely. When seconds count and sterility is not vital, this makes total and complete sense.

Thank you, Caleb and Brownells as well as Chris and Great American Rescue. Your work is sincerely appreciated.

Y'all have a good one and stay safe out there.

[johne]

I have been in EMS for a very long time. 23yrs as ER Nurse. 10 years as Paramedic. All these kits are worthless unless you understand how and why to use stuff. GET HANDS ON TRAINING. Remember we all default to our level of training. We do not rise to the occasion!

[milesrost]

People need to see the TQ staged and used one handed to properly do it themselves. Missed the mark on this. Remove from plastic before use is really all that was discussed. Much love with positive criticism.

[JMac-mdvj]

I carry a CAT tourniquet, almost always, with proper medical. I hope I never need to use it. But I’m ready to assist

[BCGCPracticalShooter]

Wish you guys would have gone further and showed folks to make the loop as big as possible for rapid deployment even over a boot.

[para]

One is none two is one holds true. If your in a hot area have four. Stage them on yourself the best you can around your gear arms and legs.

[petesheppard]

With a severe bleed, you only have seconds to get the TQ on, and the vast majority of people WILL waste precious time fumbling as they get the thing out and onto the victim.

[michaelmaier]

never really thought about having to maybe self-applicate on my arm. Thanks for the video.