Stop The Bleed: Tourniquet Application

A detailed look at using a tourniquet for bleeding control. In this video a North American Rescue Combat Application Tourniquet (NAR CAT) is used as an example.
Want to skip right to the application of the CAT? 04:54

[TacMedTV]

Great video! One thing I do to ensure tourniquets aren't overlooked is to take my Sharpie and write a "T" on their forehead, the time applied, and the location. LA= left arm, RA=right arm, LL=left leg, RL= right leg. Every care provider that comes into contact with that patient will see the markings on their forehead when they check the airway, and know to look for a tourniquet. Keep up the great work!

[Morphyne_Cowboy]

Absolutely tourniquets can be placed on the lower leg and forearm but high and tight shouldn't be dismissed. High and tight makes it easier for most people to remember under stress. Also, high and tights will be fine if you are not far away from definitive help. Tourniquets can be safe 8+hours if applied correctly. Going 2 to 3 inches above isn't bad and neither is going high and tight. If the tourniquet is place effectively, that means no venous and no arterial blood flow is present then the risk of compartment syndrome is low. Remember, if you place the tourniquet properly it will hurt more than the wound. Good training is key here. There are many tourniquet trainers you can buy to practice with. Good video. Everyone stay safe!

[TheMasterMindTMM]

I Have no idea how i got to your channel but i love it

[phoz]

Greetings from Germany,
Im a paramedic student in Germany and i recently found your channel. And i must say, your videos are easy to follow and great for learning .
Its Awesome to see that standard Procedures for some things are the same .

Keep up the good work

[jamescarroll]

Retired after 52 years in healthcare beginning as a Navy Corpsman in the 60s. Still carry the Unit One in the car, but its contents have changed since FMSS—all for the better. I like to keep up, and PrepMedic is a great refresher. Thanks for what you do.

[WHFQE]

As a Prepper, and a Paramedic myself, thank you for such a detailed instructional video of how to properly use a CAT.

[Gunny_st]

I needed a refresher on this. Thanks. Also, I carry a Sharpie in my kit so if I ever administer a tourniquet I can write the time on the CAT as well as on the patient somewhere visible and write a large T on the forehead.

[basoltraininggroup]

Something that should be considered when determining the placement of a tourniquet is the MOI (mechanism of injury), for instance, a bullet from an active shooter. The reasoning behind the military teaching the "high and tight" placement for tourniquet application is to account for bullet trajectory. Bullets do not always enter the body from straight on. Depending on the round caliber, distance traveled, whether the round is entering the body as a ricochet or fragment may affect the route the bullet takes and the damage it causes. A round may enter the forearm or flexor muscle and the trajectory may take it upward and back to the bicep and could hit the brachial artery. By placing the tourniquet above the visible wound could cause unnecessary damage, especially once you start entering the prolonged field care stage.

[juliannamack]

For an EMT that took class online, this is literally saving lives

[kinsmart]

Writting in the patients forehead is also an great way to show he is using an touniquet. Saw in some old first aid manuals you should loosen up the touniquet every 15 minutes to check if the bleeding stopped.

[foxhound]

Hey, just wanted to say as a person in EMS your videos/playlist made me feel much more confident in my skills. I went through a bunch of them already.
Thanks for your easy to follow, straight to the point videos. Keep up the good work!

[brightargyle]

I've always carried first aid basics, but never felt comfortable with tourniquets until I watched this video. I'm not a medical professional but I take first aid seriously. I am out in the woods quite often, I work in the field driving around a lot and I began carrying quick clot gauze and an Israeli bandage in my kit in addition to the usual first aid stuff. I have a decent understanding of cpr and SOME bleed stopping procedures. I decided to order one of these CAT tourniquets just in case after watching this. Given the climate of the world and the US in particular it would seem foolish NOT to be at least a little more prepared. I'm no armchair medic, but having the basics on hand has been drummed into my head over the years just in case. I appreciate your advice and recommendations, keeping it simple enough for the layman to understand helps a lot.

[beltfeddestruction]

Awesome information bro and love the integrity and not being a sell out that's absolutely fantastic because 100% correct no amount of money if worth loosing a life keep up the awesome work here bud

[TheDewMan]

That third variant of TQ is for femoral bleeds. You wrap it on the pelvis and put a plastic thing under the artery and pump it up like a baloon, cutting off bloodflow to the rest of the leg. Its incredibly effective and since the pelvis is so high there generally is no other way to use a TQ

[MikeWood]

Stop The Bleed has only been recently introduced here in Canada. I took it at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre earlier in the year - Canada's largest trauma centre, and the instructors recommended the CAT-T. There have been a couple of terrorist attacks in Ontario this year. Having the training, a small cargo pocket sized trauma kit and a CAT-T go with me everywhere now. Looking forward to more videos. (found you as a recommended off one of Skinny Medic's videos)

[brylovesny]

Sad any one would dislike any of his videos, I have learned a lot just watching these videos.

[brandoncowan]

I am very happy to hear that you won’t talk highly of a product just for money. I love love love you’re channel so much and you yourself are an inspiration. Thank you for your time

[robteaster]

Great, concise, easy to understand instructions. Just what I hoped to find. Nice video.

[fdort]

@PrepMedic I shudder to think what you have probably seen. I was watching 731 woodworks table saw safety and he highly recommended this video. Not sure if you are Canadian like me or American like him but that doesn't matter. Based on your comments I thank you for your service and this video. Stay safe and I hope you have good mental support.

[fatboyrowing]

Thanks for the excellent video. I am just a normie (with advanced first aid training) and my kids are into extreme sports. I run a chainsaw from time to time and my whole family and I drive a lot. I want to be able to be effective those first 10-15 minutes. A decade ago I came across an overturned vehicle in the middle of nowhere and there was entrapment with serious injuries. I’m glad I was prepared to handle it - EMS took 20 minutes to arrive. Next time I want to be even better prepared.