Demonstration: How to Apply a Tourniquet
I'll demonstrate how a tourniquet works by applying it to myself.
- Apply the Self-adhering Band: Take the band and pass it through the buckle, then secure the self-adhering band back onto itself. This holds the tourniquet in place.
- Turn the Windlass: Next, I will start turning the windlass. With each turn, the windlass pulls more of the internal band through the tourniquet, creating circumferential pressure around my thigh.
- Increase the Pressure: As I continue to increase the pressure, I will first occlude the veins and, with further tightening, the arteries as well.
- Stop the Blood Flow: Once the tourniquet is successfully secured, it will stop all blood flow to the rest of my leg. I will stop all blood flow to the rest of my leg. So no blood from here down. So wherever I'm injured, it's going to stop bleeding anything tourniquet is.
