The Woodsman's Journal Online

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Severe Bleeding, STOP the Bleed – Improvised Tourniquets Part Five©

Author’s note – If you do not like gore, be warned due to the subject matter, some of the photos in this article are graphic, in fact they are purposefully gory, because emergency scenes are gruesome and you must be prepared for it. I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource!

To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE. Thank you and Happy Trails!

You’re the first responder at a mass casualty event, a serious accident, or any other situation where there is severe bleeding. You don’t have a commercially made tourniquet; do you know how to make an improvised tourniquet to stop the bleeding?

Improvising a limb tourniquet...

To improvise a tourniquet, you need a strap, cloth or flexible material, a rigid object, some padding material, and some way of securing the windlass and keeping it from unwinding.

· Any strong, flexible material that is at least two inches (5 cm) wide, such as a cravat made from a folded triangular bandage, any folded strip of clothing, or strap can be used as a tourniquet. A wide tourniquet protects the tissues beneath the tourniquet as it is tightened and generally causes less pain and damage to the underlying tissues. Do not use wire, shoestrings, or other narrow materials to improvise a tourniquet, since when the tourniquet is tightened, a narrow tourniquet may result in pain or serious damage to the nerves and blood vessels. A 41 inch long band is typically long enough to be wrapped around a person’s waist and could be used to make an improvised inguinal junction (groin) tourniquet.

· Find a rigid object to be used for a windlass. It can be anything that is sturdy and long enough to tighten the tourniquet band and then be secured. It should be between 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) long. This rigid object could be a pair of EMT scissors, a weapons cleaning rod, or a stick or branch that is ¼ to 1 inch (6 to 25 mm) thick,

· Any soft, smooth material that can be used to pad the limb and protect the skin from being pinched and twisted when the tourniquet is tightened. The casualty’s shirt sleeve or trouser leg could be used as padding.

· You will need something that can be used to secure the windlass once the tourniquet has been tightened. If the material used for the tourniquet is long enough, the ends or tails of the band can be used to secure the windlass. You could use a carabiner, keyring or other ring, slipped onto the tourniquet band before it is tied and twisted tight. You could also tie another strip of cloth around the limb near the tourniquet band to secure the windless.

Disclaimer: All content and media on The Woodsman’s Journal Online is created and published for informational/educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Use of the information on this site is AT YOUR OWN RISK, intended solely for self-help, in times of emergency, when medical help is not available, and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always consult with a medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment of injuries.

I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource! To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE. Thank you and Happy Trails!

, and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube. If you have questions, as always, feel free to leave a comment on either site. I announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

Notes

Sources

Brookside Associates, LLC; “2-23. Gather Materials for Making an Improvised Tourniquet”, [© Brookside Associates, LLC, 2023], https://brooksidepress.org/TCCC/?page_id=152, accessed February 7, 2026

Kerr, W.; Hubbard, B.; Anderson, B.; Montgomery, HR; Glassberg, E.; King, DR; Hardin, RD Jr.; Knight, RM; Cunningham, CW; “Improvised Inguinal Junctional Tourniquets: Recommendations From the Special Operations Combat Medical Skills Sustainment Course”, Journal of Special Operations Medicine, Summer 2019, Vol. 19, No. 2, pages 128 to 133, https://jsomonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20192128Kerr.pdf, accessed January 17, 2026

Salchner, Hannah, MD, Et al.; “Arterial Occlusion Effectiveness of Space Blanket‒Improvised Tourniquets for the Remote Setting”, Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2023; Vol. 34, No. 3., pages 269 to 276, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1080603223000431?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=9bf1180be96941bb, accessed January 17, 2026

Stewart, Sarah K.; Duchesne, Juan C.; Mansoor, A Khan; “Improvised tourniquets: Obsolete or obligatory?”, Journal of Trauma Acute Care Surgical, Jan. 2015; Vol. 78, No. 1, page 178 to 183,

https://dasfoam.org/ftp/Improvised-Tourniquets.pdf, accessed January 17, 2026

TCCC; “Skill Card 9: Improvised Limb Tourniquet”

https://tccc.org.ua/en/guide/skill-card-improvised-limb-tourniquet-cpp?keyword=improvise%20limb%20tourniquet, accessed January 17, 2026

Sunday, February 1, 2026

Severe Weather Alert – Field Treatment for Frostbite©

Author’s note -- I hope that you enjoy learning from this resource! To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE. Thank you and Happy Trails!

The saying that ‘prevention is better than treatment’ is particularly true for frostbite, which, thankfully, is normally preventable. But what do you do in the field when those grayish-white frostnip spots appear on your ears, cheeks, fingers or nose? And what do you do if freezing is deeper than just the first layers of skin?

Field Treatment...

First off, DO NOT rub or apply ice or snow to the frozen area, this is a myth that arose during Napolean’s retreat from Moscow. Rubbing frozen tissue further damages already injured areas, and applying ice, snow of super chilled kerosene just increases the freezing.

If a body part becomes frozen in the field, protect it from further freezing and damage. Start by removing any jewelry such as rings, watches, or anything that impedes circulation from around the extremity. Next you must decide whether to try to thaw the body part in the field, or not.

If the degree of freezing is stage one and conditions allow for it then spontaneous or slow rewarming should be attempted, by moving to shelter and warming the frost nipped part with body heat.

Spontaneous or passive thawing

True love is letting someone put their frost nipped feet against your warm belly. This is why you should never go out into the field without a buddy, and you better treat your buddy like the most important person in the world!

Stage one freezing or ‘frostnip’ is the only one that can be easily treated in the field. Body heat is the best way to treat frostnip, rewarm fingers by pulling your hands up into your sleeves or even all the way into your coat, or even by sliding them between your thighs. Put your warm hands on your frost nipped cheeks, nose or ears to rewarm them. Put your frozen feet onto the bare skin of your buddy’s belly.

Rapid rewarming

If the frostbite is superficial stage two or deep stage three and the environmental and situational conditions are such that the thawed part might refreeze, then it is better to let it stay frozen. Also, if you are in the field far from medical care and must walk out to reach safety, then don’t thaw that frozen extremity. While you can walk on frostbitten toes, it is not a good idea to walk on an entirely frostbitten foot, unless you absolutely must, because this can cause further damage to already injured tissues. If you must walk out, then the frozen foot should be padded, splinted, and kept as immobile as possible to reduce further damage.

However, if the part can be thawed and kept thawed then rapid rewarming should be attempted. According to George Rodway, in “Summary of Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Frostbite Field”, rapid rewarming in a water bath has been shown to result in better outcomes than slow rewarming with body heat for deeply frost bitten areas.

Once the parts are thawed, bulky, dry gauze dressings should be applied to the thawed parts for protection and wound care. Place dressings loosely between the fingers and toes and expect swelling, so wrap loosely to allow for swelling without putting pressure on the underlying tissue. Also, aloe vera can be applied topically to the thawed tissue before applying dressings and may improve healing.

Do not reduce blisters in the field, unless they are clear, fluid-filled and at high risk for rupture during evacuation. Blood-filled blisters should not be drained in the field. Blister draining by pricking the edge of the blister and applying a dry gauze dressing can be performed in the field to reduce additional damage and infection risk.

Remember an ounce of prevention is far cheaper than a pound of cure, so avoid frostbite or take care of it when it is only frostnip.

Don’t forget to come back next week and read about improvised tourniquets as part of our Stop the Bleed series.

I hope that you continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me on YouTube at BandanaMan Productions for other related videos, HERE. Don’t forget to follow me on both The Woodsman’s Journal Online, HERE, and subscribe to BandanaMan Productions on YouTube. If you have questions, as always, feel free to leave a comment on either site. I announce new articles on Facebook at Eric Reynolds, on Instagram at bandanamanaproductions, and on VK at Eric Reynolds, so watch for me.

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

Sources

Chaney, Capt. Robert D. USN; “Cold Weather Medicine: An Ounce of Prevention”, Marine Corps Gazette, February 1981, page 43, https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Marine_Corps_Gazette/ZmlNAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Cold+weather+medicine%22+chaney&pg=RA1-PA42&printsec=frontcover, accessed January 31, 2026

Giesbrecht, Gordon G. and Wilkerson, James A.; Hypothermia, Frostbite and Other Cold Injuries: Prevention, Survival, Rescue, Treatment and Treatment, https://books.google.com/books?id=ayeercQ9DEwC&pg=PA74#v=onepage&q&f=false, [© 2006 The Mountaineers], page 80 to 81, accessed January 31, 2026

Nelson, Richard K.; Alaskan Eskimo Exploitation of the Sea Ice Environment, August 1966, [Arctic Aeromedical Laboratory (U.S.); Technical Documentary Report], page 39, https://www.google.com/books/edition/Technical_Documentary_Report/QgrlAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=warming+frozen+feet+on+someones+abdomen&pg=PA39&printsec=frontcover, accessed January 31, 2026

Rodway, George W., PhD; “Summary of Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Frostbite: 2024 Update of Pre-Hospital Recommendations “, APRN, September 23, 2024, Volume 41, Issue 3, https://wms.org/magazine/magazine/1494/Frostbite-Summary-2024/default.aspx#:~:text=Rapid%20field%20rewarming%20of%20frostbite&text=Rapid%20rewarming%20by%20water%20bath,at%20definitive%20care, accessed January 31, 2026

Wikimedia, “Frost bite of the toes from climbing mount Logan”, June 4, 2012, by Dr. S. Falz, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frost_bite.jpg, accessed January 31, 2026

Wikimedia; “Frostbitten hands: marg's fingers after the descent of Aconcagua”, by Winky, April 29, 2005, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frostbitten_hands.jpg, accessed January 31, 2026

Sunday, January 25, 2026

Severe Weather Alert and Frostbite!©

We interrupt the regularly scheduled article, on improvised tourniquets, to bring you this important message on severe wintry weather!

What with the blast of arctic air that has made its way south, many parts of the lower 48 are colder than much of Alaska, today. So I called an audible and scrapped our planned article, to talk about severe cold and frostbite and what to do to avoid frostbite, and what it is, exactly anyways.

Three Stages of Frostbite

The three layers of skin, from outermost to innermost, are the epidermis, the protective layer, the dermis, the layer with connective tissue, hair, and glands, and the hypodermis or subcutaneous tissue, which is the innermost fatty layer. Together, they form the body's barrier against pathogens and UV light, regulate temperature and provide sensation, and deliver insulation and cushioning.

Your body responds to cold temperatures by constricting the blood vessels, this is called “vasoconstriction”. Blood flow is shunted away from the extremities to preserve flow to the vital internal organs in the body’s core. As the blood is sent away from hands and feet, they get colder and ice crystals may form in and destroy tissue.

Stage one, or frostnip, only affects the first, outermost layer of skin and there are usually no lasting effects. Your skin will be red and may swell, you might notice a painful, “pins and needles” sensation.

Chilblains and immersion foot ARE NOT frostbite. They are both a nonfreezing, cold injuries caused by exposure to cold and damp conditions above 32^oF (0^oC). Chilblains are inflamed, painful skin patches, which are red, bluish or purplish, may feel itchy, tender or painful, and may possibly blister. Immersion foot, once known as “trench foot”, results in severe numbness, edema (swelling), maceration and possibly blistering. Both conditions, most of the time, will heal without any treatment, other than drying and re-warming.

Stage two, your skin has frozen past its first layer into the second layer. It will begin to lose color, going from red to white and then to bluish, whitish -gray. At this stage, the tissues of your skin are freezing and you might notice swelling. Your skin might feel stiff or “waxy” when touched. You might also have the feeling of “heat” in the affected area. After rewarming blisters may form.

Stage three, all three layers of skin have frozen. Your skin may look blue and splotchy, and circulation affected area is blocked by clotting blood. Victims also commonly experience a loss of sensation and the malfunction of nearby muscles. Even after rewarming, there will likely be severe lasting effects, and frozen areas can become necrotic and gangrenous, with many victims developing dark, blood-filled blisters within the first 24 to 48 hours. Although rewarming is appropriate, it may not succeed in deep frostbite cases.

“an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Benjamin Franklin, 1763”

Although many people don't always know or acknowledge the dangers, the risks of winter weather can be reduced or prevented with a little common sense.

The first step in preventing frostbite is to know the risks. Stay indoors and limit your time outside when it is very cold and windy, windchill is not a laughing matter. The National Weather Service has created a wind chill chart that shows the time it might take to develop frostbite at different temperatures and wind speed. If the temperature outside is 5^oF (-15^oC) with high winds, you can get frostbite within 30 minutes.

The second step in preventing frostbite is knowing whether you're at increased risk for developing it. People who have a higher risk of getting frostbite include:

· Infants or the elderly, who can't control body temperature as well

· People who are homeless, who work outdoors for extended periods or who enjoy winter sports

· Those who drink alcohol, or take certain medications that narrow blood vessels, or who smoke

· People with certain medical conditions that cause trouble with circulation (such as diabetes)

The third step is to dress for the weather. Layer your clothing, wear multiple thin layers of warm, loose-fitting clothing as insulation. Keep them dry and remove and replace any wet clothing as soon as possible. Cover your head, ears, nose, and face when you’re in windy conditions and freezing temperatures. Also avoiding poor circulation, ensure that your clothing is loose enough around your body to keep good blood flow. Clothing that protects your extremities and prevents frostbite, are:

· well-insulated, waterproof boots and layered socks for your feet.

· mittens for your hands; they provide better protection against very freezing weather than gloves, which are excellent inside layer for over-mittens

· a warm, weatherproof hat that covers your ears

Don’t forget to come back next week and read “Treating Frostbite at Home and in the Field”, before returning to “Improvised Tourniquets”.

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

Notes

Sources

Air Ministry, Arctic Survival PAM (AIR) 226, [The Air Ministry, 1953], pages 52 to 53

Alton, Joseph, MD.; “All About Hypothermia, Pt. 3: Frostbite/Immersion Foot”, January 4, 2025, [© 2026 Doom and Bloom], https://www.doomandbloom.net/all-about-hypothermia-pt-3-frostbite-immersion-foot/, accessed January 24, 2026

Coyne Survival Schools, “Understanding Frostbite”, November 14, 2022, https://www.californiasurvivaltraining.com/blog-news/frostbite, accessed January 24, 2026

Sunday, January 18, 2026

Severe Bleeding, STOP the Bleed – Tourniquets©

To help me to continue to provide valuable free content, please consider showing your appreciation by leaving a donation HERE. Thank you and Happy Trails!

Hate to say it, but the way things are going, no one is ever safe all the time, everywhere. YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED!

Maybe you’re a first responder at a mass casualty event, a serious accident, or any other situation where there is severe bleeding, or maybe you’re the victim and there isn’t one around that can save you. Do you know how to save yourself and others?

Controlling severe bleeding from injuries to the arms and legs with a tourniquet can prevent a victim from bleeding out, but do you know when and how to use them?

Today there are many commercially available tourniquets designed to control bleeding, such as windlass, elastic, ratchet, and pneumatic tourniquets.

However, the windlass C-A-T® (Combat Application Tourniquet), is the fastest, safest, and most effective, it is a true one-handed, prehospital field tourniquet. It was adopted as the official tourniquet of the U.S. Army and was proven to be 100% effective by the U.S. Army’s Institute of Surgical Research at stopping severe extremity bleeding in the event of a traumatic wound and is frequently used by first responders and emergency medical services.

Using a C-A-T^® Tourniquet

Step 1: Assess the Scene

Always assess the scene. Is it safe for the rescuer to enter? You are no help to anyone if you rush into an unsafe situation, just become another victim.

Once you have assessed the situation and decided it is safe, here are the steps to follow while assessing the victim, follow these priorities:

C-Catastrophic bleeding

A- Airway, ensure it is clear

B-Breathing, check for normal breathing

C-Circulation, pulse and all other bleeding

Expose the wound and apply direct pressure, while assessing if the bleeding is catastrophic and immediately life-threatening. If immediate direct pressure and packing fails to control the bleeding, a tourniquet will be needed.

Gather emergency supplies and contact emergency services or ask someone nearby to call for medical help and gather supplies, while doing the basic assessment and applying immediate direct pressure.

DO NOT STOP applying immediate pressure to the wound hunt for supplies or call for help.

You will want...

• Windlass rod tourniquet

• Gloves

• Scissors (for cutting clothing away if necessary)

• Pen or marker (to note the time the tourniquet is applied)

Step 2: Applying the Windlass Rod Tourniquet

Follow these steps to correctly apply the C-A-T® windlass rod tourniquet:

A) Position and Adjust the Tourniquet

Wrap the tourniquet around the bleeding arm or leg approximately 2 to 3 inches above the bleeding wound. DO NOT place the tourniquet directly over a joint. If necessary, place the tourniquet above the joint to ensure effectiveness.

B) Position Manually tighten the Tourniquet

Pull the free end of the strap to make it as tight as possible. Once the tourniquet is as tight as possible, secure the free end in place.

C) Twist the Windlass Rod

Using the windlass rod, twist and wind it until the bleeding stops. This action will further tighten the tourniquet and will apply the necessary pressure to the wound to effectively stop the bleeding.

D) Secure the Windlass Rod

To keep the tourniquet tight and maintain the pressure on the bleeding injury, you must secure the windlass rod in place with the windlass clip and velcro strap if available.

E) Note the Time

It is important to record the time the tourniquet was applied.

The standard first aid practice to alert later medical professionals is to write a “T” or “TQ”, the time, and the location, such as “RA” for right arm or “LL” for left leg, on the patient's forehead.

Also write it on the tourniquet. This prevents missed tourniquets, because in chaotic situations, it’s easy to overlook one on a patient with multiple injuries. It helps to guide future treatment, as tourniquets left on for a prolonged time, over 2-6 hours, can cause permanent tissue damage, knowing the time is crucial for safe removal or conversion. Use a pen or marker to write the time on the tourniquet or on the victim.

A properly applied tourniquet IS painful; a casualty may require significant pain relief to apply the tourniquet to the appropriate pressure. DO NOT hesitate or be shy, pain can be treated death due to bleeding out, cannot!

That is all for now, and as always, until next time, Happy Trails!

Notes

Sources

Covey, D.C. and Gentchos, Christopher E. ; “Field tourniquets in an austere military environment: A prospective case series”, Injury, Volume 53, Issue 10, October 2022, Pages 3240 to 3247, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020138322005204, accessed January 17, 2026

John F. Kragh, Jr., MD, Et al.; “Practical Use of Emergency Tourniquets to Stop Bleeding in Major Limb Trauma”, The Journal of TRAUMA Injury, Infection, and Critical Care, February Supplement, 2008, pages S38 to S50, https://learning-media.allogy.com/api/v1/pdf/9533415c-0a79-41ea-a624-a1e08ba56afe/contents, accessed January 17, 2026

About Me

I live near Buffalo, New York and have more than 25 years of experience in the outdoors. I enjoy being in the wilderness, paddling a canoe or exploring the woods, when I am not researching survival, woodcraft, camping skills or life on the Old Northwest Frontier of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. I am a published author and I have been a guide for Birchbark Expeditions and an Outdoor Skills trainer for the Boy Scouts since 2014. I am also a martial artist, having studied several different combat arts over the past 30 years. Currently, I am the author of The Woodsman’s Journal Online and BandanaMan Productions on YouTube.