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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Don’t forget to come back next week and read “Severe Bleeding, STOP
the Bleed – Improvised Tourniquets Part Five©”.
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 continue to enjoy The Woodsman’s Journal Online and look for me
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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
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
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
