Tourniquet

A tourniquet is a tightly-compressed bandage used to stop bleeding. A tourniquet does this by stopping the flow of blood through a large artery in a limb. It can be made from clothing or any tightly-compressible material in the case of an emergency.

In patients with major limb damage a tourniquet is used if direct pressure has failed to control life‑threatening haemorrhage. The tourniquet goes on a limb as close to the joint (the knee or elbow) as possible, above the wound. It is not safe to use one on the neck or around the body as this could stop the breathing or damage the organs. Once on they should not be covered or hidden by anything like clothing. Sometimes, in some countries, a person writes one or two letters on the patient's forehead when a tourniquet is applied. They should not be removed except by a medical professional once on, as this can cause damage (called reprofusion damage) to the limb.

Alternatives include other bandages such as ones designed to be wrapped very tight or that come in packages which can be used alongside the bandage to make it tighter, the Israeli bandage, and chemicals. Coagulants and haemostatic chemicals, in forms such as powders or as an injectable drug, can be put on the skin or into to stop bleeding. One haemostatic agent that is used is intravenous tranexamic acid