Tourniquet

A Tourniquet is a constricting device applied to a limb to occlude blood flow for hemorrhage control, surgical bloodless field, or venous engorgement. Combat application tourniquets with windlass mechanisms are essential for stopping life-threatening extremity bleeding in trauma, military, and prehospital settings. Elastic tourniquets facilitate venipuncture by engorging superficial veins. Pneumatic tourniquets create controlled ischemia for extremity surgery. Proper application, time documentation, and understanding that tourniquets for hemorrhage control should not be loosened until surgical control are critical for safe and effective use.