This video is normally available to paying customers.
You may unlock this video for FREE. Enter your email address for instant access AND to receive ongoing updates and special discounts related to this topic.
In July 2017, the Faculty Of Pre-hospital Care at the Royal College of Surgeons Of Edinburgh released updated recommendations for tourniquet application in emergency settings, emphasizing limb salvage and reduced tissue damage.
The latest guidelines advise placing tourniquets as distally as possible above the wound on limbs, avoiding direct placement on the wound or joints. This change aims to minimize tissue damage while improving the chances of limb salvage.
Incorrect application of tourniquets can exacerbate injuries. It's vital that tourniquets are used properly, ensuring they are tight enough to stop arterial, not just venous, bleeding.
In situations where a limb is trapped, tourniquets can initially be applied proximally up the limb. Once the limb is freed, re-evaluate and apply another tourniquet closer to the wound if necessary, then remove the proximal one.
Tourniquets should remain in place until advanced medical care is available to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.