How do you know a tourniquet is tight enough?

How do you know a tourniquet is tight enough?

• A. It must occlude arterial flow/distal pulses
• B. It must cause numbness
• C. It must be looser when bleeding stops
• D. It must be above heart level

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to ensure arterial blood flow to the injured limb is blocked. A tourniquet is tightened enough when it stops arterial inflow to the distal area, which is what ends the bleed. It is best known by the absence of distal arterial flow and the cessation of bleeding. In practice, you verify by not feeling a distal pulse beyond the tourniquet and by seeing that bleeding has stopped. Numbness can occur with over-tightening and isn’t a required sign of proper tightness. Loosening after bleeding stops isn’t advised—you keep it tight until medical care arrives or you’re told otherwise. The goal isn’t to place it at a particular height relative to the heart; the important part is achieving arterial occlusion to stop the bleed.

The key idea is to ensure arterial blood flow to the injured limb is blocked. A tourniquet is tightened enough when it stops arterial inflow to the distal area, which is what ends the bleed.

It is best known by the absence of distal arterial flow and the cessation of bleeding. In practice, you verify by not feeling a distal pulse beyond the tourniquet and by seeing that bleeding has stopped. Numbness can occur with over-tightening and isn’t a required sign of proper tightness. Loosening after bleeding stops isn’t advised—you keep it tight until medical care arrives or you’re told otherwise. The goal isn’t to place it at a particular height relative to the heart; the important part is achieving arterial occlusion to stop the bleed.