The Life-Saving Importance of Knowing How to Apply a Tourniquet: The Five-Minute Window to Save a Life

In moments of extreme injury, when life hangs in the balance, knowing how to utilize or even apply a tourniquet can be the difference between life and death. Accidents happen in an instant, and if someone suffers a severe bleed, every second counts. Within as little as five minutes, a person can bleed to death. When bleeding is this severe, there’s not enough time to wait on EMS or paramedics to save the day. You have to be your own first responder when lives are on the line.

Understanding how to properly apply a tourniquet is one of the most critical skills anyone can possess, especially when faced with such an emergency. This article will dive deep into the importance of tourniquets, how severe bleeds occur, and why swift action is vital for survival.

How Quickly Can Blood Loss Lead to Death?

When an artery is hit or severed during an accident, such as in the arm or leg, extreme blood loss can happen in mere minutes. When bleeding out from an artery, the blood is bright red. On average, the human body contains about 5 to 6 liters of blood, and losing just 20% of that can make it that much harder for the heart to pump enough blood to the body’s organs.

Within three to five minutes of severe bleeding, the body’s organs, especially the brain, are starved of oxygen. Without sufficient blood flow, the brain can only survive for a short time before permanent damage occurs. Once the brain and other vital organs begin to shut down, death follows rapidly.

Why a Tourniquet Can Be a Lifesaver

A tourniquet is a device that, when applied high, tight, and fast, can stop the flow of blood to the bleeding limbs by compressing blood vessels. In situations involving severe limb trauma and bleeding from an artery, it is one of the most effective tools for preventing death due to blood loss. Learning how to apply a tourniquet may save someone’s life — or even your own.

Tourniquets require you to remember three things: high, tight, and fast. Time is limited when applying a tourniquet, so make sure to apply it high on the limb, as tightly as possible, and apply it as fast as possible to prevent severe blood loss.

Here’s why a tourniquet is so crucial:

1. Stops Life-Threatening Bleeding: A properly applied tourniquet — high on the limb, tight beyond the point of discomfort, and applied quickly — immediately stops severe, bright red bleeding until paramedics or EMS arrive. You can buy as much as two hours to save a person’s life when a tourniquet is properly utilized.

2. Keeps Blood Pressure Stable: As blood loss slows, the body has a better chance of maintaining stable blood pressure, ensuring that oxygen continues to reach the heart and brain.

4. Preserves Life: A tourniquet doesn’t heal the wound, but it buys life-saving time — minutes or even hours in some cases — until more definitive treatment, such as surgery, can be performed.

Key Points to Know About Applying a Tourniquet

• Tourniquets should only go on extremities, such as arms or legs. They should never be applied to the torso or midsection.
• Tourniquets should be applied as high as possible on the wounded arm or leg. That means, if a person’s arm is injured, it should be applied near the shoulder. If their leg is injured, utilize the tourniquet near the hip (without actually applying it on the hip).
• Tourniquets should be applied as tight as possible, until the bright red bleeding stops.
• Tourniquets should be applied as quickly as possible. As mentioned above, a person’s life can be in danger within minutes, which is why time matters when applying a tourniquet.

Myths and Misconceptions About Tourniquets

There are many misconceptions surrounding the use of tourniquets, some of which may prevent people from using them when they’re most needed. Here are a few myths debunked:

1. Myth: Tourniquets Should Only Be a Last Resort: While this was once a common belief, modern research has shown that tourniquets are one of the most effective ways to stop severe bleeding. The earlier they are applied, the better the outcome.

2. Myth: Tourniquets Cause Limb Loss: While it’s true that prolonged tourniquet use can lead to tissue damage, the risk of losing a limb is far less concerning than the immediate risk of death from blood loss. Advances in medical care have significantly reduced the likelihood of limb loss following tourniquet use.

3. Myth: You Can’t Use a Makeshift Tourniquet: While commercial tourniquets are designed for optimal use, in an emergency, a makeshift tourniquet made from a power cord, bandage, or piece of cloth can still be effective. The key is applying it tightly enough to stop the bleeding.

Knowing How to Apply a Tourniquet: A Skill That Can Save Lives

Knowing how to tie a tourniquet is a skill that could save a life in an emergency. Whether you’re in a remote area far from medical help or simply the first responder to an accident (because let’s face it, sometimes you have to be your own first responder), your ability to act quickly and correctly can make the difference between life and death. A severe bleed is one of the most dangerous injuries a person can suffer, but with the right knowledge and tools, you can buy the time needed until medical professionals can take over and save a life. 

Taking the time to learn this essential first aid skill can prepare you to act quickly and effectively in a crisis, helping to ensure that you are ready when seconds count. And with an emergency kit from ProActive Response Group, you can have a tourniquet on hand at all times. Emergencies are never planned — you never know when you might need to save someone’s life (or even your own). And if you’re interested in hosting a class, contact ProActive Response Group today!