Standing Orders With Dr. Tan: Tourniquet use in the field
In this episode, Dr. David Tan explains what EMS providers need to know about tourniquets and how to avoid potential mistakes in their use
Like so many things in trauma management, we have learned much from our colleagues in the military. When applied properly and under the right circumstances, tourniquets definitely save lives. Hemorrhage control should begin with direct pressure, but in some cases, like exsanguinating pressure, tourniquets can help stop the bleed.
In this Standing Orders episode, Dr. David K. Tan, MD, EMT-T, FAEMS, highlights the benefits of using tourniquets in the field, and the potential mistakes you need to be aware of. Dr. Tan is a member of the EMS1 Editorial Advisory Board, president of the National Association of EMS Physicians, and associate professor and chief of EMS in the division of emergency medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
Read next: Training Day: 4 hemorrhage control solutions that stop the bleed
This article was originally posted Jan. 26, 2012. It has been updated.
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