POLICY #
POLICY NAME
Use of Combat Application Tourniquet in the Center for
Emergency Care
EFFECTIVE DATE
SPONSORED BY
DATE
ADMINISTRATIVE
APPROVAL
DATE
LAST REVIEW DATE
I.
POLICY
II.
PURPOSE
A.
B.
The goal of a Combat Application Tourniquet is to occlude arterial blood flow and stop
the distal pulse.
Implications
1.
Extreme life-threatening limb hemorrhage, or limb amputation/mangling.
2.
Life-threatening limb hemorrhage not controlled by simple methods.
III.
DEFINITIONS
IV.
PROCEDURE
A.
B.
POLICY #
NEXT REVIEW DATE
Placement of tourniquet
1.
Placement should be distal to the wound, but at least 5 cm proximal to the injury
2.
Should be applied directly over exposed skin.
3.
The following steps should be followed when applying a Combat Application
Tourniquet. (Below are the manufacturer’s instructions for application.)
a)
Route the self-adhering band around the extremity.
b)
Pass the band through the outside slit of the buckle.
c)
Pull the self-adhering band tight.
d)
Twist the rod until bright red bleeding stops. Lock the rod in place with
the clip.
Evaluation of Effectiveness
1.
Placement of the tourniquet is deemed effective with the cessation of bleeding
and absence of a distal pulse.
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C.
D.
Tourniquet Time
1.
Tourniquets should be removed as soon as possible within 1-hour of application.
The patient should be taken to the Operating Room emergently for intervention.
2.
A physician must remain with the patient at all times while a tourniquet is
applied.
Removal of Tourniquet
1.
The Combat Application Tourniquet is to be removed by the Attending Surgeon
or Resident Surgeon (To include Trauma, Ortho, and Vascular Surgery) in the
Operating Room.
V.
RESPONSIBILITY
VI.
KEY WORDS
VII.
APPENDIX
POLICY #
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