To tie a tourniquet correctly to stop bleeding, follow these steps:
- Place the tourniquet 2 to 3 inches (about 5-7 cm) above the wound or injury, between the wound and the heart. Do not place it directly on a joint. If the wound location is unclear, position it high on the limb near the torso.
- Tighten the strap or band of the tourniquet firmly around the limb by pulling it tight.
- If your tourniquet has a windlass (a rod), twist it to further tighten until the bleeding stops or significantly slows.
- Secure the windlass or rod in place to prevent it from loosening.
- Note the time the tourniquet was applied and get medical help immediately. Tourniquets should not be left on for longer than two hours if possible.
- The process may be very painful, but it is necessary to control life-threatening bleeding.
If a commercial tourniquet is unavailable, improvised methods involve tying a strong band tightly around the limb and twisting a stick or similar object as a windlass to apply pressure.
