The SOF tourniquet is a vitaltrauma response kit component that everyone should be familiar with. If you have never used a tourniquet before, you may not really understand how it works or how to use it properly. Proper application is essential with any tourniquet to ensure that it regulates blood loss the way that it is supposed to. Basic tourniquet procedures are a good place to start.
What Does the SOF Tourniquet Do?
Tourniquets are designed to stop blood flow beyond the tourniquet’s application point. Applied tightly around the affected area, they compress the arteries to prevent further blood loss following a catastrophic injury. The loss ofmore than 20% of your blood can cause hemorrhagic shock, and further blood volume loss beyond that can result in death, though the actual amount of blood loss that's sustainable varies slightly by individual. This is why a properly applied tourniquet is so critical in trauma response.
What Makes the SOF Tourniquet Different?
You might wonder what sets this tourniquet apart from any other tourniquet style or option. One of the best things about SOF tourniquets is that it is designed to be used with either one hand or two, which means you can use one by yourself if you suffer an injury. These tourniquets are crafted so that you can easily slide them in place or unclip them to easily wrap around an affected area. Then you can tighten the tourniquet with one hand if necessary, which is ideal if you are by yourself when you are injured.
When Do You Need To Use a Tourniquet?
Understanding when the SOF tourniquet is needed is as important as knowing how to apply one. If you are dealing with a laceration or any kind of open wound that’s bleeding heavily, start by applying direct pressure on the wound with gauze to see if that stops the bleeding. If pressure on the wound isn’t stopping the bleeding, that’s a sign that you’ll need a tourniquet for the injury while you wait for emergency services.
How Do You Apply the SOF Tourniquet?
Applying a tourniquet properly is the first step toward protecting against catastrophic blood loss. To be truly effective, the tourniquet must be positioned between the injury and your body’s core, but as close to the injury as possible. Remember that blood pumps out from your heart, so place the tourniquet so that it disrupts that flow to the affected area. Make sure the tourniquet is on bare skin so there’s nothing to disrupt it.
Twist the windlass on the SOF tourniquet so that the compression band tightens. Keep twisting until the blood flow slows enough or stops. Then, secure the windlass in place so that the tourniquet stays tight. This is important to keep blood flow under control.
A properly applied tourniquet will be painful to a patient, but that’s necessary to prevent excessive blood loss. If you want toadd tourniquets to your trauma response kit, check out the products available at Survivd. We can help you be prepared to respond to any potential disaster.
https://softourniquet.com/#about
https://www.mountainmanmedical.com/a-look-at-the-sof-tourniquet/
https://nursingcecentral.com/lessons/tourniquets-101/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-use-a-tourniquet-1298298
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