In 1886, Esmacher invented the tourniquet - a rubber tube, mainly used for battlefield rescue (emergency hemostasis and reducing bleeding during amputation surgery). Later, its use also expanded to emergency hemostasis for bleeding caused by snake and insect bites in the wild, as well as routine treatment and infusion, blood drawing, and transfusion in medical treatment. The disadvantage is that if used repeatedly, stored casually, not disinfected or not thoroughly disinfected, or the disinfection interval is too long, it can easily lead to cross infection. Later, people invented disposable medical tourniquets. The following points should be noted when using a tourniquet.

Before using a tourniquet, carefully check for any air leaks and ensure that the tourniquet is flexible and practical. Otherwise, it should be replaced in a timely manner.

2. Accurately select tourniquets (large, medium, and small) based on limbs and age.

3. When tying, the elasticity should be appropriate to accommodate one finger.

4. Before tying the tourniquet, wrap it with gauze or sterile cloth to protect the limbs and flatten it to prevent uneven force from causing blisters or blood stasis.

5. After tying, use gauze bandages to reinforce for two weeks to prevent swelling or slipping.

6. Sterile tourniquets can be tied by hand washing nurses on the operating table with the assistance of the chief surgeon to ensure appropriate tightness.

7. Strictly control the time limit for using a tourniquet, with the first use of a single limb not exceeding 90 minutes, the second use not exceeding 60 minutes, and an interval of 5-10 minutes between the two uses.

eightWhen driving away blood, it is necessary to apply uniform and continuous force, with the bleeding band overlapping by more than or equal to 1/3, and gradually driving the blood from the distal end of the limb to the edge of the tourniquet, inflating it to the required KPA to achieve sufficient hemostasis.

nineWhen using a tourniquet on multiple limbs at the same time, when relaxing, one limb should be relaxed first, and the other limb should be relaxed after the blood pressure stabilizes. The duration of use for each limb is 60 minutes. Prevent prolonged ischemia of meridians, limb necrosis, and sudden increase in effective circulating blood volume, which can increase the burden on the heart.