Hasty tourniquets are classified as which type of tourniquet in care under fire?

• A. Hasty tourniquets
• B. Commercial rapid tourniquets
• C. Pressure bandage only
• D. Surgical tourniquets

Answer: (A)

In care under fire, there are two main ways to control limb bleeding with a tourniquet: improvised, quick-made devices, and ready-made, commercial rapid tourniquets. A hasty tourniquet is the improvised, field-expedient option created on the spot using available materials to stop arterial blood flow as quickly as possible. That makes it the improvised category of tourniquets used in care under fire. When possible, a commercially manufactured rapid tourniquet is preferred for reliability, but if none is available or time is critical, a hasty (improvised) tourniquet is used. This is distinct from a pressure bandage used alone, which does not occlude arterial flow, and from surgical tourniquets, which are used in a medical surgical setting.