How is a hasty tourniquet applied?

• A. High and tight over the clothing
• B. Directly on the wound
• C. Below the wound
• D. Across a joint

Answer: (A)

When stopping severe bleeding from a limb, the goal is to cut off arterial blood flow by applying a tight squeeze proximal to the wound. The hasty tourniquet is meant to be placed high on the limb, above the injury, and ideally over clothing. This positioning ensures the compression covers the artery before the wound and sits on a stable part of the limb for effective occlusion. Putting the tourniquet directly on the wound can cause more tissue damage and isn’t as reliable for stopping bleeding. Placing it below the wound won’t control the arterial inflow to the injury, and applying it across a joint can fail because movement or the joint’s anatomy prevents solid, continuous compression. Tighten firmly until the bleeding stops, then secure the device and note the time.