anyone else carry them?
a tourniquet saved my life in 1980, when my arm got torn off.
i shot a little whitetail buck through the ham 1 time (he jumped the string. that's my story and i'm sticking to it).
he made it 15 yards. looked like you'd poured the blood from a bucket. femoral artery.
i reckon between hog tusks, broadheads, and bowie knives, i oughta have gear to stop bleeding handy.
for me and my dogs.
after watching that buck bleed out in about 5 seconds, i don't keep 'em in my pack, either.
they're in my pocket.
joe
I watched 127 Hours this weekend. Tourniquet saved his life, too. I've never carried one, though. Figured i could use my belt in a pinch.
What do type do you carry?
Tourniquets are a must for everyone in my opinion. They saved many of my fellow marines in afghan and iraq. If you can find it get quick clot gauze. Try to stay away from the sand looking quick clot cant remember the exact name but it burns real hot when in contact with blood.
And also the we called them cat tourniquets but they are the best you can get. heres the link http://combattourniquet.com/
they used the gauze on my son and worked pretty good. i would like to get some but never really looked for them. should do that and put some with my gear and in my truck.
Here's Mine , and I don't leave home without it. Well, Actually.. I have a three .. 1 in my truck , 1 in my Bison Gear, and 1 in my USAR Ruck.
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Suty15/c2962161.jpg)
I carry a CAT/Quickclot with me at all times. comes with the job!
TxAG sent you a pm!
PM sent back. Thanks! This is an interesting thread. Opened my eyes a bit.
Kids with sharp toys need such. Thanks for the threadas a reminder. Will have one of each with me this season. You should see the back of my leg from trying to to stalk a buck and crawling under a fence. Sure could have used the gauze. Again thanks
QuoteOriginally posted by USMC0311:
And also the we called them cat tourniquets but they are the best you can get. heres the link http://combattourniquet.com/
We use the cat tourn. use quick clot as well but as said in a gauze. They go hand in hand, but watch a tourniquet as you may los ewhat you apply it to but it is better than dyin.
Unless you are experienced in military med or an EMT in civilian life stop by your local paramedics and get the low down on what to look for and how to properly apply both. They are more than happy to give anyone a rundown.
I have to ask, how did you tear off an arm? if none of my business - completely understood.
J
both the cat tourniquet and quick clot are good when used properly, but i would always say to try your basics first direct pressure and elevation first,in all my years in the Army and now a paramedic i have only had to use a tourniquet very few times where direct pressure and elevation has not worked, dont get me wrong i always carry them as if you are alone and in real trouble they are perfect. but just remember they can give you very nasty outcomes if left on for to long and whatever you do if you put one on DO NOT TAKE IT OFF UNTIL U R IN HOSP as releasing it can cause lots of nasty toxins that have built up to be released to your heart and send you into cardiac arrest believe me i have seen this. its the same principle as people that are crushed and still alive when they release them most of the time they do not die of blood loss its because the have a massive build up of potassium and when released it goes to the heart and bang cardiac arrest. just be careful and only use them as a last resort.
Both Jdog, and Sambar are correct. These CAT are to be used as a last resort, when Direct Pressure , and Elevation , have failed. Training is the key and I would encourage everyone to seek some kind of Higher Level Training. Your local Fire Depts, or Red Cross can be a good place to start. Even after 25 Years on the Ambulance and Fire Dept, I am amazed at what some folks do, or don't do when it comes to Patient Care. I have used them in about 3 instances that I can recall in all that time. 2 Were Amputations, and the other was a massive avulsion of tissue . In any case good training is the key and common sense is the rule. Tu Compadres, Sutty
All i will say is know your gear before you use it, you don't go try take a deer with a new bow you havnt tuned up and shot so don't go put a tourniquet on if you have not been showed the correct way and have some background knowledge on it.As stated in previous post can have very very dangerous outcomes if not used correctly,
Suty said it best he has used a tourniquet 3 times in his 25 year career as a pre hospital care practitioner, and i have only used them once in Australia as a paramedic in 5 years service and twice in a combat situation when in the Army in Iraq and the 2 times in a combat situation was only done as i couldn't stay with the patient to do direct pressure and elevation for him. for some reason when you ask people to stop shooting at you they don't really listen LOL
i don't doubt that, as with most things, training is a good idea.
but i don't buy that you shouldn't use a tourniquet without it.
when i saw the blood spurting from the stump of my arm, in the woods 90 miles from a hospital, i knew 1 thing:
this has just naturally got to stop! :scared: whipped off my suspenders, picked up a stick, made a lousy tourniquet, applied it inexpertly, and stopped the flow.
also, i think it's worth pointing out that you guys are healthy professionals doing the job you are trained to do, whether on battlefield or street.
a man hunting alone who falls on a broadhead and cuts a big artery is in very different fix.
i don't mean to seem argumentative. i appreciate you guys, especially your military service.
joe
I totally agree with you mate u can't sit there with your arm hanging off and walk out to help using direct pressure and elevation. you need a tourniquet for that anyday of the week. Some people freak at the sight of blood and panic witch is a natural reaction but think of it this way the adverage human can loose approx 3-4lt of blood before dieing of blood loss and think of a glass of water and if u tipped that glass of water on the floor how far it spreads that's only 250mls. I just wanted to put it out there that they are not the first point of call that's all and if possible try other means to stop bleeding before using one. And the complications of using them so people are aware. But defenetly in your case I would have done the same thing every day of the week.
And sorry as for using them without training, if you r going to carry one like a cat in your kit then I think you would be stupid not to know how to use it as some are not as easy to use as they look and if done up to tight can break making them useless. But as u said I agree totally anyone can use a tourniquet without training using anything they can put around there limb tight enough to stop bleeding it's not rocket science, but what I'm getting at is if u are going to carry one in your kit know how it works and when to ise it that's all.
i'm with you all the way, brother.
err...mate.
thanks.
joe
I have not used the quick clot, but in Marines used a few tourniquets and twice since being out. I have cat one in truck, and always carry web belt. guys, I was lucky enough to get some great training with what I did in the Corps and if your going to spend the money to use it, go through a course or get somekind of support training.
QuoteOriginally posted by sledge:
when my arm got torn off
:eek: How? :eek: How are you doing nowadays with all that? Hows your bow shooting?
I take blood thinners and hunt alone so always take the Quickclot.
air goes in and out - blood goes round and round -
any deviation to the above is an issue! :D
I could not imagine hunting back country, or any anywhere without some basic emergency med knowledge and equipment - whether basic bleeding/shock control to CPR. You crew that head out into those western mountains in the fall need be packing, and know how/when to use pressuer/elevation down to the last resorts quicklot/tourniquet.
Learn situations as you say -- If I was to fall on my arrow, catch an artery?? pull it out or leave and bandage it in place??
Trying to think of another situation? anywhoo you get the idea - not about being fearful but being prepared! talk to some paramedics maybe good docs though medics are better experienced in the "field/real" world, they will be glad to talk you through some situations.
Saw a young man lose a leg in a motorcycle wreck, and he did not rate a tourniquet, did not bleed severly at all, bandage and pressure squared him away just never know so be prepared.
Chief
I think another good point you made about the lost arm, how far you were from help. I have been on ambie runs with severe bleeding but we were only coupole miles from the ER - chose not to tourniquet just control the bleeding with pressure/elev basics as the ER was so close. Where I work we are close to the ER, where your injury occured you would not have survived without the tournie!
Anyone thinking about using a tourniquet does need to realize one very important overall concept: Tourniquets are used to preserve life, at the expense of limb (if necessary). They are not a convenience or way to reduce non-life-threatening bleeding. They must only be brought into play when the situation calls for their use in order to prevent imminent or potential death. Their use by an improperly informed or trained person can (not always) result in unnecessary severe injury. Like all advanced first-aid and emergency techniques, knowledge is the ultimate key to correct use.
I carry Para cord about 30 feet it is tied to everything. I never thought about getting real tourniquet I also carry a well supply fist aid kit.
lets not forget the most important item to have a cell phone to call for help, pretty sure once you apply a tourniquet your not going to feel or be able to hop up and walk yourself out of the woods?
you got cellphone coverage where you hunt?
i don't.
the most important item? a CELLPHONE?
is this what we have come to?
not i, sir. not i.
joe
Yes a cellphone...I never leave home without it. Or my first aid kit.
In this age of technology, there's little reason not to be in communication with assistance if disaster strikes. My cell phone goes to the treestand. A satellite phone goes with me (us) to Alaska and other remote locations. In addition, a year ago I bought a new ACR Electronics PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) which travels with me. I mainly do these things out of respect for family, and my desire to protect them as much as myself.
sledge i know what your thinking, not to traditional. but in doing my job as a flight medic i have yet to see anybody that has had that amount of significant trauma, be able to maintain total composure to apply a torniquet and then figure out how to get themselves out of the mess they are in. not even sayig the vast and beautifull area you are blessed to live and hunt. cant imagine trying to walk out of the back country with a tourniquet tied to my leg.
i'm sorry i put it that way, flight medic-
i should have just said self-reliance comes 1st, to me.
joe
Had to use the quickclot sponge on my oldest son (17yo)last year in camp when he missed the stick he was chopping with a hatchet and instead chopped off the end of his left thumb!
Applied the quickclot sponge with pressure and had him elevate it above his heart while we drove the 20 miles into Gunnison, Colorado to the emergency room to get stitches.
The stuff worked like a charm!