Do you carry a tourniquet when diving?

[kinoons]

DO NOT USE TAMPONS OR DIAPERS TO CONTROL HEMORRHAGE.

Neither actually controls the bleeding, they just absorb blood that could otherwise be contained in the body with an actual dressing. Tampons in particular shed particles and are associated with vastly increased chances of sepsis. If you’re building an aid kit, get some actual woven gauze and some actual pressure bandages.

The tampons thing is one of the worst urban legends in trauma.

I specifically noted they can be used to absorb blood, similar to gauze pads externally.

in the case of more than just a scrape or cut direct pressure, hemostatic agents, pressure points, or possibly a tourniquet, is needed to actually stop bleeding.

Edit - although I will agree that either diapers or tampons are low on the list on things I would want to use to soak up external bleeding. Sure they will work, but there are much better tools for the job.

 

[leavenotrace]

If there’s other options available, ie pressure and elevation… actually you shouldn’t use a zip tie as a tourniquet at all, it’s too thin, it’s a issue to get off, limb ischemia/ compartment syndrome
Is a real thing and there’s actual tourniquets out there.
You should also mark the time you applied the TQ by writing it on the PTs forehead and never apply over a joint.
Someone who’s had a traumatic injury w/ blood loss, needs to be have the bleeding stopped, kept warm and fluid replacement immediately.

Ischemia is the point of a tourniquet.

Compartment syndrome is completely different and not related to tourniquet application in field use at your level of function.

 

[MacDuyver]

Is that because use of a tourniquet substantially increases the likelihood of needing to amputate?

A tourniquated limb can be completely pulseless for 8-12 hours and restored in full with no increased risk of amputation or even function loss.

In NATO countries.

Your mileage may vary in less developed places, but as mentioned earlier, limb amputation is neither here nor there if someone is dead.

 

[leavenotrace]

I don’t, but you could improvise with a tank strap or weigh belt strap or any webbing.

No, you really can't.

 

[leavenotrace]

This thread is crazy. I made no statement, merely asked a question 2 years and 4 months ago, directed to a specific person, asking why the EMTs were upset at that person. I got 1 thumbs down years ago (for asking a question), 1 thumbs down today [edit, now 2], and a snippy "dead people don't need amputations" (thanks Sherlock). Y'all just ignore my old post, it was a question that was not directed to you.

The idiots and rejects are still at home alone but they "come out" on the Internet. Just use the block/ignore option on them, just like you'd do in real life.

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

….All valid thoughts… I reckon, be prepared for ‘anything’ …training helps as well.

 

[kinoons]

….All valid thoughts… I reckon, be prepared for ‘anything’ …training helps as well.

Training absolutely makes a huge difference, both in using equipment as intended as well as improvising with what may be available when Murphy comes around and says you need to deal with an emergency and have no supplies available.

 

[Zach The Diver]

DO NOT USE TAMPONS OR DIAPERS TO CONTROL HEMORRHAGE.

Neither actually controls the bleeding, they just absorb blood that could otherwise be contained in the body with an actual dressing. tampons in particular she’d particles and are associated with vastly increased chances of sepsis. If you’re building an aid kid, get some actual gauze and some actual pressure bandages.

The tampons thing is one of the worst urban legends

Ischemia is the point of a tourniquet.

Compartment syndrome is completely different and not related to tourniquet application in field use at your level of function.

I’d argue compartment syndrome should at least be taught in layman’s terms. It’s easy to see how a relatively untrained person may stack TQs on a limb with space in-between them to “be safe” or otherwise stop a bleed one TQ may not be doing enough for.

 

[Scott G. Bonser]

I’d argue compartment syndrome should at least be taught in layman’s terms. It’s easy to see how a relatively untrained person may stack TQs on a limb with space in-between them to “be safe” or otherwise stop a bleed one TQ may not be doing enough for.

…again…training. A qualified first aid course for sure. Perhaps some dedicated DMs looking to learn from your certification agency.

 

[Zach The Diver]

Correct, however you do run the risk of neuropathies and other issues but- as you said- better any of those things than dead.

Let’s be real, unless you’re in a truly austere environment, Mother Nature gave you and your medevac the middle finger (in which case you shouldn’t be diving anyways barring sudden onset of freak weather), or you chose to dive in a combat zone, you are going to be under the tutelage of medical professionals well within that timeframe where appropriate trauma interventions can be rendered or- at the very least- convert your tourniquet and apply an appropriate pressure dressing.