Evaluation of possible battlefield tourniquet systems for the far-forward setting.
A significant number of casualties in previous conflicts died from peripheral vascular wounds. A well-designed tourniquet could possibly have prevented these deaths. The objective of this study was the identification of such a tourniquet. A survey of Special Operations corpsmen established important characteristics necessary in an ideal tourniquet. Because most available devices do not and patented ideas could not meet these criteria, a number of prototypes were developed. Seven potentially satisfactory tourniquets were evaluated by 15 Navy SEAL corpsmen. The success and timing of placement were recorded, and a follow-up questionnaire was completed. Of the several successful tourniquets, two were preferred. Tourniquets incorporating a windlass technique take longer to place and often fail when placed with only one hand. New, relatively simple tourniquet devices incorporating bladder and ratchet mechanisms can significantly improve tourniquet performance.
Calkins
D
D
Department of Resuscitative Medicine, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307-5100, USA.
Snow
C
C
Costello
M
M
Bentley
T B
TB
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000523:psychology; D004867:Equipment Design; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008889:Military Personnel; D009326:Naval Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014111:Tourniquets / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D014857:Warfare; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*