Knowing how to apply a tourniquet can mean the difference between life and death.
We don’t say that to be dramatic. A tourniquet stops life-threatening bleeding. Acting quickly and confidently when applying a tourniquet is a critical wilderness survival skill.
As hunters and outdoorsmen, we often spend time far from civilization. Medical help may be hours away out in the backwoods. If you have an SOF tourniquet in your hunting first aid kit and know how to use it, your chances of survival increase significantly.
What Is an SOF Tourniquet?
An SOF tourniquet is a tactical tourniquet that’s safe, strong, and easy to use. It’s lighter than other combat tourniquets, too, making it the go-to choice for ultralight backpackers.
The SOF tourniquet uses a bar made from a single piece of aluminum to prevent catastrophic failures. It also uses a quick-connect buckle to eliminate the need for buckle threading.
Any tourniquet is good to have in your kit in case of emergency, but the SOF is in a class of its own. Its increased strength and user-friendliness make all the difference in a high-stress scenario.
Preparing for Tourniquet Application
Before applying an SOF tourniquet, remove any objects and obstructions from the affected limb.
Take keys, cell phones, and knives out of the injured person’s pockets and keep them out of the way. Be ready with both hands free. (Keep your cell phone close — you’ll need it to call for help later.)
If you can, remove any clothing in the tourniquet’s way. While tourniquets can still work over clothing, clothes sometimes bunch up underneath, compromising the seal’s quality.
Applying a tourniquet will hurt. The goal is to stop the bleeding, and it needs to squeeze hard for that to happen. Suck it up — it’s better than losing your life.
Push at an angle to slide the buckle on the tourniquet apart. Then, slip the tourniquet around the affected limb.
Once the tourniquet is on, “seesaw” it upward by sliding the tourniquet back and forth until it’s at least two fingers above the wound. Higher is okay if necessary.
Avoid placing a tourniquet directly over a joint. A moving joint can dislodge the tourniquet over time, and joints also protect blood flow, making them hard to restrict. Instead, place it above the joint (closer to the heart).
How to Apply a Tourniquet on Yourself
Once you’ve placed the SOF tourniquet above the wound, buckle it and take out the slack. From there, pull up on the windlass and twist it until the bleeding stops.
There are two methods for securing the windlass: a C-clamp and a triangle backup. Use both methods to ensure the SOF tourniquet stays in place. If you’re traveling through a dense forest and the windlass hits an obstacle, the C-clamp could loosen.
You don’t want the bleeding to restart. The triangle backup helps prevent this, and it acts as an extra safety measure in case the C-clamp comes loose.
How to Apply a Tourniquet on Someone Else
Knowing how to apply a tourniquet on someone else is just as important as knowing how to apply a tourniquet on yourself. In a critical situation, a tourniquet might be all that stands between your friend and serious blood loss. Learning how to operate a tourniquet could save their life.
Start by preparing the SOF tourniquet as you would on yourself. Take it apart, wind it around the limb, “seesaw” it to two fingers above the wound, and secure it. If the injury is less severe — the limb is primarily intact, no bones are sticking out, and it’s at a normal angle — you can slide the entire SOF tourniquet up and over the wound.
If you’re struggling to find the source of the bleeding, ask the injured person where they feel pain, pulsing, tingling, or numbness.
Slide the tourniquet on carefully to ensure it doesn’t twist on the way up. Once it’s at least two fingers above the wound, grab the windlass, remove the slack from the tourniquet, and twist until the bleeding stops. Then, secure the windlass with the C-clamp and triangle backup.
With that done, get medical help immediately.
Checking Tourniquet Effectiveness
You’ve applied an SOF tourniquet properly when the bleeding substantially slows or stops.
You can also feel for a pulse to gauge effectiveness. If you feel a pulse below the tourniquet, arterial blood is still making its way past, meaning the tourniquet isn’t on tight enough. If you don’t feel a pulse, the SOF tourniquet is effectively restricting blood flow to the injury.
Keep track of how long the tourniquet has been in place after it’s applied. If possible, write the time of application on the patient so medical staff can see it. Modern SOF tourniquets feature a time tag to document application time.
An SOF tourniquet shouldn’t be in place for longer than two hours, so time is of the essence.
To Tourniquet or Not to Tourniquet?
In a high-stakes survival situation, it’s hard to tell when to apply a tourniquet and when to forgo one. Not every wound needs a tourniquet.
First, tourniquets only provide effective relief on arterial wounds. If the wound has nicked a vein instead, the SOF tourniquet won’t help, no matter how well you put it on.
Junctional wounds are another gray area. If you have a wound at a joint or junction, it may be difficult or impossible to tourniquet it. It may be more effective to pack the wound instead.
Applying a tourniquet in an unnecessary situation can do more harm than good. If you’re unsure whether the situation calls for one, try applying direct pressure to the area for a minimum of 15 minutes. This often stops the bleeding on borderline wounds.
However, if the blood soaks through immediately and your pressure isn’t stopping the flow, it’s time to apply a tourniquet.
How to Apply a Tourniquet: Final Thoughts
If you’re an outdoorsman, do an enormous service to yourself and others by carrying a tourniquet and learning how to apply one. In the event of a gunshot, knife wound, or other emergency, knowing how to apply an SOF tourniquet can save a life.
If you still don’t feel confident, consider checking for any Stop the Bleed clinics in your area. Stop the Bleed offers tourniquet application classes throughout the USA, and they also hold interactive online courses for those who can’t attend in person.
Before your next adventure, set some time aside to learn how to apply a tourniquet properly. Whether you do so at home or at a clinic, it’s a priceless skill to have in times of need.
by Josh Smith, Master Bladesmith and Founder of Montana Knife Company
