A tourniquet is a device used to stop the flow of blood to an area of the body using pressure. It is an encircling band placed around a limb and tightened enough to compress blood vessels and prevent blood flow. Tourniquets are used in surgery or in the emergency control of severe bleeding from an artery or a large vein. They can help save a life by restricting the flow of blood to that area and then out of the body. However, tourniquets are dangerous if left in place for more than an hour or so.
We want our community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community is not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters.
Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of our community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.