J Emerg Med
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The Tourniquet Gap: A Pilot Study of the Intuitive Placement of Three Tourniquet Types by Laypersons.
The "Stop the Bleed" campaign in the United States advocates for nonmedical personnel to be trained in basic hemorrhage control and that "bleeding control kits" be available in high-risk areas. However, it is not clear which tourniquets are most effective in the hands of laypersons. ⋯ Our pilot study on the intuitive nature of applying commercially available tourniquets found unacceptably high rates of failure. Large-scale community education efforts and manufacturer improvements of tourniquet usability by the lay public must be made before the widespread dissemination of tourniquets will have a significant public health effect.