THE CONSTRICTING BANDS
TACTICAL TOURNIQUETS
S e m a n t i c S
A constricting band/tourniquet – these words are
used to describe both constricting bands (to con-
trol hemorrhage), and compressing tourniquets
(used, for instance for blood collecting or to get a
peripheral intravenous access). A constricting band
is also a kind of the tourniquet. It fulfills a function
both of the constricting band, and a compressing
tourniquet.
The difference between them consists in that that
in the case of the tourniquet, constricting is provid-
ed by twisting a compressing tourniquet in order to
occlude or restrict a flow in the lumen of the deep
veins or arteries, and in the case of the compress-
ing tourniquet only by occluding on the limb to the
moment when a blood flow in the shallow layers on
the limb surface occludes or is made slower.
A debate whether an adopted description "a tac-
tical tourniquet" is proper and if one should use
a term "a constricting band" continues. From my
point of view, considering an attempt to make a
stasis in veins or arteries such a term is accept-
able, the rather that in many professional publica-
tions the concepts of the "tactical tourniquet" and
a "constricting band" are used interchangeably.
"A constricting band" is associated, by a part
of users, with an improvised constricting element,
and "a tactical tourniquet" with a manufactured de-
vice. Anyway, if we call them a switch, a tourniquet,
a constricting band or even "this stuff" – it does not
matter because this equipment is intended to save
life, and a user should be able to use it correctly
and do not think over its terminology. Let us leave
considerations on the name to the Medical Univer-
sity level.
BY: michał czerwińSki Photo: michał czerwińSki,
michał SitarSki, US armY, USmc
www.fragoutmag.com
