Critics of improvised tourniquets say they are ineffective. Some claim, “if you’re planning to improvise, you’re planning to fail.” We disagree statement. Proper planning includes having a primary plan, in this instance a commercially available tourniquet, and an alternate plan: …
Proven commercially available tourniquets are always our first choice. Though many say improvised tourniquets don’t work, 12 students in a recent class all successfully made them work, when using appropriate materials, verified by Doppler ultrasound. For more on making a …
Although dedicated medical equipment is always preferred, if the only thing that is going to keep someone from dying is a creative solution, you better get creative. Using everyday items, including a Zebra F-701 pen, we complete an improvised surgical …
Kneeling on the casualty’s groin for distal hemorrhage control When I was in the Special Forces Medical Sergeants course a very long time ago, I was taught a stopgap measure for significant lower extremity / groin bleeding was to “drop …
Never underestimate the power of an improvised litter to make moving casualties easier. This technique works best in residential structures because in many commercial buildings, the carpet is not “wall to wall” but rather individual squares, to allow for easy …
It’s very hard to free think in stressful situations. The more you get used to looking around in your environment for items you can co-opt to use in an emergency, the quicker you will be able to improvise if you …
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