Tourniquet, << TUR nuh keht, >> is a tight, twisted cloth wrapped around a limb to control bleeding. The pressure of the tourniquet slows blood supply to the injured area and thus diminishes blood loss. People formerly applied tourniquets as a first aid procedure. But in many cases, improper use of the tourniquet impaired blood circulation in the injured limb and caused gangrene (tissue death). Many people have had limbs amputated and have even died because of improperly applied tourniquets. Thus, only doctors and specially trained paramedics should use tourniquets.
Because of the risks associated with them, tourniquets are rarely used today. Instead, medical personnel use special inflated airbags to slow bleeding in emergency situations. The airbags compress the injured limb without impairing blood circulation.
