Applying a tourniquet for severe limb bleeding
Machine translation from Dutch, not yet checked by a clinician.
A tourniquet is an emergency measure for unstoppable bleeding in arms or legs, and it can save a life.
What to do
• Use only for unstoppable bleeding from an arm or leg that does not respond to direct pressure
• Place the tourniquet 5 to 7 cm above the wound — not over a joint
• Twist or pull it tight until the bleeding stops
• Write the time it was applied on the skin or on a piece of paper
• Call 112 immediately — a tourniquet is a temporary emergency measure
Do not do
• Never use a tourniquet on the neck, torso or groin
• Do not remove the tourniquet yourself — this causes dangerous bleeding
• Do not wait longer than 2 to 3 minutes to apply it for arterial bleeding
Warning signs
• Bleeding does not stop despite the tourniquet — get help immediately
• The limb turns blue or white after the tourniquet — this is normal, do not remove it
Get help if
• Always: call 112 when applying a tourniquet
• A tourniquet must be removed by medical staff after 2 hours at most
Why this matters
A correctly applied tourniquet for arterial bleeding in a limb can save a life in the minutes before help arrives.
Source: Tactical Combat Casualty Care Guidelines · reviewed 2025-01-01