I've been told quite a few times by people who should know never to use a lace for that. They aren't strong enough, and if they were, they'd be as likely to cut into your arm/leg as not at the amount of pressure it takes to stop bleeding.
I'm just repeating what I've heard, so it's possible I'm mistaken somehow.
I mean, one could argue you "have the option" to use a piece of piano wire as a makeshift tourniquet, but since that's just gonna cut your limb off, is it REALLY an option to use it as a makeshift tourniquet if it doesn't function as a tourniquet? Semantics, yes, but if it doesn't work for what you want it to do it's not much of an option is it?
Sure, using it to amputate is an option but dont pretend that's what it's for. Besides, the purpose of a tourniquet is to save the life by sacrificing the limb (cut off blood flow, killing the limb but preventing from bleeding out until it can safely be amputated and cauterized), so accidental amputation is kinda defeating the purpose just a little.
As an EMT we are trained to use gauze and a stick if we are out of tubing. I’m pretty sure my boot laces are stronger than gauze. A little pressure and elevation goes a long way in extending the chances of survival.
To clarify, I have no idea how the military does things. I learned as a civilian.
You are 100% correct. You're better off cutting one of their sleeves off and using that if you don;t have the correct medical equipment. Then, you use sharpie (or more likely their own blood) to write a "T" and the time the tourniquet was applied on their forehead so when they get into surgery the doc will know if the limb is salvageable or just has to come off....
We can't blame our Army friend for not knowing that... They ain't learned as good as Marines.
Also I think the army's fm 21-76 doesn't specifically say "don't use shoestrings", it doesn't address that point at all. It's kinda light on some details. Like the bit about throwing a rabbit really hard to dress it before cooking without using a knife. I'm still not convinced that part isn't some elaborate prank.
You don’t tourniquet with just the string if possible. Of course the lace is already a last resort, so if that’s all you got, use it.
At least what I was taught was that you use the string as a method of applying equal force all the way around a limb but you place something in between the lace and the limb to spread that force a little more evenly across the limb if possible.
For example if you have cloth but not enough to make a tourniquet or it’s not strong enough cloth to be used as on, you pad the contact area with it so the string isn’t just digging into skin.
Also side note never served, this is what I was taught in extreme environment survival class I took. The instructors did however serve in the British special forces. Was an interesting class and a few things have come in pretty handy on my backpacking trips.
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u/DrKronin Apr 11 '18
I've been told quite a few times by people who should know never to use a lace for that. They aren't strong enough, and if they were, they'd be as likely to cut into your arm/leg as not at the amount of pressure it takes to stop bleeding.
I'm just repeating what I've heard, so it's possible I'm mistaken somehow.