It’s easy to feel like you’ve “checked the box” by carrying a tourniquet. I see it all the time. Someone straps one on their kit or throws it into their glove box, and suddenly the feel squared away for trauma response. Here’s the reality: YOUR TOURNIQUET IS NOT A SYSTEM! And a system is what you want. A tourniquet solves exactly one problem – uncontrolled extremity hemorrhage. Yes, that problem can kill quickly, it is far from the only life threatening bleed, or lethal trauma related injury you should leave your home prepared to deal with on a daily basis. DO NOT forget, you are 8X more likely to be party to a significant traumatic injury that a violent conflict. Does your training, or daily carry, reflect that reality?
