Life-Saving Decisions: Your Guide to Bleeding Control Equipment

 

 

Picture this: You're at a remote worksite in the outback, 300kms from the nearest hospital. A colleague has just suffered a serious injury, blood is pooling on the ground, and you've got seconds to decide: tourniquet or wound dressing? In this critical moment, your understanding of these tools could mean the difference between life and death.

 

The Reality Check

Every day across Australia, industrial accidents, vehicle crashes, and recreational incidents result in life-threatening bleeding emergencies. As a country, we face many unique challenges when responding to trauma, including:

  • Remote locations mean emergency response times can exceed 45 minutes in regional areas and several hours in remote worksites
  • Extreme temperatures and humidity can affect both casualties and medical supplies, requiring specific care considerations
  • Varied trauma scenarios, from industrial accidents to recreational injuries, require quick selection of appropriate bleeding control tools
  • Limited access to immediate medical care in remote areas means your initial response could be the only care available for hours

 

At TacMed Australia, we're passionate about bleeding control and our goal is to equip as many Aussies as possible with both the knowledge and the tools to effectively respond in critical moments. So, let’s give you a run down on the gear we are covering in this blog and discuss how to to decide which to use in different scenarios.

 

Understanding Your Tools

 Wound Dressings

Modern wound dressings are sophisticated pieces of medical equipment designed for multiple functions.

OLAES Modular Bandage 

  • Built-in pressure bar that focuses compression directly over the wound site
  • Removable gauze for wound packing that's stored within the bandage
  • Detachable occlusive layer that can be used as a chest seal
  • Multi-purpose design combines wound packing, pressure dressing, and occlusive dressing in one package
  • Best Uses:
    • Scalp wounds requiring pressure
    • Extremity injuries with moderate bleeding
    • Chest wounds requiring occlusive dressing
    • Injuries requiring wound packing

Israeli Emergency Bandage

  • Pressure bar allows you to redirect and focus compression directly over the wound
  • Can be applied effectively with one hand, even in awkward positions
  • Quick-release clips secure the bandage firmly without any knots required
  • All-in-one design combines non-stick pad, elastic bandage, and pressure applicator
  • Best Uses:
    • Extremity wounds requiring pressure
    • Awkward locations needing secure bandaging
    • Situations requiring quick application
    • When uniform pressure is crucial

 Pro Tip: In our harsh Australian climate, check your dressings regularly. Heat and humidity can affect packaging over time.

When To Use A Wound Dressing

Wound dressings, like our OLAES Modular Bandage and Israeli Emergency Bandage, are your go-to for:

  • Steady flow of dark red blood: This typically indicates venous bleeding, which can often be controlled with direct pressure and a proper wound dressing.
  • Injuries to areas where tourniquets won't work: Head, neck, and torso injuries require effective pressure dressings as tourniquets can't be applied to these areas.
  • After wound packing in deeper injuries: Deep wounds may require packing with haemostatic gauze first, followed by a pressure dressing to maintain that packing in place and provide additional compression.
  • When direct pressure alone will control bleeding.
  • As a protective cover over secured wounds: Once bleeding is controlled, wound dressings provide vital protection against contamination and infection.

Scenario 1: A mountain bike rider has come off their bike and has a deep leg wound with a moderate steady, dark red blood flow.

  • Correct Choice: Wound Dressing
  • Why: The bleeding, while moderate, isn't life-threatening. Direct pressure with a quality dressing like the OLAES Bandage will likely be effective.

Scenario 2: A surfer has been hit by their board fin causing a deep gash to their shoulder with steady, dark blood flow.

  • Correct Choice: Wound Dressing +/- wound packing
  • Why: The wound location isn't on a limb so is not suitable for a tourniquet, and the bleeding isn't life-threating. An OLAES dressing provides wound packing capabilities, wound coverage and pressure application.

Scenario 3: A construction worker sustains a deep laceration from sheet metal to their forearm with steady, dark red blood loss.

  • Correct Choice: Wound Dressing
  • Why: Despite the serious nature of the cut, the steady dark red flow suggests venous rather than arterial bleeding. An Israeli Emergency Bandage's pressure bar system will provide focused compression exactly where needed. Caveat: if the bleeding can't be controlled (ie the dressing soaks through quickly), get the tourniquet on also!

 

Checking Effectiveness Of A Wound Dressing:

  • No blood seeping through the dressing
  • Firm but not tight pressure (one finger should slip under edges)
  • Dressing is staying securely in place
  • Normal skin colour and temperature below the dressing
  • Present pulse below dressing site

 

Tourniquets

When dealing with catastrophic extremity bleeding, having the right tourniquet and knowing how to use it properly is crucial.

C-A-T Tourniquet

  • Single Routing Buckle for faster application, decreased blood loss, effective slack removal, fewer windlass turns, and simplified training.
  • Reinforced windlass rod with increased diameter for enhanced strength, and aggressive ribbing for improved grip.
  • Bilateral windlass clip for rapid windlass lock.
  • Reinforced stabilisation plate with bevelled contact bar.
  • Patented free-moving internal band for evenly distributed circumferential pressure.
  • Effective one-handed application.
  • Designed to perform in all weather conditions.

SOF Tourniquet

  • 1.5” reinforced polyester webbing band glides seamlessly through the buckle for quick application.
  • Slack Indicator Wedge stitched into the band below the windlass to offer a visual confirmation that you have pulled all excess slack from the band.
  • New “Rugged Buckle” has been engineered to remove excess slack in a single motion and stabilises the band at any angle of engagement.
  • 5.5” windlass made from aircraft-grade aluminium to minimise impact from environmental elements for durability in any scenario.
  • Tourniquet Retention Assistance Clip™ holds the windlass in place until you can secure it.
  • Tri-Ring Lock™ prevents the windlass from moving during patient transportation.

 

When To Use A Tourniquet

Tourniquets are designed for one critical purpose: stopping catastrophic arterial bleeding from limbs. These life-saving devices are essential when you encounter:

  • Spurting blood from arms or legs: This indicates arterial bleeding, where blood is pumping out with each heartbeat. The colour and pulsing nature of the blood loss means you need immediate, decisive action with a tourniquet.
  • Amputations or severe crushing injuries to limbs: These injuries often involve multiple blood vessels and complex trauma patterns that make direct pressure ineffective. A tourniquet is your best first option.
  • Multiple injury sites on a limb: When dealing with multiple wounds, such as from machinery accidents or animal attacks, controlling bleeding at multiple points becomes nearly impossible with direct pressure alone.
  • When direct pressure isn't controlling the bleed: If you've applied firm, direct pressure for 3-5 minutes and blood is still flowing freely, it's time to escalate to a tourniquet.
  • When you need both hands free to help the patient: In complex scenarios, such as mass casualty incidents or tactical situations, where you might not be able to properly assess a wound, need to maintain an airway or move the patient to safety, a properly applied tourniquet frees you up to provide other critical care.



Scenario 1: A colleague has suffered a severe arm injury from machinery, with bright red blood spurting with each heartbeat.

  • Correct Choice: Tourniquet
  • Why: The bright red, pulsing blood indicates arterial bleeding. This is exactly when you need a C-A-T or SOF Tourniquet, applied high and tight on the limb.

Scenario 2: A worker sustained a deep circular saw injury to their leg, resulting in bright red blood pumping from multiple wound sites.

  • Correct Choice: Tourniquet
  • Why: Trying to apply direct pressure to multiple sites would be ineffective. A tourniquet applied above all wounds provides rapid bleeding control. Remember, blood on the floor is no use to anyone, get the tourniquet on quickly.

Scenario 3: A farmer has suffered a partial amputation to their leg from a piece of farm machinery, with bright red blood spurting heavily from the injury.

  • Correct Choice: Tourniquet
  • Why: The severity and type of injury, combined with bright red pulsing blood, requires immediate arterial occlusion. Direct pressure would be inadequate for this level of trauma. Get the tourniquet on to control the bleeding and immediately dial 000.

Pro tip: Brush up on your tourniquet application technique by clicking here to view Jez’s latest demonstration on deploying a SOF Tourniquet.

 

Checking Effectiveness Of A Tourniquet:

  • Complete cessation of bleeding
  • Absence of distal pulse
  • Pale or white appearance of the limb below the tourniquet
  • If bleeding continues, consider applying a second tourniquet above the first

 

Essential Kit Components

 Your Bleeding Control Kit Should Include:

  • Tourniquet (C-A-T and/or SOF): At least 1 or 2 in case of multiple casualties
  • Trauma dressings (OLAES and/or Israeli): At least 1 or 2 in case of multiple casualties
  • Trauma Shears: Heavy-duty shears capable of cutting through thick clothing, boots, and webbing. Essential for accessing wounds quickly and safely.
  • Emergency Blanket: Help to protect your casualty from shock by keeping their body temperature above 35 degrees Celsius.
  • Nitrile Gloves: Blood-borne pathogens are a serious risk. Pack extras as gloves tear and you may need to help multiple patients.

Pro tip: Our TacMed Individual Bleeding Control Kit contains the necessary items to control serious bleeding and prevent further blood loss for a victim suffering a traumatic injury. This compact kit has been expertly designed to allow for easy access to all the components inside even under duress. It can be easily stored in your car, backpack, office drawer or worn on your work-belt.


Maintenance Tips for Bleeding Control Kits

  • Regularly inspect all packaging for tears or damage
  • Wound dressings should be stored in the original vacuum sealed packaging
  • Tourniquets are not designed for multiple uses
  • If keeping your tourniquet out of packaging for ease of deployment:
    • Verify Velcro is clean and functional
    • Ensure all straps and buckles move freely
    • Look for any signs of mould, mildew or other damage
  • Use a rugged case like the tough Cordura nylon that we use for most of our trauma first aid kits.
  • Store your kit out of direct sunlight to extend the life of the components
  • Consider using silica gel packets in humid areas to protect from moisture
  • Keep spare equipment in climate-controlled storage and rotate stock more frequently in extreme conditions.

Remember: Even the best tools in the world won't help if they're not maintained and readily accessible when you need them.

 

While both tourniquets and wound dressings play crucial roles in bleeding control, they serve very different purposes. Think of it this way - you wouldn't use a sledgehammer to hang a picture frame, and you wouldn't use a finishing nail to demolish a wall. Each tool has its specific job, and using the right one at the right time can be critical when faced with an emergency. 

 

Stay safe,

Team TacMed

 

*Note: Always follow current ANZCOR guidelines and seek immediate emergency medical care in any trauma situation. This information supplements but does not replace proper first aid training.

 

References:

ANZCOR Guideline 9.1.1 - First Aid Management of Bleeding: https://www.anzcor.org/home/first-aid-management-of-injuries/guideline-9-1-1-first-aid-for-management-of-bleeding/

Stop the Bleed Campaign Resources: https://www.stopthebleed.org/

C-A-T Tourniquet: https://tacmedaustralia.com.au/collections/tourniquets/products/combat-application-tourniquet-c-a-t

SOF Tactical Tourniquet: https://tacmedaustralia.com.au/collections/tourniquets/products/sof-tactical-tourniquet-wide

OLAES Modular Bandage: https://tacmedaustralia.com.au/collections/bandages/products/olaes-modular-bandage

Israeli Emergency Bandage: https://tacmedaustralia.com.au/collections/bandages/products/israeli-emergency-bandage

 

 

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