| Back in "the old days", as my grandchildren often say | | | | the blood to continue flowing through. This |
| to me, every good Boy Scout and First Aid Caregiver | | | | method will not damage the area below the wound but |
| was taught how to make a tourniquet. Today, | | | | should control the excess bleeding until help arrives or |
| tourniquets are a no-no and should not be used to stop | | | | transport to the emergency room or other medical |
| bleeding. According to Dr. Schneider of the | | | | facility can be made. |
| American College of Emergency Physicians, using a | | | | According to Dr. Charles Pattavina, chief of |
| tourniquet can do much more harm than good. | | | | emergency medicine at St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, |
| Dr. Schneider stated that if one has a cut on the upper | | | | Maine, a tourniquet may still be used when "everything |
| part of the leg and a tourniquet is applied, you will close | | | | below the wound is beyond repair."Â This would |
| the vessels to the entire leg. This could actually | | | | be the case if the area below the wound has been |
| cause the loss of the foot due to a loss of blood | | | | amputated. In that situation, the main concern |
| supply to the extremities. | | | | becomes stopping the bleeding as the rest of the |
| So how does one stop excess bleeding | | | | damage has already been done. |
| today? As we know, medicine is an evolving | | | | It is important to keep up-to-date on the many |
| science and treatments do change. | | | | changes that take place in the field of medicine. |
|  Today we are told to use our hand, a | | | | In this instance, our old method could cause a |
| clean rag or cloth, paper towel, etc and apply pressure | | | | far more serious problem than the initial wound. |
| to the wound. By doing this, pressure is applied | | | | One thing we don't want to do is to make matters |
| to the wound but the remaining vessels are free for | | | | worse! |