Which device is preferred for rapid external hemorrhage control on a limb?

• A. Direct pressure with gauze
• B. Combat tourniquet
• C. Hemostatic gauze with no tourniquet
• D. Pressure dressings

Answer: (B)

When a limb is bleeding heavily, the fastest way to save life is to stop the arterial blood flow to that limb. A combat tourniquet does exactly that by rapidly occluding circulation proximal to the wound, which immediately halts the major source of blood loss. Its design lets you apply it quickly with one hand in the field and keeps it in place even if the patient moves, making it more reliable than methods that rely on packing with gauze or applying pressure over time.

Direct pressure with gauze can control bleeding in many cases, but it often isn’t enough for severe, life-threatening limb bleeds and it requires ongoing, sometimes prolonged effort. Hemostatic gauze helps reduce clotting time, but without a tourniquet, continuous bleeding may persist. Pressure dressings can help in some injuries but they’re generally less effective for rapid control of major arterial bleeds on a limb.

So the quickest, most dependable way to achieve rapid external hemorrhage control on a limb is to apply a combat tourniquet.