What is the purpose of the tourniquet?
Purpose: A tourniquet is a constricting or compressing device used to control venous and arterial circulation to an extremity for a period of time.
What does a tourniquet do and why is it needed in venipuncture procedure?
A tourniquet is used by the phlebotomist to assess and determine the location of a suitable vein for venipuncture. The tourniquet is applied three to four inches above the needle insertion point and should remain in place no longer than one minute to prevent hemoconcentration.
What is the purpose of the tourniquet quizlet?
A tourniquet prevents venous flow out of the arm.
What three items do you need for a tourniquet?
To make an effective Tourniquet you will need 3 things:
- Material – a band of some sort to wrap around the extremity.
- Windlass – rigid object to twist the material (hand tightening is ineffective)*2.
- Securing mechanism – something to keep the windlass from unwinding.
What must you not do when applying tourniquet?
Leaving on too long: A tourniquet should not be left for longer than two hours. When applied for a longer time, tourniquets can cause permanent damage to muscles, nerves, and blood vessels. 4 Using the wrong materials: Inappropriate materials, such as a cord, can cut into the skin.
What is the immediate step to be followed when tourniquet is applied?
Place the new, distal, tourniquet 5 cm from the highest wound. Apply the tourniquet tightly. Release the proximal tourniquet, observing the wound. If bleeding continues, tighten the distal tourniquet until bleeding stops.
What to do after applying a tourniquet?
Moreover, if the venous return is stopped by the tourniquet, the only place for blood to come out is from the wound. NEVER be tempted to loosen or remove a tourniquet. Once applied, tourniquets should only ever be removed by a doctor in a hospital setting.
Are tourniquets dangerous?
After two hours, muscle tissues may become permanently damaged. After four hours, complete tissue death is increasingly likely. Applying a tourniquet too tightly or loosely can pose danger to nearby tissue and increase the odds of irreversible nerve and muscle damage.