How tight is too for a tourniquet?
A tourniquet should be tight enough to stop the bleeding, but not so tight that it cuts off the blood supply to the limb.
If a tourniquet is too tight, it can cause:
- Tissue damage
- Nerve damage
- Loss of limb
It is important to loosen the tourniquet every 15-20 minutes to allow blood to flow back into the limb. If the bleeding does not stop after 2-3 minutes, the tourniquet should be loosened and reapplied.
