tourniquet
TOOR-ni-kit
/ˈtʊərnɪkeɪ/
A device or tight band placed around a limb to constrict blood vessels and temporarily stop severe, life-threatening arterial bleeding.
A emergency tool of last resort for catastrophic limb hemorrhage, requiring strict protocol and timing tracking.
The story behind the word. Derived from French 'tourner' (to turn). Originally, 18th-century medical tourniquets consisted of a strip of cloth tightened by turning a wooden stick or screw key attached to the band.
Word relationships
- constrictor: A general term for anything that compresses or narrows a vessel.
- band: A non-specific term for any flexible encircling strap.
Commonly confused with
- splint: A splint immobilizes broken bones, whereas a tourniquet constricts blood flow to halt life-threatening bleeding.
Word family
- tourniqueted (verb): Bound firmly with a constricting band to stem blood flow.
Collocations
- apply a tourniquet
- tighten the tourniquet
- combat tourniquet
- arterial tourniquet
Example sentences
- "The combat medic applied a tactical tourniquet high on the soldier's thigh to halt arterial hemorrhaging." Combat casualty care
- "First responders placed a tourniquet on the driver's arm to stem severe bleeding before transport." Emergency response
Memory hook
TOURNiquet relies on a TURN of the screw to stop blood. Tight band stopping arterial flow.
When not to use
Never use a tourniquet for routine minor cuts, slow oozing scrapes, or head and torso injuries.
Fun facts
- Modern military windlass tourniquets can be applied by an injured soldier using only one hand in under 30 seconds.
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