Tourniquet

Exhibition Label Text: Tourniquet, c. 1950s Used to stop bleeding, the tourniquet was tightened around a limb above a wound to stop blood circulation.

A blue and pink canvas strip with a toothed silver coloured buckle, a buff canvas covered wooden pressure block and a length of cane with a tightening off string. 9.4 x 4.5 x 74.0 cm.

Digital image on Keeper’s computer – S:/Keeper/MyPictures/Exhibitions/DisplayNewVisitorCentre. Taken December 2003.
From satchel-1998.4009.1, see 1998.4009.3-31 for rest of contents. The tourniquet was used to prevent blood loss from limb injuries by cutting off the circulation. The pressure block was placed above the wound on the blood vessel involved and the buckle fastened. The cane was then rotated in a circular fashion until it wouldn’t turn any further before being tied off with string. Tourniquets are no longer in use as incorrectly applied they increase circulatory blood loss and if left on too long they cause the limb to ‘die’ due to lack of blood.

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