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“Using a Tourniquet to Save a Life” Transcript
It’s a bright spring day and you’re walking up Bascom Hill on your way to class. Suddenly
gunshots ring out. Then screams. You realize students nearby have been shot. The lone gunman
flees the scene, and you rush in to help the victims. What can you do?
Attacks like these happen far too frequent these days. But I’m not here to scare you. I’m here to
equip you with knowledge that you can use to help somebody from bleeding to death. It all has
to do with this simple strap.
Actually, it’s more than a strap—it’s a tourniquet. As the Journal of Emergency Medical
Services explains, a tourniquet “can be applied quickly, with minimal personnel and no other
equipment.” Today, I’d like to demonstrate how you can apply it in emergency situations.
As you know from my intro speech, I was in the Marine Corps for five years. That’s where I first
learned how to apply a tourniquet. And researching this speech gave me even more helpful
information.
Fourth, twist the tension rod clockwise until you cannot twist any further.
Fifth, lock the rod into place and place the white band over it.
If possible, write down the time of application on the white band with a pencil or pen or anything
that will write, like lipstick. It’s crucial to record or remember the time. As University of Texas
health sciences professor Robert Sippel states, if a tourniquet is left on for more than two hours
may result in permanent nerve damage to the limb.
Once the tourniquet is applied, wait with the injured person until emergency personnel arrives.
