First aid qualifications

[Minotaur]

A couple of things of note:

 

I am a big fan of the IDF dressings, I carry a pair of them at all times. I find they are considerably better than the "Ambulance dressing" that you find in most COTS first aid kits.

 

Tourniquets. Yes a chainsaw wound is nasty and will bleed like hell, *BUT* think before putting a tourniquet on a limb. The moment you start to wind that tourniquet you are saying good bye to the limb. Yes there are times when this is the right action to preserve life. But there are times when direct pressure is actually a more effective treatment.

 

Julia

 

Agree the IDF dressings are great, however, your comment about the use of tourniquets is nonsense!

The use of a tourniquet does NOT necessarily mean the loss of that limb!!

[leswold]

I found a tourniquet to be the only option when my father took his hand (almost) off with a circular saw, so long as you loosen it at strictly regular intervals. Except for slight nerve damage made a full recovery too. Agreed that direct pressure is usually best where possible.