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Wild10

First Aid

Stop severe bleeding

You have minutes. Direct pressure first, tourniquet if it doesn't stop.

First Aid 5 min practice
All skills

Topic summary

You have minutes. Direct pressure first, tourniquet if it doesn't stop.

Intended uses

First Aid skill (all levels, ~5 min practice)

American College of Surgeons — Tourniquet

Warning: A properly applied tourniquet hurts. Once on, it stays on until a medical professional removes it.

Step-by-step

  1. Press hard directly on the wound with any cloth — shirt, bandana, hand. Do not lift to look.

  2. Elevate the injury above the heart if possible.

  3. Hold pressure for at least 10 uninterrupted minutes.

  4. If blood soaks through, add material on top — do not remove the first layer.

  5. If bleeding won't stop on a limb, apply a tourniquet 2-3 in above the wound, tight enough that the bleeding stops. Note the time.

Warning: A properly applied tourniquet hurts. Once on, it stays on until a medical professional removes it.

Related outdoor skills

Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.