- Time of past OR future Camino
- CF in spring and winter, Portugues, Sanabres: 2024
Yes, the same is true for a tourniquet. It can be dangerous if one is not trained in its use.
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Concerning "epipens", unless one is trained to a higher degree than "just" a basic or senior first aid course I would be most reluctant to both carry and use one on someone I do not know and whose medical history I don't know. Yes those who are asthmatic; have a know alergic reaction to bees/wasps etc should carry one and be able to effectively administer or instruct others in its use.
A good idea, but at nearly $340.00 I'd have to pass. That, and I believe it is a prescription item available only to those with a documented allergy, like a peanut allergy or an allergy to bees.
On the windy days you could use the tourniquet to tie the lemon to your head...If I had even the slightest idea what half this thread is speaking about I would then have half the idea of carrying this "item". Spain is not a 3rd world country you ring 112 and help would be minutes away. I have seen the rescue helicopters flying over the Camino and Cities. If you feel safer walking with a lemon balanced on your head then do so. I personally would never carry a piece of equipment that I do not know 110% of how to use it that include First Aid and also my cellphone
Electric guitar E string - the one with the little grommit not the ball type so you can thread through Mwa Ha Ha!
Thankfully, no I haven't. Like previous posts I would apply direct pressure to the relevant arterial pressure point to stem the flow, see diagram below. To be perfectly honest with you if you want to prepare for the worst and hope for the best, I would learn where the arterial pressure points are and/or take an advanced first aid course.
View attachment 44346
I was wondering if anyone brings a tourniquet that is light and easy to use? Recommendations welcome.
Funny you should say that somebody actually leaned over the top bunk in the Ronsevalles dormitory and put his two hands around my brothers neck to prevent him snoringMembers are reminded that using tourniquets on the necks of persistent snorers is actively discouraged in most Albergues...
I was wondering if anyone brings a tourniquet that is light and easy to use? Recommendations welcome.
No but an inflatable canoe can be very useful for crossing all the streams on vdlp or rivers or crossings rivers on Norte
inflatable canoe...
@Marbe2Thank you! I could not agree more with the need to have a tourniquet available! I have had first aid and do know how to apply a tourniquet...but wanted to know abt current recommendations and a light weight one that is effective. The one recommended by the AMERICAN RED CROSS is only 4oz....not too much weight for a life saving device!
Everyone deals with uncomfortable topics differently? Some joke, or use sarcasm or suggest you carry lemons on your head? Me, I have already scheduled a STOP THE BLEED WORKSHOP for next week - workshop is one hour and is free! Always good to update! Given the nature of our world today, having current training to deal with such emergencies is IMO prudent!
At various points during this thread, the OP, Marbe2 said:
1. "when crossing the mountains in winter"
and:
2. "The one recommended by the AMERICAN RED CROSS is only 4oz....not too much weight for a life saving device!"
Re. 1.: First, it is discouraged to cross the mountains in winter. It not only puts you, but also puts the rescuers at risk. It is unnecessary and irresponsible in my opinion and I have little empathy for people who insist on breaking such rules. If you do, then expect to be on your own and not expect help anytime soon.
And re: 2.: If you have this information, why are you asking for advice on this?
In my opinion, tourniquets are very low on the priority list of pilgrim interested in minimalist packing for a long walk on easy trails. Having First Aid training, however doesn't weigh anything, so that's probably a good idea.
If you want to be prepared to be able to provide first aid to others, and if you have the proper training, then a tourniquet and a few other lightweight items would not be a problem.
Some of the advice in earlier threads has changed in recent years: Don't use a tourniquet - not true anymore if you have the training; Release every xx minutes - don't release, only someone with advanced medical training should.
Attend a Stop the Bleed training, taught nationwide, mostly by ER & OR physicians, on how to address bleeding. The training is free and only requires one evening. In summary: 1. Pressure, 2. Pressure bandage, 3. Tourniquet (once on, leave it on).
Here's the one that was recommended: Tourniquet.
As mentioned above, it's been used in the OR for 2 hours (my OR MD said that he has used it for 3 hours during knee replacements with no damage).
Clotting Powder: I've carried it in the past, but an ER doc told me to never use it because it is extremely difficult to clean out of the wound. It's better to use one of the 3 options above. I no longer carry it.
A tourniquet is not just for the wilderness or battlefield. We are strongly encouraged to get the training and carry one, and I am in a big city - I keep a tourniquet and pressure bandage in each car. If you have only 1 or 2 minutes to stop the bleeding, the helicopter will arrive too late even if it's one block down the street. And it's difficult to apply a real tourniquet in that amount of time if you haven't practiced, let alone try to come up with a makeshift one.
That's why you need training, and practice, and the real thing.
Have to say this is a serious thread.
I was with my mum when she was run over by a slow moving electric car.
I know this is not a typical Camino injury - but it's easy for a serious accident to happen - her foot was hanging off
the bleeding was restricted because no damage to her artery but the bones stuck out and they had to reattach her foot with open tib/fib surgery using plates and screws.
This happened outside the main door of a hospital and she was operated on very quickly. if they had been too busy to do surgery (NHS) immediately she could have lost her foot easily because they could not have opperated if there was too much swelling.
I think it's a great idea to bring one
As a doctor who uses tourniquets all the time in the operating room for extremity (arms and legs), I don’t think you need to worry about this. Besides the low probability, unless you bring a full sized surgical tourniquet with bulb and manometer (like a blood pressure cuff) you will *not* be able to stop arterial blood flow. Ropes, rubber bands etc can conpress superficial venous flow but they won’t stop deep venous or arterial blood flow.
I stand corrected ~ when you’re in an OR all day, you’re unaware of what’s going on in the outside world. I rarely do first aid! Scanning Amazon I see some portable tourniquets that should be adequate.
Extremities can go a long time without blood flow. The nerves are the most sensitive. In the OR, we use 2 hours max time for total occlusion. You can let down the tourniquet for a while and then tighten it again.
Agree, that current tourniquets such as the C.A.T. are adequate to deal with significant deep bleeding...and they only weigh 3ounces! In my “stop the bleeding” workshop, it was recommended by first responders NOT to LOOSEN the tourniquets. The rational for this is, that you may not be able to get the tourniquet to stop the bleeding
the second time! On most Camino routes help should arrive within two hours if ohe has a cell phone. If not, leave the tourniquet on. Better to Risk loosing a limb than bleeding to death! We each carry one.
I am a computer engineer. Check that your monitor has a cable to the computer. And that monitor power is ON. A couple of famous early Microsoft error messages:Well, maybe.... But only on certain things.
Right now, for instance, I am finishing a computer build to handle 4K video processing stuff. Now, I don't know anything about IT, how the components of a computer work, or even how the connections to all the components and the case go on the motherboard. Trying to decipher the manuals and watching YouTube takes multiple exposures to get one tiny bit of relevant instruction into my brain. After three weeks, everything is plugged in, connected screwed into position, and hooked into my existing monitor. Last night I pushed the 'power on' button.
No signal to the monitor, even though all sorts of thingies are lit up in the computer case, fans are turning, and I can feel the hard drives doing something. Sigh. So much for nerdiness. I thought it might be fun to build a computer, but now it seems I need to become a computer diagnostician.
I need a 'real' Nerd
A tourniquet could have been handy in the times of don Suero de Quiñones, who defied all knights crossing Orbigo bridge to a mano a mano fight. But this was many centuries ago...Currently we don't handle tools more dangerous than a corkscrew.
I am a computer engineer. Check that your monitor has a cable to the computer. And that monitor power is ON. A couple of famous early Microst error messages:
Monitor not turned on.
Keyboard not present. Press any key to continue.
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