How to stop severe bleeding with a tourniquet
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Severe limb bleeding can kill in minutes. A tourniquet placed early and tight enough stops it.
What you need
- Commercial tourniquet
- Gloves
- Marker for the time
Step by step
Protect yourself
Gloves on, scene safe. [1]
Recognize the bleeding
Blood spurting, pooling on the ground or soaking through dressings is life-threatening. [1]
Apply pressure first
Press hard on the wound with your hand or a dressing while you get the tourniquet. [1]
Place the tourniquet
About 2 to 3 inches above the wound, not over a joint. If you cannot see the wound, place it high on the limb. [1]
Tighten
Pull the strap tight, then turn the windlass until the bleeding stops and the pulse below is gone. Lock the windlass. [1]
Record the time
Write the time it was applied on the tourniquet or the patient. Do not loosen it. [1]
Treat for shock
Lay the patient down, give oxygen, keep them warm and transport quickly. Add a second tourniquet above the first if bleeding continues. [1]
Common errors
- Not tight enough (bleeding gets worse).
- Placing it over a joint.
- Loosening it to check the wound.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
Facts and steps follow NREMT psychomotor skill sheets (EMT and Paramedic). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.