MCOLES State Licensing Practice Exam

When applying a tourniquet to a wound, where should it be placed?

1. Below the wound

2. On top of the wound

3. High and tight above the wound

4. Anywhere on the limb

The correct answer is: High and tight above the wound

When applying a tourniquet to a wound, placing it high and tight above the wound is critical for effectively controlling severe bleeding. This positioning allows the tourniquet to compress the arteries supplying blood to the injured area, thereby stopping blood flow and preventing further blood loss. The goal of a tourniquet is to obscure arterial circulation distal to the injury, which is best achieved when it is placed above (proximal to) the wound. This technique also ensures that the tourniquet can exert maximum pressure on the blood vessels. If the tourniquet were positioned below the wound, it would not effectively control bleeding, as blood could still flow from the injury site. Similarly, applying it directly on or anywhere around the wound may not provide the necessary pressure to occlude blood flow properly. Therefore, the correct placement is crucial for the effectiveness of the tourniquet in bleeding control, making it imperative to position it high and tight above the injury site.