What should be done with venous tourniquets in active bleeding situations?

In active bleeding situations, the use of venous tourniquets is not recommended because they are not designed to effectively control arterial bleeding. While venous tourniquets may help slow venous bleeding, they can also result in additional complications, such as tissue damage and the exacerbation of bleeding from arterial sources. The primary focus in trauma care where significant bleeding is present is to control it as efficiently as possible, and this is best achieved using arterial tourniquets, which are specifically designed to occlude arterial flow.

It’s also crucial to understand that, in trauma situations, the concept of applying pressure and elevation to control bleeding should always be prioritized before moving to the application of any tourniquet, especially venous ones. The application of an appropriate arterial tourniquet allows for the most effective cessation of blood flow to the affected area, providing the best chance for patient survival and stabilization before reaching definitive care.