If a tourniquet is applied, which action is essential?

• A. Time of application is recorded
• B. Check distal pulse every five minutes
• C. Remove after 15 minutes
• D. Ask the patient to drink water

Answer: (A)

Recording the time of tourniquet application is essential because it tells responders exactly how long the limb has been without blood flow. That timing helps clinicians assess the risk of tissue damage and guides decisions about transport priority and when surgical intervention may be needed. It also communicates crucial information to the receiving facility so they can plan appropriate care if the tourniquet needs to stay in place or be removed in a controlled setting.

Monitoring distal pulses every few minutes isn’t the key action here; with a tourniquet on, distal pulse checks aren’t reliable indicators of safety or effectiveness, and they don’t drive the immediate management in the field. Removing a tourniquet after a fixed interval, like 15 minutes, isn’t appropriate because removal is performed in a controlled setting based on the patient’s status and hospital guidance. Asking the patient to drink water isn’t relevant to stopping bleeding and can complicate care in a trauma situation.