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application 4 weeks after training on hemorrhage control. Financial Disclosure
25
Thus, we recommend refresher training every 3 to 6 months to The authors have no financial relationships relevant to this
ensure maintenance of this critical skill. article to disclose.

Author Contributions
Conclusion This review was designed by CR, BS, TP, and MH. Drafting
Improvised tourniquets are an important tool for managing and revising the manuscript was performed by all four au-
extremity hemorrhage when commercial tourniquets are not thors. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
available. While not generally treated as a first-line option,
improvised tourniquets should not be forsaken either. Success- References
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Acknowledgments 19. Lee C, Porter KM, Hidgetts TJ. Tourniquet use in the civilian
Special thanks are given to Dr Gerard Brown (University Col- prehospital setting. Emerg Med J. 2007;24(8):584–587.
lege Cork) for his help and inspiration. 20. Van der Spuy L. Complications of the arterial tourniquet.
South Afr J Anesth Analg. 2012;18(1):14–18.
21. King RB, Filips D, Blitz S, et al. Evaluation of possible tourni-
Funding Disclaimer quet systems for use in the Canadian Forces. J Trauma. 2006;
The authors have no source of funding to report. 60(5):1061–1071.

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