USE AS TOURNIQUET
When bleeding is severe (arterial) and loss of life is of greatest concern.
Stretch for tourniquet-place above the wound (between wound and heart). Wrap tightly, ensuring ovals/rectangles change to circle/squares. And Tuck. (Pre-plan the tuck for best results)
In most patients, tourniquets have proven to be safe for a minimum of two hours.
When used properly all tourniquets may cause loss of limb. This is a necessary risk, to bring our patients home at the end of the day.
USE AS PRESSURE DRESSING
When hemorrhage is controlled or for venous and capillary oozing.
Wrap the SWAT-T™ over hemostatic agent or sterile dressing then tuck or tape the end to maintain pressure, preventing further contamination and re-bleeding.
If the endpoints are met on the dressing you may have a tourniquet and should check for good blood return in the extremity (pulse and capillary refill), or you risk the complications associated with all tourniquets.
Pressure dressings should be left in place until definitive wound management can be accomplished.
USE AS ELASTIC BANDAGE
When you need to hold ice near sprains and strains, stabilize a twisted knee/ankle, sling a shoulder, among hundreds of other applications.
The dressing can also be used to loosely apply pressure across the chest or abdomen. This can be to help close and protect wounds, contain abdominal contents in evisceration, or to assist in stabilization of the pelvis in blunt pelvic trauma.
The SWAT-T™ can be used to splint an extremity to the body, other leg, or to a rigid object for immobilization.
