What is the main function of a tourniquet?

The main function of a tourniquet is to stop massive bleeding. Tourniquets are specifically designed to exert pressure on a limb to restrict blood flow during emergencies when a traumatic injury causes significant hemorrhage. This intervention is critical in saving a life, particularly in situations involving traumatic amputations or deep lacerations to major arteries.

By occluding vascular flow, a tourniquet offers immediate control of bleeding, allowing for better management of the patient's condition until further medical treatment can be provided. This is essential since uncontrolled bleeding is one of the leading causes of preventable death in trauma cases. While other devices and treatments play roles in airflow enhancement, pain management, and wound dressing, they do not serve the primary purpose of halting life-threatening blood loss, which is the key characteristic that defines the use of a tourniquet.