Application of Different Commercial Tourniquets by Laypersons: Would Public-access Tourniquets Work Without Training?

Background: The White House "Stop the Bleed" campaign has renewed interest in public-access bleeding kits and the use of tourniquets by the lay public. The objective of this study was to determine which type of tourniquet could be applied most effectively by the lay public using only manufacturer instructions included with each tourniquet.

Methods: This prospective study randomized participants to one of four different tourniquets (SOFTT-W, CAT, RMT, SWAT-T).