Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) Act 120 Practice Exam

When applying a tourniquet, where should the time of application be recorded?

1. On the arm

2. On the leg

3. On the forehead

4. On the tourniquet itself

The correct answer is: On the forehead

The correct choice is to record the time of application on the tourniquet itself. This practice is crucial in trauma care, particularly in emergency situations where a tourniquet is applied to control severe bleeding. Recording the time of application directly on the tourniquet allows medical personnel to quickly assess how long the tourniquet has been in place once the patient reaches a hospital or receives further medical attention. The time is important as prolonged application of a tourniquet can lead to tissue damage due to lack of blood flow. Ambulance crews and emergency departments rely on this information to make informed decisions about patient treatment and potential surgeries. In contrast, marking the time on the arm, leg, or forehead may not be seen or easily accessible by medical personnel in urgent situations, which could delay treatment decisions.