Where should a deliberate tourniquet be placed in relation to the bleeding site during TFC?

The deliberate tourniquet should be placed 2-3 inches above the site of bleeding. This position allows for the effective occlusion of arterial blood flow to the injured area while minimizing potential damage to nearby tissues. Placing the tourniquet above the bleeding site ensures that it can effectively compress the arterial flow, which is crucial in managing severe extremity hemorrhage.

By positioning the tourniquet in this manner, you increase the likelihood of controlling significant blood loss and ultimately stabilizing the casualty. This is essential in tactical environments where rapid intervention can be the difference between life and death.

Placing the tourniquet at or too close to the site of bleeding may not provide adequate control of hemorrhage, particularly if the tourniquet is unable to completely compress the artery due to the location of the injury. Moreover, positioning it below the site of bleeding can allow continued blood loss, which is counterproductive to the goal of hemorrhage control. Therefore, 2-3 inches above the site of bleeding is considered the best practice in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC).