Abstract

This scoping review investigates the effectiveness of tourniquets in first aid for emergency situations across conflict-affected countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, Libya, Central African Republic, Ukraine, and the United States. Despite the critical role of tourniquets in controlling hemorrhage, disparities in access, training, and outcomes exist between improvised and commercial devices, highlighting the need for comprehensive evaluation across diverse settings.
Using a scoping review methodology, this study synthesized literature from 2014 to 2024 sourced from academic databases and grey literature. The inclusion criteria focused on studies examining tourniquet application techniques, outcomes in controlling bleeding from gunshot wounds, and the effectiveness of community-based first-aid education programs.
The review identified significant variability in tourniquet use and efficacy across studied countries. Improvised tourniquets are commonly used in conflict zones due to resource constraints, yet their effectiveness is often compromised by improper application and limited materials. In contrast, commercial tourniquets demonstrate higher success rates when appropriately deployed, particularly in military and organized medical settings.
The findings underscore the critical role of timely and properly applied tourniquets in enhancing trauma care outcomes. Country-specific case studies highlight innovative approaches and challenges in tourniquet utilization, emphasizing the importance of context-specific interventions and standardized training protocols. This study contributes to advancing evidence-based practices in emergency medicine, advocating for improved access to and utilization of tourniquets to optimize patient outcomes in humanitarian crises and beyond.