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Tourniquet Training Program Assessed by a New Performance Score

2018; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 33; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s1049023x18000845

1945-1938

Thibault Martinez, Sandrine Duron, Jean-Vivien Schaal, Y. Baudoin, Olivier Barbier, Jean-Louis Daban, Mathieu Boutonnet, Sylvain Ausset, Pierre Pasquier,

Trauma and Emergency Care Studies

Abstract Introduction Application of a tourniquet is the cornerstone in management of combat-related extremity hemorrhages. Continuous and appropriate training is required to use tourniquets correctly. Hypothesis The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of a refresher training session, conducted directly in the theater of military operations, on the performance of tourniquet use. Methods During their deployment (October 2015-April 2016) in the Central African Republic, a first simulation session evaluated soldiers from two combats platoons for the application of the SOFFT (Special Operation Forces Tactical Tourniquet; Tactical Medical Solutions; Anderson, South California USA) tourniquet. After randomization, a R (+) group underwent a refresher training session, while a R (−) group did not. Two months later, a second simulation session was conducted for both groups: R (+) and R (−). A dedicated score (one to seven points), including delay and effectiveness, evaluated the soldiers’ performance for tourniquet application. Results Twenty-six subjects were included in the R (+) group and 24 in the R (−) group. Between the two assessments, the score improved for 61.5% of subjects of the R (+) group and 37.5% subjects of the R (−) group (P=.09). More particularly, the performance score increased from 4.2 (SD=1.4) to 5.5 (SD=0.9; P=.002) in subjects of the R (+) group whose last training for tourniquet application was over six months prior. Conclusion A refresher tourniquet training session, conducted directly in a combat zone, is especially effective for soldiers whose last training session was over six months prior. A dedicated score can assess appropriately the performance of tourniquet training. Martinez T , Duron S , Schaal JV , Baudoin Y , Barbier O , Daban JL , Boutonnet M , Ausset S , Pasquier P . Tourniquet training program assessed by a new performance score . Prehosp Disaster Med . 2018 ; 33 ( 5 ): 519 – 525 .