Rescue knives

[Bob Denman]

I should have epoxy glued a sharp piece of spark plug ceramic to the butt of my knife instead of a Phillips bit…

Or even a brick!

 

[FearDoiteain]

I don’t have any tourniquets, and I note there is a large variety available. Got any tips for a non-professional? What about these, they look simple? Or are they useless?

View attachment 2285138

I am a little late getting back, but those are for facilitating phlebotomy, not stopping an arterial bleed. I am most familiar with the CAT tourniquet. And I would look for a first aid type class that lets you practice on a model. Stop the Bleed is a US program, but you might find something like that where you are. We try to control bleeding by applying direct pressure with a clean dry cloth first, but if you are still getting significant blood soaking through, or more dangerously spraying from a wound, you may need to consider a tourniquet. US schools of thought has transitioned their usage from a last resort option, to a more ready option over the 25+ years i have been in EMS. Uncontrolled extremity hemorrhage is by far the biggest cause of preventable death in military service, and they have had a ton of experience using them in Iraq, Afghanistan etc. showing they can be safely used for hours before the risk of losing a limb becomes a serious concern. I believe France was significantly ahead of us in their usage and routinely teaching them to civilians for as long as I have been in EMS, maybe longer.

 

[Charlie Fox]

I put off buying a "rescue knife" because I saw them as a gimmick. Then, back in 2017 I attended a TECC update and one of the instructors was using a Kershaw Barricade. I was sold after that and mine rides in my bag daily. (Not my picture)