Liam M. is a 16-year-old teenager that grew up hunting in Illinois.
One fall, he was on a hunting trip with his family.
While sitting in a tree stand, away from the group, Liam accidentally made a mistake.
“I was moving the gun across my upper body, like around, and it hit a tree and went off, and I got shot in the upper thigh,” Liam said.
Liam’s leg gushed blood and he knew he was in trouble.
“I looked down and stood up, and I saw blood pouring out of my pant leg,” Liam said.
“All I was just worried about was getting the blood to stop and be able to, at least, see my dad or talk to my mom [for the] last time, if I was going to pass away, but I didn’t.”
He removed his pants and found a nearby stick, making a tourniquet using his jeans and the stick.
In order to get his family’s attention, Liam went to a nearby trail camera which sent photos to Liam’s dad.
“I knew something was wrong. I wasn’t sure of the extent of it,” his dad said.
Eventually, Liam’s dad found him lying on the ground with his leg flayed open from the bullet wound.
Liam was in such bad shape that he was airlifted from the area to a Peoria, Illinois hospital, and from there, airlifted again to a hospital in St. Louis.
Liam had blown out his entire thigh.
A vascular surgeon had to repair his arteries, vessels, and nerves.
They were shocked he was able to keep his leg.
“It’s pretty crazy, what they [the doctors] did, and that he came out of the first surgery with a leg, because we weren’t sure if he was going to have a leg when he came out, or, you know, be alive,” Liam’s mom said.
The family credits Liam’s composure for his survival.
He stayed calm and knew to immediately apply a tourniquet.
“He knew what to do somehow, and he was smart enough to do it,” his mom said.
After extensive rehab, Liam learned to walk again.
“He has nerve pain and nerve damage, and he can’t run like most, but he has a leg, and he’s alive,” his mom said.
There is no doubt that Liam saved his life by using a tourniquet.
And without a doubt, a tourniquet should be a part of any medical bag or kit.
Even better, nowadays, there are tourniquets that attach to gun holsters.
Tourniquet and gun holsters:
A tourniquet gun holster is a holster that includes a built-in or attachable pouch designed to carry a tourniquet.
These were first used by the military and law enforcement.
And now, the tourniquet holsters are being adopted by folks who carry guns for self-defense.
The tourniquet attachment is designed for quick use and is made of durable materials such as Kydex or polymer, like the gun holster.
The idea is that if you have to use your firearm, there is a chance someone could need a tourniquet (yourself, an innocent victim, etc.)
Reasons why you might want a tourniquet on your holster:
The number one reason you might want a tourniquet attached to your holster is for immediate access to lifesaving medical gear.
A gunshot victim can bleed out quickly, and a tourniquet can save lives.
If you are shot, or someone close by is shot, you can provide medical aid in seconds.
With it on your holster, you won’t have to find the tourniquet in the medical bag or dig it out from your trunk.
Plus, if the tourniquet is attached to your holster, you should be able to reach it with either hand.
So, if you are shot in either arm, you should be able to deploy the tourniquet with your other hand.
Why you may not want to carry a tourniquet:
A tourniquet is another piece of gear that will add weight and bulk to your belt.
It could be uncomfortable and prone to snagging on clothing.
Another concern is that it could increase printing.
When you are carrying concealed, you don’t want others to see your gun.
A tourniquet will make the holster bigger and will make it easier to see through clothing.
Also, depending on how the tourniquet is attached to the gun holster, it could change how you have to draw or re-holster your gun.
Interference could lead to issues in the heat of the moment such as an accidental discharge.
For me, I keep my tourniquet with my medical gear…
But if you work in a high-risk environment, where you may need instant trauma care, a tourniquet on your holster could be beneficial.
