You have applied a tourniquet to a casualty's leg. The casualty will be evacuated on a litter by ground ambulance. You should:

• A. Remove the tourniquet
• B. Cover the tourniquet along with the rest of the casualty to help prevent loss of body heat
• C. Re-tighten the tourniquet
• D. Leave it exposed

Answer: (B)

Preserving body heat is crucial for a casualty with a tourniquet during evacuation. A tourniquet stops bleeding effectively, but the exposed limb can lose heat rapidly. By covering the tourniquet and the rest of the casualty, you reduce heat loss and help prevent hypothermia, which can worsen trauma outcomes by impairing coagulation and overall physiology. Keep the tourniquet in place as applied; removing or re-tightening it without a change in bleeding status isn’t needed during transport. Leaving the tourniquet exposed increases heat loss, whereas covering it with dry dressings, clothing, or a blanket keeps the patient warmer and does not interfere with the ongoing assessment or condition of the limb.