As soon as it is tactically feasible, every attempt to stop life-threatening external hemorrhage should be made. Some basic principles include:

- Direct casualty to apply their own tourniquet, if able.
- Use a Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care- (CoTCCC-) recommended limb tourniquet for hemorrhage that is anatomically amenable to tourniquet use.
- Apply the limb tourniquet over the uniform clearly proximal to the bleeding site(s).
- If the site of the life-threatening bleeding is not readily apparent, place the tourniquet “high and tight” (as proximal as possible) on the injured limb.