184 
SCOUTING FOR GIRLS 
bleeding because the heart is directly behind, pumping 
the blood through the artery with all its power. If 
it is a small artery the pressure with the finger be- 
tween the cut and the heart for a few minutes will 
give the blood time to clot behind the finger and form 
a plug. This will stop the bleeding aided by pressure of 
the bandage. If it is a larger vessel the force in the 
heart muscle pumping the blood will force out any plug 
formed by holding the finger there, as the finger tires 
too easily. 
Tourniquet: In this case it will be necessary to put 
on a tourniquet to take the place of the finger until 
a clot can form in the vessel big enough and strong 
enough to prevent the force of the blood current from 
pushing it out. This of course can be used only on 
the legs or arms. 
A tourniquet is something put on to make pressure 
on a blood vessel to stop serious bleeding. There are 
five points to remember about a tourniquet: 
1. It must be long enough to tie around the limb— 
a big handkerchief, towel or wide bandage. 
2. There must be a pad to make the pressure over 
the artery greater than on the rest of the limb — a 
smooth stone, a darning ball, a large cork, cloth folded 
into a large pad or a rolled bandage. 
3. The pad must be so placed that the artery lies be- 
tween pad and the bone on the limb, in order that the 
pressure may stop the flow of blood by forcing the walls 
of the artery together between the pad and the bone. 
4. Unless the tourniquet is put on tight enough, its 
application increases bleeding. It is extremely rare to 
find a tourniquet put on tight enough. In almost every 
such case removing the tourniquet will stop or partly 
lessen bleeding. A short stick or handle is needed, 
about a foot long, with which to twist the tourniquet 
