2026-02-09 – Weekly Phlebotomy News : Tourniquets that don't turn floppy

Last week’s discussions in the phlebotomy community were rich with practical advice and shared experiences. Members exchanged tips on staying up-to-date with phlebotomy techniques, ensuring everyone is equipped with the latest skills. There was also a lively conversation about the durability of tourniquets, a topic that resonated with many. Additionally, the community shared insights on patient interaction skills, emphasizing the importance of effective communication in clinical practice.


This Week’s Hot Topics

What’s the best way to keep up with new techniques
Members are delving into strategies for continuous learning, a must for staying current in our ever-evolving field.
Read more here

Tourniquets that don’t turn into noodles
A practical discussion on finding reliable tourniquets that maintain their form, which could save time and improve efficiency.
Read more here

Why do EDTA tubes need 8 inversions
A detailed exploration of the science behind proper mixing techniques, ensuring accuracy in test results.
Read more here

Best compact cooler for summer runs
Choosing the right cooler can make a big difference during hot weather, keeping samples at the right temperature.
Read more here

Mobile label printers that actually work
A user-driven review of reliable mobile label printers, essential for on-the-go professionals.
Read more here

Faster on-the-go label printing
Efficiency is key, and members are sharing their experiences with the quickest solutions for label printing.
Read more here

25g butterflies for everything
Discussing the versatility of 25g butterfly needles and their role in various procedures.
Read more here

Our block project worked; now what
Celebrating a successful project and brainstorming the next steps to further enhance community engagement.
Read more here

Improving Your Patient Interaction Skills
An ongoing conversation about enhancing patient communication, crucial for patient satisfaction and care.
Read more here

Mastering patient communication
Further advice on communication techniques that can improve the patient experience.
Read more here


Looking forward to another week of valuable exchanges and learning. Keep sharing your experiences and insights with the community.

1 Like

I’ve found that using a tourniquet that’s too old can really affect the grip. It’s worth checking expiration dates on those! Anyone else have tips on keeping them in good shape?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠‌⁠​⁠‍‌​⁠‍‌​⁠​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​‌​⁠​​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠‌​‌⁠‍​‌​⁠⁠‌‌‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌​‌‌‌‍‍​‌‌‍​‌​⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠​​‌​‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

Tourniquets can definitely lose their grip over time. I’ve had success using a bit of spray lubricant on the rubber parts, which seems to help maintain flexibility. How often is everyone checking theirs for wear and tear, @coro496?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠‌⁠​⁠‍‌​⁠‍‌​⁠​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​‌​⁠​‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‍‍‌‍⁠‌‌‍⁠⁠​‍⁠‌‌‌‍​‌⁠‍​‌⁠‍‍‌‍‌‍‌​‍‍‌​​‍​⁠‍​​⁠‌‍‌‍‍‌‌⁠‌⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

I totally agree about checking for expiration dates — I’ve seen firsthand how an old tourniquet can mess up a procedure; a trick I’ve used is to keep a few extra in my kit so I can rotate them out. @coro496, have you noticed any specific brands that hold up better over time?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌⁠​​‌‍‍​‌‍‍‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌‌​⁠‌⁠​⁠‍‌​⁠‍‌​⁠​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠​‌​⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‌⁠‌‌​‍‌‍⁠​‌‍‌‌​⁠​⁠​⁠‍‌​⁠‌​‌‌​⁠‌‍‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠​​‌‍⁠‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍⁠​⁠‌​‌​‍​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​