A tourniquet for application to a patient's limb in an emergency situation, and a method for its application. The tourniquet includes a tension-sensing mechanism used to establish a baseline tension in a loop around an injured limb, and a tension-increasing mechanism to reduce the circumference of the loop and tighten the tourniquet as required beyond the baseline tension. The tension-sensing mechanism may be incorporated in a buckle in which when sufficient tension is developed in the loop a pin protrudes to engage and maintain tension in a strap member which is part of the loop. A latch may be incorporated in the buckle to keep it in a condition in which the pin protrudes to engage the strap and maintain the baseline tension. A release tab operable to release the latch is located where it is protected against inadvertent operation.

A web-adjustment housing of a buckle member may include a receiving crossbar, a securing crossbar, and a strut. The receiving crossbar may include a ledge that extends in a first direction at a first angle with respect to a plane that contains or is parallel to a longitudinal axis, and first retaining members configured to securely engage webbing. The securing crossbar may include a surface that extends in a second direction at a second angle with respect to the plane, and second retaining members extending from the surface configured to securely engage the webbing. A receiving channel may be defined between the receiving crossbar and the securing crossbar. A release channel may be defined between the securing crossbar and the strut. The receiving channel and the release channel may define at least a portion of a web channel configured to adjustably retain the webbing.

A belt-like hip-girdling pelvic sling device for maintaining a desired amount of tension surrounding a person's hips and pelvis to securely support and stabilize a fractured pelvis, including a force-controlled buckle that automatically latches to control the tension and that includes a releasable latching mechanism. The latching mechanism maintains engagement of the buckle with a strap at the required position of the strap with respect to the buckle. The latching mechanism includes a movable member of the buckle that is moved to and latched in a position in which the buckle engages the strap, once a desired amount of tension is reached, limiting and maintaining the required tension.

A tourniquet for application to a patient's limb in an emergency situation, and a method for its application. The tourniquet includes a tension-sensing mechanism used to establish a baseline tension in a loop around an injured limb, and a tension-increasing mechanism to reduce the circumference of the loop and tighten the tourniquet as required beyond the baseline tension. The tension-sensing mechanism may be incorporated in a buckle in which when sufficient tension is developed in the loop a pin protrudes to engage and maintain tension in a strap member which is part of the loop. A latch may be incorporated in the buckle to keep it in a condition in which the pin protrudes to engage the strap and maintain the baseline tension. A release tab operable to release the latch is located where it is protected against inadvertent operation.