OK. So looking at this PPT on tactical field care (specifically slides 71-78) it appears that the TQ should NOT be reduced if
- There is a traumatic amputation
- Casualty is in shock
- TQ has been on more than 6hrs
- Higher care will be reached with two hrs of applying
- Other considerations make reducing the TQ a bad idea.
Reduce only if
- Bleeding can be controlled by other means (slowly loosen and observe for renewed bleeding)
- You're a medic/doc