Hold on.

I agree that time documentation is important, not really in the treatment system for EMTs/paramedics in the prehospital setting(unless on a 6+ EVAC time situation OR a physician with a clogged operating room) but I'll agree that accurate documentation is a necessary habit.

HOWEVER, necrotic tissue then gangrene then sepsis isn't really an issue until the you start creeping up on 6-8 hours post application.

BUT your stating that an incorrectly placed tourniquet on an arterial wound could do serious damage is an overly pre-cautious piece of advice. Yes, an incorrectly placed tourniquet is possibly ineffective but not life threatening unless placed directly over the wound or on torso/neck.

If a patient has an femoral artery bleed then its a pretty shit situation and any circulatory restriction that is superior to the wound but inferior to the hip on the effected side is BETTER than none. Hell even packing the spurting wound with dirt is an option in most wilderness med classes.

THIS IS A SKILL YOU CAN PRACTICE WITH A BUDDY. Don't be shy, make sure you have scissors around but clamp that shit on, check if you can feel a pulse distal to where the tourniquet is placed.

Tourniquets are not rocket science, just don't be an idiot.

I'm absolutely not saying that FirstAid/EMT/Paramedic course are waste but you shouldn't be so ignorant to not learn how to use a tourniquet.

Ask a medical professional for advice and possibly a quick lesson but a tourniquet and the correct method of application is something that is intuitive if you have any level of medial knowledge. (Which you should since your riding bikes down hills and tend to get hurt more often than non-MTB individual). YouTube is a great resource, maybe check out the various videos from different MDs that provide an explanation on application and methodology.