Final answer:
When a tourniquet is left on longer than 1 minute, vascular spasm can occur. This can lead to a decrease in blood flow and potential tissue damage. Prolonged vascular spasm can result in long-term neurological problems if the person survives.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a tourniquet is left on longer than 1 minute, vascular spasm can occur. Vascular spasm is a phenomenon where the smooth muscles in the walls of the blood vessels contract dramatically. This response is triggered by chemicals released by vessel-lining cells and pain receptors in response to vessel injury.
Vascular spasm typically lasts for up to 30 minutes, but it can last for hours. One consequence of prolonged vascular spasm is a decrease in blood flow, which can lead to tissue damage and potentially long-term neurological problems if a person survives.