The original use of hemostats was to clamp small blood vessels to control bleeding
Hemostats can be used to grasp and secure the existing fascia while undermining and debriding wounds.
Hemostats are an excellent tool for exploring and visualizing any deeper areas of a wound.

A hemostat (also called a hemostatic clamp, arterial forceps, or pean after Jules-Émile Péan) is a surgical tool used in many surgical procedures to control bleeding. For this reason, it is common in the initial phases of surgery for initial incision to be lined with hemostats which close blood vessels awaiting ligation. Hemostats belong to a group of instruments that pivot (similar to scissors, and including needle holders, tissue holders and various clamps) where the structure of the tip determines the function.