NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamTraumaEasy
A 45-year-old male presents with a deep laceration to his forearm after falling through a glass window. Bright red blood is spurting rhythmically from the wound. He is conscious but appears anxious. What is the MOST appropriate initial action to control this bleeding?
- AApply a tourniquet proximal to the wound.
- BApply direct pressure with a sterile dressing.
- CElevate the injured limb above the level of the heart.
- DApply a pressure bandage over the wound.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Apply direct pressure with a sterile dressing.
Direct pressure is the most effective and universally recommended initial action for controlling external bleeding, especially for arterial bleeds characterized by spurting bright red blood. It compresses the injured vessels and promotes clotting.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. A tourniquet is for severe, uncontrolled bleeding that doesn't respond to direct pressure, or for amputations.
- C. Elevation can aid in reducing bleeding but is secondary to direct pressure and less effective alone for spurting arterial bleeding.
- D. A pressure bandage is applied AFTER direct pressure has been established and is used to maintain that pressure, not as the initial action.
Direct Pressure for Bleeding
The application of firm, continuous pressure directly over a bleeding wound to compress the injured blood vessels and promote clotting.
- First-line treatment for most external bleeding.
- Effective for both venous and arterial bleeding.
- Requires a sterile dressing or clean cloth.
Memory trick: Don't Let Blood Flow! Pressure is the Key!