NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamTraumaEasy
A 28-year-old male presents with a deep laceration to his forearm after falling through a plate glass window. Bright red blood is spurting from the wound. Your initial action should be to:
- AElevate the injured limb above the level of the heart.
- BApply direct pressure with a sterile dressing.
- CApply a pressure dressing over the wound.
- DApply a tourniquet proximal to the wound.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Apply direct pressure with a sterile dressing.
For most external bleeding, direct pressure with a sterile dressing is the immediate and most effective initial step to control hemorrhage. It allows for direct compression of the bleeding vessels.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Elevation can aid in bleeding control but is secondary to direct pressure and less effective alone for spurting arterial bleeding.
- C. A pressure dressing is applied after direct pressure has been established and is a more sustained method, not the initial action.
- D. A tourniquet is for severe, uncontrollable bleeding when direct pressure fails or is impractical, not an initial step.
Direct Pressure for Bleeding
The immediate application of firm pressure directly over a bleeding wound, typically with a sterile dressing, to compress damaged blood vessels and promote clot formation.
- First-line treatment for most external bleeding.
- Should be applied firmly and continuously.
- Use a sterile dressing if available.
Memory trick: Don't Let Blood Get Out, Press Hard Now!