If direct pressure on a bleeding wound fails to stop the bleeding, what should you do?

If direct pressure on a bleeding wound fails to stop the bleeding, what should you do?

• A. Apply direct pressure with a sterile dressing
• B. Elevate the limb and reassess
• C. Escalate to a tourniquet under trained guidance
• D. Use a cold compress

Answer: (C)

Direct pressure is the first-line way to control bleeding, but when it doesn’t stop the flow, you need a higher level of hemorrhage control. A tourniquet on a limb, applied correctly and under trained guidance, can stop heavy bleeding by cutting off arterial inflow to the injured area. This is crucial for life-threatening bleeds where dressings and pressure alone aren’t enough. Elevating the limb might help a bit, but it won’t reliably stop severe bleeding on its own, and a cold compress doesn’t stop the bleed. So the best next step is to escalate to a tourniquet with proper instruction and supervision.

Direct pressure is the first-line way to control bleeding, but when it doesn’t stop the flow, you need a higher level of hemorrhage control. A tourniquet on a limb, applied correctly and under trained guidance, can stop heavy bleeding by cutting off arterial inflow to the injured area. This is crucial for life-threatening bleeds where dressings and pressure alone aren’t enough. Elevating the limb might help a bit, but it won’t reliably stop severe bleeding on its own, and a cold compress doesn’t stop the bleed. So the best next step is to escalate to a tourniquet with proper instruction and supervision.