Question

Before treating a victim who is bleeding, it is best to:

1) Apply pressure directly on the wound.
2) Elevate the injured area above the heart.
3) Apply an ice pack to reduce swelling.
4) Clean the wound with soap and water.

Answer 1

The best first step in treating a bleeding victim is to apply pressure directly on the wound. This approach helps to slow the blood flow to allow natural clotting processes to occur, which stops the bleeding.

Step-by-step explanation:

Before treating a victim who is bleeding, it is best to apply pressure directly on the wound. This is because when a blood vessel is severed, it causes bleeding that must be stopped to prevent further blood loss. The body responds to bleeding with a blood clotting process, where substances released by the injured blood vessel wall and platelets in the blood begin to accumulate at the injury site. This clotting serves as a protective barrier that ultimately stops the bleeding.

Applying pressure helps to slow the blood flow, allowing the natural clotting process to begin more effectively. Elevating the injury above the heart can also be helpful after pressure has been applied because it reduces the blood pressure at the wound site, further aiding in the slowing of bleeding. However, it is critical to initially focus on the direct application of pressure to control the bleeding.