Final answer:
To address life-threatening bleeding, immediately apply direct pressure and call for emergency assistance. Type O blood may be used in extreme cases where there is no time for blood type cross-matching.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you recognize that an adult, child, or infant has life-threatening bleeding, it is important to do two things immediately: apply direct pressure to the wound and call for emergency medical help. Applying direct pressure to the bleeding site helps slow the blood loss. This is critical when there is a risk of significant blood loss, which can occur with bleeding of at least 500 ml in adults or 7 ml/kg of body weight in children. In such emergencies, ensuring that appropriate access and fluids are available could be life-saving. When it comes to severe bleeding as a result of traumatic injuries, like those from a motor vehicle accident, there may not be enough time to cross-match for blood type. In these instances, type O blood, known as the universal donor type, may be transfused since it is compatible with all other blood types.