What is the standard approach to controlling severe bleeding on board?

• A. Apply direct pressure; use dressings; elevate limb if possible; call for medical assistance; tourniquet only if trained.
• B. Ignore bleeding and wait for medical team.
• C. Apply a tourniquet first; never call for help.
• D. Pour cold water on wound.

Answer: (A)

When handling severe bleeding on board, the first priority is to stop the blood effectively while keeping the patient as safe as possible. The best approach is to apply direct pressure on the wound with clean dressings to physically compress the blood vessels and help the blood to clot. Keep applying pressure and add dressings as needed to control the flow. If possible, elevate the injured limb to reduce blood flow, but only if doing so doesn’t cause further harm or delay care.

After applying pressure and controlling the bleeding as much as you can, call for medical assistance. Getting professional help promptly is essential for ongoing management and to determine if further actions, like diversion for medical care, are needed.

A tourniquet is a tool that can save lives in some severe bleeding situations, but it requires specific training to apply correctly and safely. It’s reserved for scenarios where direct pressure cannot control the bleeding or when the bleeding is life-threatening and trained personnel are available to manage it.

Options that ignore the bleeding, delay help, instruct to apply a tourniquet without training, or suggest pouring cold water do not provide an effective or safe approach to controlling severe bleeding. The sequence of direct pressure with dressings, possible elevation, calling for help, and reserving tourniquet use for trained personnel best aligns with established on-board first aid practices.