What is the basic sequence for external hemorrhage control when standard dressings are unavailable?

• A. Apply direct pressure with clean cloth, elevate limb, use any clean material, consider a tourniquet if trained
• B. Immerse the wound in water, then apply a clean cloth
• C. Apply a tourniquet immediately before anything else
• D. Ignore bleeding and wait for advanced care

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to stop external bleeding with a simple, layered approach even when proper dressings aren’t available. Start by applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or pad, pressing firmly to help form a clot. If bleeding continues, keep the pressure and elevate the injured limb to reduce blood flow to the area, adding more clean material over the wound as needed without removing what’s already in place. In cases where pressure and elevation aren’t enough and you’re trained to do so, you can use a tourniquet as a last resort to halt life-threatening bleeding. Immersing the wound in water isn’t part of this sequence and can delay proper bleeding control, while ignoring the bleeding is dangerous.