Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Applying direct pressure to the wound is the recommended first step in managing severe hemorrhage because it is a critical and immediate intervention that can significantly reduce blood loss. Direct pressure helps to constrict blood vessels and allows for the formation of a clot, which is essential in controlling bleeding. This action is vital in prehospital settings where rapid intervention can mean the difference between life and death.

When addressing severe hemorrhage, gaining control of the bleeding should always take precedence. While other interventions like administering intravenous fluids or calling for air transport are important components of comprehensive care, they do not provide the immediate hemorrhage control that direct pressure offers. Evaluating vital signs is also important, but it should occur after the initial bleeding control measures, as the patient's status can change rapidly in the presence of severe blood loss. Thus, applying direct pressure is recognized as the first, crucial step in the management of severe hemorrhage.