ATP 4-02.11 – First Aid Practice Exam

Direct pressure on the wound is the first-line way to stop external bleeding by squeezing the damaged vessels. If bleeding continues or you need to maintain pressure over time, a pressure dressing combines a dressing with sustained pressure to keep the wound compressed and protected. A tourniquet is used for severe limb bleeding when direct pressure and dressings aren’t enough; it constricts blood flow above the wound to control life-threatening bleeding. All three methods are part of external-bleeding management, each applicable in different situations. Start with direct pressure, use a pressure dressing to maintain control, and resort to a tourniquet when bleeding is heavy and cannot be controlled by pressure alone. That combination is why the best answer includes all of the above.