Level 2 Healthcare Participant Exam 2 Practice

Placing a sterile pressure dressing over the wound is the best way to control external bleeding from a head injury. Direct, steady pressure helps the blood vessels clot and slows or stops the bleeding by compressing the wound, which is safer and more effective on the scalp and skull than other methods. Tourniquets aren’t appropriate for head bleeds because you can’t reliably isolate and compress arteries supplying the head, and applying a tourniquet in this region can cause tissue damage without reliably stopping the bleeding. Ice packs don’t stop active bleeding; they’re mainly for swelling and can mask ongoing bleeding or cause skin injury. Elevating the head isn’t a reliable method for stopping head bleeding and, if there’s potential spine or neck injury, keeping the head still and stable is more important while you manage the wound. If the dressing soaks through, don’t remove it—add more sterile dressings and maintain gentle pressure. Seek medical evaluation promptly since head injuries can hide serious problems, and bleeding control is just the first step in care.