Your patient is a 23-year-old male with a stab wound to the abdomen.You have bandaged the wound and are transporting the patient to a trauma center.During your reassessment,you note that the bandage has become soaked with blood.What should your priority be with this patient?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority should be to control the bleeding, as the soaked bandage indicates that the bleeding has not been adequately controlled. This can be done using direct pressure, and potentially by applying a tourniquet if the bleeding is severe and cannot be controlled by direct pressure. Once the bleeding is controlled, the healthcare provider may need to reassess the patient's vital signs and notify the receiving facility of the change in the patient's condition. Placing the patient in the Trendelenburg position is not typically recommended for patients with abdominal injuries. Checking the patient's blood pressure is important, but controlling the bleeding should take priority.

Your Patient Is a 23-Year-Old Male with a Stab Wound