How should you manage a head laceration with active bleeding?

• A. Apply direct pressure with a clean dressing, clean around the wound, control bleeding, and monitor for signs of concussion.
• B. Apply a tourniquet above the wound.
• C. Clean around wound without applying pressure.
• D. Cover with dressing without applying pressure.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is to control bleeding from a head wound while also watching for signs of a head injury. Head scalp wounds can bleed a lot, so apply direct pressure right away using a clean dressing or gauze. Keep firm pressure on the wound to help compress blood vessels and slow or stop the bleeding. At the same time, clean around the wound to reduce contamination, but don’t remove the dressing while it’s being soaked; add more dressings if needed rather than picking away at the wound. After bleeding is under control, cover the wound and monitor for signs of concussion—confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, severe headache, pupils that aren’t equal, or repeated seizures. If you can’t control the bleeding, if the person doesn’t wake up or you suspect a serious brain injury, call for emergency help immediately. A tourniquet or cleaning without applying pressure won’t effectively manage a head wound and could cause more harm.