What is the appropriate technique to control external bleeding?

Controlling external bleeding is a critical skill for emergency responders, and the recommended technique is to apply direct pressure and elevation. This method is effective because applying direct pressure to the wound helps to stop the blood flow at the site of the injury. It causes the blood vessels to constrict and helps to form a clot, which is essential in managing significant bleeding.

Additionally, elevating the injured area above the level of the heart can assist in reducing blood flow to the injury site, further aiding in the control of bleeding. This combination of techniques is often the first line of response in managing a patient with external bleeding before more advanced interventions are necessary or when direct pressure alone is insufficient.

While other options like tourniquet application are appropriate in certain scenarios, typically for limb injuries with severe bleeding that cannot be controlled by direct pressure, they are not the first response for general external bleeding. Bandaging only may not be effective if direct pressure is not applied first, as it does not address the bleeding immediately. Indirect pressure and cooling may be useful in some contexts, but they do not provide as immediate and effective control of bleeding as direct pressure and elevation.