37.19. You cannot see the source of bleeding from the casualty's limb, but you have determined that it is massive. Where should you apply the tourniquet:
UAВи не бачите джерело кровотечі з кінцівки у постраждалого, однак визначили що вона масивна. Де Ви накладете джгут:
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This is an exam question from the first aid block, which is directly related to road safety and the behavior of participants in a traffic accident. In real-life situations on the road, a driver must act quickly and pragmatically: massive bleeding from a limb can lead to critical blood loss within minutes, so the theoretical exam on the Traffic Rules of Ukraine often includes basic principles of stopping bleeding, rather than “textbook” signs like the color of blood or the presence of a “fountain.”
This checks the section of the traffic rules regarding the driver’s duties in the event of involvement in a traffic accident, specifically the content of point 2.10 (section “Duties and Rights of Drivers”), which mentions the need to take possible measures to provide first aid and call emergency services. At the same time, the Traffic Rules of Ukraine themselves do not regulate medical details, so this exam question assesses knowledge of the generally accepted algorithm: if the source of massive bleeding on a limb is not visible, the safest solution to stop blood loss is to apply a tourniquet as close to the torso as possible to block blood supply to the entire area below.
The logic of the answer options is simple. The decision to apply the tourniquet as high as possible on the limb is correct, because when the wound is not visible (clothing, dirt, body position), “high” application is very likely to block blood flow to any possible injury zone. The option “in the middle of the limb” is dangerous because the source of bleeding may be higher — in that case, the bleeding will not stop and time will be lost. The statement that a tourniquet is always applied only after locating the wound is also incorrect: in the case of massive bleeding, the priority is immediate cessation of blood loss, not searching for the “ideal” spot, especially when the source is not visualized.
Clause 2.10 — 2 "Duties and rights of drivers" (driver's duties in case of involvement in a road traffic accident)
In case of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged, in particular: to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, call an emergency (ambulance) medical team, and report the incident to the relevant body (unit) of the National Police.
Explanation of the application of the clause: this is an exam question from the "pre-medical assistance" block, which, in the context of the driver's exam, is tied to the driver's (and other participants') duty to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims. At the same time, the Traffic Rules do not regulate medical techniques (exactly where on the limb to apply a tourniquet) — this is determined by the rules/protocols of pre-medical assistance studied during driver training.
Thus, the correct answer is "As high as possible on the limb," given that according to the Traffic Rules, the driver is obliged to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance, and in the case of massive bleeding from a limb with an invisible source of bleeding, pre-medical assistance involves applying a tourniquet as high as possible on the limb (above the probable site of injury).
In a real-life situation involving a limb injury, you do not always see the wound itself: it may be covered by clothing, dirt, blood, or the position of the body. But if it is obvious from the signs that blood loss is significant (blood quickly soaks through clothing, a pool forms, the victim weakens), you need to act in a way that reliably blocks the blood flow to the entire area where the injury may be.
A tourniquet only works when it completely stops blood flow through the main vessels supplying the limb. Therefore, it is applied above the probable site of bleeding, that is, closer to the torso. If you apply the tourniquet "somewhere in the middle" or too low, there is a risk that the source of bleeding is higher, and then the bleeding will not stop, and you will lose precious time.
When the source of bleeding is not visible, the only reliable tactic is to apply the tourniquet as high as possible on the limb: on the arm closer to the shoulder, on the leg closer to the thigh. This choice blocks the blood supply to the entire limb below the tourniquet and is highly likely to stop massive bleeding regardless of where exactly the wound is located.
It is also important to remember the logic of a common mistake made by beginners: a tourniquet is never applied below the wound, because this does not reduce blood loss, as blood continues to flow to the injury site from the heart. The task of the tourniquet is to block the blood flow from above, not to "tie off" the limb somewhere below the wound.
Therefore, the correct answer is "As high as possible on the limb," because when the source of massive bleeding is not visible, only applying the tourniquet as close to the torso as possible reliably blocks the blood supply to the entire area below and stops blood loss.