37.34. You do not 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 in the context of road accidents and road safety. In the theoretical exam on the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, not only knowledge of signs or markings is tested, but also the driver's readiness to act in case of injuries after an accident: massive bleeding from a limb is a direct threat to life, so speed and the correct algorithm for stopping the bleeding are crucial.
The question tests the driver's understanding of their duties under the traffic rules, in particular the definition of a road accident (point 1.10) and the requirement to take possible measures to provide first aid and call for medical help (point 2.10). In a situation where bleeding from a limb is clearly massive but the exact location of the wound is not visible (due to clothing, multiple injuries, or a significant amount of blood), the correct tactic is to apply the tourniquet as high as possible on the affected limb to reliably compress the major vessels and quickly stop blood loss.
The option of applying the tourniquet in the middle of the limb is risky: you may place the tourniquet below the site of vessel damage, and the bleeding will continue. The statement that a tourniquet is always applied only after locating the wound is also incorrect for massive bleeding: searching for the source wastes time, and in such cases, the priority is immediate bleeding control. That is why the exam emphasizes the rule: if the source is not visible, act as reliably as possible — place the tourniquet high, tighten it until the bleeding stops, and record the time of application.
Clause 1.10 (the term "Road Traffic Accident")
Road traffic accident — an event that occurred during the movement of a vehicle, as a result of which people were killed or injured or material damage was caused.
Explanation of application: questions on pre-medical care are usually linked to situations involving victims as a result of a road traffic accident, that is, to the occurrence of an event that falls under the definition of a "road traffic accident."
Clause 2.10 (duties of a driver involved in a road traffic accident)
A driver involved in a road traffic accident is obliged to: take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, and call (if necessary) emergency medical services.
Explanation of application: The Traffic Rules directly establish the obligation of the driver to provide (within the limits of possibility) pre-medical assistance to victims; specific techniques (in particular, the rules for applying a tourniquet) are detailed in pre-medical training materials included in driver exam preparation.
Therefore, the correct answer is "As high as possible on the limb," given that the Traffic Rules require the driver to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to victims (clause 2.10), and in the case of massive bleeding from a limb with no visible source of bleeding, the tourniquet is applied as high as possible on the limb to reliably stop the bleeding.
In the situation of massive bleeding from a limb, the main task of first aid at the scene of a traffic accident is to stop blood loss as quickly as possible. If the bleeding is intense, it can pose a direct threat to life, so you must act immediately, without wasting time searching for the exact point of injury.
When the source of bleeding is not visible (for example, it is covered by clothing, blood is spreading quickly, there are multiple injuries, or the wound is located higher than it appears), applying a tourniquet "next to the wound" becomes unreliable. There is a risk of placing the tourniquet below the site of vessel damage or on an area that will not effectively stop blood flow, and the bleeding will continue.
Therefore, in such cases, the tourniquet is applied as high as possible on the affected limb. This approach ensures that the main vessels supplying the limb are compressed and allows for rapid cessation of massive bleeding even when the exact location of the wound cannot be determined. For example, if blood is coming from the leg but the exact site of the wound is unclear, the most reliable option is to place the tourniquet as high as possible on that leg to block blood supply to the entire area below.
After applying the tourniquet, it should be tightened until the bleeding stops and there is no pulse below the application site, and the time of application must be recorded. This confirms the correct performance of bleeding control and is important for further medical care.
Thus, the correct answer is "As high as possible on the limb," because when the source of massive bleeding is not visible, this is the most reliable way to quickly compress the main vessels and reliably stop blood loss.