37.53. What should be done if, after applying a tourniquet, bleeding from a wound on the victim's limb does not stop?
UAЩо слід зробити, якщо після накладання кровоспинного джгута кровотеча з рани на кінцівці постраждалого не спинилася?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine (PDR) concerning road safety through the correct actions of a driver or witness after a traffic accident, when it is necessary to provide first aid. The practical significance of the topic is simple: uncontrolled bleeding from a limb is a direct threat to life, so the theoretical exam checks not only the knowledge of 'what is a tourniquet,' but also the ability to act quickly and effectively before the arrival of medical professionals.
The question tests the section of the traffic rules regarding the driver's duties in the event of involvement in a traffic accident, in particular the requirements of clause 2.10 of the PDR: to take possible measures to provide first aid to the victims and to call emergency medical services. The logic is as follows: if a tourniquet has been applied but the bleeding has not stopped, it means the help is still ineffective, so it is necessary to continue actions to stop the bleeding and ensure that emergency services are called at the same time.
Analysis of the options in this exam question shows that increasing the pressure of the tourniquet or applying an additional tourniquet higher up can restore control of the bleeding if the vessel compression was insufficient. At the same time, direct pressure on the wound (preferably with gloves from the car first aid kit) or packing the wound are also acceptable temporary methods to reduce blood loss until the doctors arrive. That is why the correct answer in the traffic rules exam combines both approaches: it is important to stop the bleeding by any available means and not to delay calling an ambulance.
Clause 2.10 (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 to: … c) take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, call emergency medical services, and if necessary — arrange for the transportation of the victims to the nearest medical facility.
Application to the question: if after applying a tourniquet the bleeding does not stop, this means that pre-medical assistance is still not effective, therefore according to clause 2.10(c) it is necessary to simultaneously continue/intensify pre-medical assistance measures (achieve bleeding control by available means) and call emergency medical services.
That is, the correct answer is "Both options are correct.", given that by definition, Traffic Rules clause 2.10(c) directly obliges both to take possible pre-medical assistance measures for the victims and to call emergency medical services.
Imagine a traffic accident situation: the victim has severe bleeding from a limb, you have applied a tourniquet, but the blood continues to flow. This means the bleeding is not actually controlled, which poses an immediate threat to life and requires urgent action.
The first mandatory step in such a situation is to call emergency medical services. If the tourniquet has not worked, there is no time to waste: professional help is needed, and the time before the medics arrive should be used to actually stop the bleeding.
The second step is to try to restore effective bleeding control on the spot. Since the bleeding has not stopped, the tourniquet is likely not tight enough or not applied in the correct place, so it should be reapplied or tightened to compress the vessels above the wound more effectively. At the same time, until stabilization, you can use additional temporary bleeding control measures — direct pressure on the wound (preferably with gloves from the first aid kit) or packing the wound, to minimize blood loss as much as possible before the medics arrive.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Both options are correct," because if bleeding does not stop after applying a tourniquet, you must both call an ambulance and take actions to enhance/restore bleeding control (reapply or tighten the tourniquet, apply additional pressure to the wound) before the medics arrive.