37.54. What should you do first if you discover a victim of a road traffic accident has severe external bleeding from a wound located at the base of the neck?
UAЩо Ви повинні насамперед зробити у разі виявлення в потерпілого у ДТП масивної зовнішньої кровотечі з рани, яка локалізована в основі шиї?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning road safety and the driver's actions after a traffic accident when the victim's life is at risk. The theoretical test often includes situations where it is not about providing 'perfect' assistance, but about correctly prioritizing actions in the first minutes: with massive external bleeding, any delay quickly leads to critical blood loss.
The question tests knowledge of the section of the Traffic Rules regarding the driver's duties in the event of an accident (item 2.10), in particular the requirement to take possible measures to provide first aid and organize the call for medical assistance. The key logic is as follows: at the base of the neck, it is usually impossible to apply a tourniquet, so the most effective available action for temporarily stopping the bleeding is direct, maximum possible pressure on the wound through a napkin, bandage, or clean cloth. At the same time, pressure should be applied exactly to the wound area, avoiding excessive compression of the front surface of the neck so as not to worsen breathing.
The analysis of the answer options in this theoretical driving exam shows the difference between primary and secondary actions. Maximum possible pressure on the wound corresponds to the principle of 'stop massive bleeding first,' as this is an immediate threat to life. Calming and explaining further actions is helpful, but does not stop blood loss and cannot be the first step. Helping to assume a comfortable position is also not a priority, as comfort does not replace immediate mechanical control of bleeding; body position becomes important only after everything possible has been done to temporarily stop the bleeding and an ambulance has been called.
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.
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, in particular: “to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, to call (notify) emergency medical services…”
Brief application to the question: “to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance” in the case of massive external bleeding in the area of the base of the neck primarily means immediately performing the most effective available action for temporary bleeding control before the arrival of medics — direct (maximally possible) pressure on the wound (using a napkin/bandage/clean cloth), without wasting time on secondary actions.
That is, the correct answer is “Apply the maximum possible pressure to the wound,” given that according to the definition in the Traffic Rules, the driver in the event of a road traffic accident is obliged to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance to the victims, and the primary measure in the case of massive external bleeding is an immediate attempt to stop it by direct pressure on the wound.
In a traffic accident, massive external bleeding is an immediate threat to life, so you must act quickly and systematically. If the wound is located at the base of the neck, blood loss can be very intense, and applying a tourniquet in this area is usually impossible due to the proximity of the airways and important anatomical structures.
The very first and most effective step in such a situation, according to first aid rules expected from a driver during the exam, is to immediately reduce or stop the bleeding by directly pressing on the site of injury. To do this, press the wound with your palm through a clean cloth, napkin, or bandage and maintain continuous pressure as much as possible until medical personnel arrive. It is the pressure that mechanically blocks the outflow of blood from damaged vessels during the most critical first minutes.
At the same time, it is important to act carefully: you need to press on the wound area, not on the throat. Excessive compression of the front surface of the neck can make breathing difficult, so the pressure should be directed at the bleeding area at the base of the neck, not at the airways. If there is a foreign object in the wound, do not remove it to avoid increasing the bleeding; in this case, apply pressure around it through a dressing.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Apply the maximum possible pressure to the wound," because with massive bleeding from the base of the neck, the top priority is immediate direct pressure on the wound to quickly reduce blood loss, when applying a tourniquet is practically impossible.