What should be done first when dealing with a bleeding patient?

When dealing with a bleeding patient, the immediate priority is to apply pressure to the wound. This action helps to control the bleeding effectively and can be lifesaving. Direct pressure on the wound promotes clotting and minimizes blood loss, which is crucial in emergencies where rapid intervention is required.

While other actions like checking for a pulse or getting a comprehensive history are important in a complete assessment of the patient’s condition, they are secondary to addressing life-threatening bleeding. Removing clothing from the patient might expose the wound but does not directly contribute to controlling the bleeding and could delay the necessary intervention. Immediate treatment of bleeding is essential to stabilize the patient and prevent shock or further complications during transport to a medical facility.