You come across a person at a park in your community who has fallen from a rock ledge. you go over and see that he is unconscious. he has a wound on his leg that is bleeding profusely. describe three things that you would do.

First you want to check whether this specific person is critical. So first things first you will want to check to see if he is apneic (breathing) and has a pulse. Additionally you want to check his skin signs and evaluate for shock. After assessing the patient condition you will call 911, put them on speaker. Next up you will deal with the most immediate life threat whilst talking to the operator; the profuse bleeding. Whenever we say that a wound is bleeding profusely it means that a large vein has been lacerated, and they could potentially bleed out. There is also the assumption of an open fracture. If there is no sign of a fracture, you will using a dry dressing apply pressure to the wound. If after several minute the bleeding is not controlled use a belt or something that you can tie 2-4 inches to the wound proximal to the wound (farther up). This is something called a tourniquet. You will apply this automatically if the wound is an open fracture.

A word of note, unless you have some experience as an Healthcare professional, and willing partners do not move the patient. Large falls also come with potential neck injuries, that would be aggravated by movement. Wait until EMS arrives.

First I would find something to apply pressure to the wound. Secondly, I would check his or her pulse. A third I would call for help. I would most definitely not most this person, in the case you could make any possible injury they have worse.

True. the more you know, the better of you will be.