If the initial pressure dressing becomes soaked with blood, what should you do?

When an initial pressure dressing becomes soaked with blood, the appropriate action is to apply another one. This is crucial because maintaining pressure on the wound helps to control bleeding, and it’s essential to ensure that the pressure is continuous. By adding another dressing on top of the soaked one, you can effectively reinforce the pressure without disturbing the original dressing, which could dislodge any clotted blood and worsen the bleeding. It’s important to avoid removing the soaked dressing initially, as this could disrupt any clotting that may have begun to occur. Keeping layers of dressings on the wound allows for continued absorption of blood and stabilization of the injury, which is vital in emergency situations.