What is the first step in controlling massive hemorrhage?

Applying direct pressure to the wound is the first step in controlling massive hemorrhage because it is the most immediate and effective method to slow or stop bleeding. When a person suffers a traumatic injury that causes significant blood loss, applying direct pressure helps to compress the blood vessels and clot the wound, thereby minimizing the risk of shock and critical blood loss.

Direct pressure aids in the formation of a clot, which is the body's natural response to bleeding, and prevents further blood from escaping the body. If this initial step is overlooked, the situation can quickly worsen, leading to more severe complications.

Administering medication or starting CPR generally comes after initial bleeding control measures and is specific to certain situations or conditions, not the immediate response to a hemorrhage. Elevating the patient's legs may be considered in some cases to improve blood flow, but it should not replace the urgent need for direct pressure on the wound itself.