Question 1668 Deck Safety

70% to pass

You are treating a shipmate with a compound fracture of the lower arm. Which action should you take?

A Apply a tourniquet to control bleeding then align the bones and splint.
B Apply a bulky, sterile, pressure dressing to control bleeding, then apply a temporary splint, and obtain medical advice.
C Force the ends of the bones back into line, treat the bleeding, and splint.
D Apply traction to the hand to keep the bones in line, splint, and apply a pressure dressing.
AI Explanation

The correct answer is B) Apply a bulky, sterile, pressure dressing to control bleeding, then apply a temporary splint, and obtain medical advice. This is the correct response because the priority in treating a compound fracture is to control any bleeding and prevent further injury or contamination to the exposed bone. Applying a tourniquet (option A) is not recommended as it can cause additional tissue damage. Forcing the bones back into place (option C) should also be avoided as this can worsen the injury. Applying traction (option D) may be appropriate but should be done carefully and with proper medical guidance. The best initial action is to apply a sterile, pressure dressing, stabilize the limb with a temporary splint, and seek advanced medical care as soon as possible.

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