If a patient is bleeding heavily from a wound on the forearm, what should you do first?

When a patient is bleeding heavily from a wound, the immediate priority is to control the bleeding to prevent further blood loss and reduce the risk of shock. Applying direct pressure to the wound is the quickest and most effective way to achieve this. This method works by compressing the blood vessels, fostering clot formation, and helping to stem the flow of blood.

Tourniquets, while useful in some cases of severe bleeding, are typically reserved for situations where direct pressure does not stop the hemorrhage or when the injury is life-threatening and involves a limb. Elevating the arm might be helpful in some circumstances but generally is not the primary action in the face of heavy bleeding. Cleaning the wound is necessary for infection control once bleeding is managed, but it should not be the first step when a patient is experiencing significant blood loss. Therefore, direct pressure is the appropriate and most effective first response in this emergency situation.