In a scalp injury with non-life-threatening bleeding, where should pressure be applied?

• A. Directly on the wound
• B. On the area around the wound
• C. On the opposite side of the head
• D. Never apply pressure

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how to control bleeding by applying pressure effectively. In a scalp injury with non-life-threatening bleeding, applying firm pressure to the area around the wound helps compress the nearby blood vessels and reduce bleeding without pushing debris deeper into the wound itself. The scalp has a rich blood supply, so stabilizing the surrounding tissue first makes it easier to manage bleeding and prepare a clean dressing over the wound.

Direct pressure on the wound itself can be more painful and, with hair and a potentially contaminated surface, may disturb the wound or push contaminants deeper. Pressing on the area around the wound avoids these issues while still tamponading the bleeding. Pressing on the opposite side of the head won’t affect the bleeding at the laceration, and not applying pressure at all lets bleeding continue. If bleeding persists after surrounding-area pressure, continue gentle pressure with a clean dressing and seek medical care as needed.