You have just arrived on scene, where a young girl has pushed her arm through a plate glass window. She is responsive and has a patent airway. Bright red blood is spurting from a large laceration on her right upper arm. When your partner tells you to apply direct pressure to the laceration to prevent the further blood loss, you would:

a. place a tourniquet proximal to the laceration, being careful not to get blood on your hands.
b. put gloves on before applying direct pressure over the injury site.
c. control the bleeding by pushing the edges of the laceration together until you can put gloves on.
d. apply direct pressure to the site with your hands until someone wearing gloves can take over.

Answer: b