Where should you apply direct pressure when caring for a person with life-threatening bleeding?

Applying direct pressure directly on the wound itself is the most effective way to control life-threatening bleeding. This method allows for immediate compression of the blood vessels and helps to clot the blood at the site of the injury, thus slowing or stopping the bleeding. By pressing directly on the wound, you can provide the necessary pressure to facilitate clotting and minimize blood loss, which is crucial in a life-threatening situation.

In scenarios involving severe bleeding, other methods, such as applying pressure above or below the wound, are generally less effective. Pressure above the wound might prevent blood from continuing to flow out, but it does not address the source directly, which is where the bleeding occurs. Similarly, applying pressure on the nearest joint does not target the area of injury and could result in continued bleeding since the site of injury remains unaddressed.