When dealing with a dirty wound, what is the main priority for the EMR?

When managing a dirty wound, the primary focus is on ensuring that any active bleeding is controlled before addressing the cleanliness of the wound. This is critical because significant blood loss can lead to shock and other life-threatening complications. By prioritizing the control of bleeding, the Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) ensures the patient's stability and safety, allowing for further treatment such as cleaning or dressing the wound to be performed more effectively.

Once bleeding is under control, the EMR can then proceed with cleaning the wound and applying a dressing as needed. While cleanliness is important to prevent infection, it is secondary to managing life-threatening conditions such as uncontrolled bleeding. This approach aligns with the priority of treating life-threatening injuries first, a fundamental principle in emergency care.