How long should you apply direct pressure to stop bleeding after using a hemostatic dressing?

Applying direct pressure for an adequate amount of time is crucial for effectively controlling bleeding, especially when using a hemostatic dressing. The recommended duration of three minutes is based on clinical guidelines that emphasize allowing the dressing to adequately facilitate clot formation and control blood loss. During this time, it's essential to maintain constant pressure, as this helps to stabilize the dressing, promotes hemostasis by encouraging the blood to coagulate, and prevents the formation of additional hemorrhage before a more comprehensive intervention can be implemented if necessary.

While shorter durations, such as one or two minutes, may seem sufficient, they often do not provide enough time for the hemostatic dressing to take effect, especially in cases of significant bleeding. Similarly, while five minutes may seem prudent for ensuring control over severe bleeding, it may lead to unnecessary pressure on the injury site, potentially causing more harm in some scenarios. Thus, three minutes represents an optimal balance of efficacy and safety in hemorrhage control.