An opossum bleeding freely from a front paw should have a tourniquet applied near its elbow.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if bleeding is severe
• D. Never apply pressure

Answer: (B)

Controlling bleeding in a small wild mammal starts with direct pressure and wound care, not with a tourniquet. For a paw that’s bleeding freely, the first move is to apply firm, clean pressure to tamponade the wound and then maintain that pressure with a snug bandage to help the bleeding stop. A tourniquet is not a routine or appropriate tool here because it cuts off blood flow to the entire distal limb and can cause tissue, nerve, or muscle damage if left on too long. Tourniquets are only considered in dire, life-threatening arterial hemorrhage when direct pressure cannot control the bleeding and by someone with proper training. In the typical paw laceration, especially in opossums, relying on direct pressure and careful wound management is safer and more effective, so applying a tourniquet near the elbow is not the recommended approach.