What should you do immediately after releasing a crushed body?

Releasing a crushed body can lead to the potential for severe bleeding, especially if major blood vessels were compromised during the crushing incident. This phenomenon can lead to conditions such as traumatic amputations or severe hemorrhage, which can present itself after the compression is released, due to the restoration of blood flow and the release of pressure from the affected area.

Applying a tourniquet immediately after the release is critical if there has been any indication of significant bleeding or if the injury appears life-threatening. The tourniquet is intended to control bleeding effectively and prevent further blood loss, which is crucial in a trauma situation. In such cases, the application of the tourniquet takes precedence over other interventions, especially in the acute phase following the release.

The other options, while important in their own context, do not address the immediate and critical need to control potential bleeding after the crush injury is released. Applying a bandage or providing intravenous fluids may be part of the subsequent care but is not the immediate priority. Monitoring vital signs is important but not as urgent as addressing the risk of severe bleeding that may occur upon releasing the pressure. Thus, the emphasis on placing a tourniquet reflects the urgency of managing potential life-threatening conditions following the release of the injury.