What should you do to help manage severe bleeding from an injury?

Using a clean cloth to apply pressure is an effective method to help manage severe bleeding. When severe bleeding occurs, the priority is to control the blood flow and minimize blood loss. Applying direct pressure with a clean cloth can help to compress the blood vessels and encourage clotting at the site of the injury. This action can significantly slow or stop the bleeding.

It's essential to ensure that the cloth or bandage used is clean, as this helps to reduce the risk of infection. If blood becomes soaked through, it's appropriate to place another cloth on top rather than removing the first one, as this can disrupt any clotting that may be starting to occur.

Elevating the injured area can also be beneficial, but it should ideally be done in conjunction with applying pressure rather than as a standalone procedure. Similarly, monitoring the casualty's breathing is important in a broader first aid context, but it does not directly address the immediate need to stop severe bleeding. Therefore, using a clean cloth for pressure is the most direct and effective response in this scenario.