A 30-year-old female presents with vaginal bleeding and lightheadedness. What should you do?

The appropriate response in this scenario is to position her supine and prepare for immediate transport. This decision is based on the symptoms described: vaginal bleeding and lightheadedness, which suggest the patient may be experiencing significant blood loss, potentially leading to hypovolemic shock.

Positioning her supine helps improve venous return to the heart and can enhance blood flow to vital organs, which is critical given her lightheadedness – a sign of possible inadequate perfusion. Immediate transport is necessary for further evaluation and management, as this situation could be emergent, requiring medical intervention, including the potential need for fluid resuscitation or surgical intervention.

The other options, while they may have some rationale, do not prioritize the critical nature of her symptoms effectively. Using a tampon could lead to further complications without appropriately addressing the underlying issues. Positioning her on her side might be appropriate in some scenarios but does not offer the same benefit for blood circulation as the supine position would. Lastly, applying pressure with a trauma dressing might be relevant if there were visible external trauma, but with just vaginal bleeding and lightheadedness, the most important step is to ensure she is stable and transported to a medical facility promptly.