If a central line becomes disconnected and blood is flowing out, what should be the first response?

When a central line becomes disconnected and blood begins to flow out, the priority is to minimize blood loss and prevent air from entering the vascular system, which can lead to serious complications such as air embolism. Clamping the catheter immediately stops the flow of blood and helps to contain the situation, buying time for further assessment and intervention.

While calling for help or cleansing the area may be a part of subsequent actions, they do not provide an immediate solution to the problem at hand. Reattaching the tubing quickly without first clamping the line may not effectively address the situation and could worsen blood loss or introduce air into the bloodstream. Therefore, the correct first response in this emergency scenario is to clamp the catheter to halt the blood flow and ensure patient safety.