This might well seem to be a tough question, but it is one that has to asked in modern warfare. Soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan might well have to make this decision. Gunshot wounds tend to kill the victim if the bleeding isn't stopped quickly, normal bandages can take upto 10 minutes to stop the lose of blood, however a new treatment is being carried around by US Marines and other service men in Iraq and Afghanisatan.
The treatment is a calcium based powder called QuickClot that speeds up the clotting process at the wound. The powder is poured into the wound and absorbs some of the water in the blood; this causes the concentration of clotting agents to increase. Wounds treated with QuickClot can seal wounds in less than 2 minutes. The side effect however is possible 2nd Degree burns! As the powder absorbs the water a chemical reaction happens and energy is released in the form of heat. However the burn at least has happened because your life has probably been saved. The Manufacturers, Z-Medica, claim that QuickClot has already saved over 100 lives!
More details at: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?hbxmail=nl&id=mg18925435.800
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