A 23 year old male was stabbed in the shoulder with spurting blood. What should you do?

Applying direct pressure is the appropriate action in this scenario due to the presence of spurting blood, which indicates arterial bleeding. When an individual suffers a stab wound, especially one resulting in significant blood loss and pulsatile bleeding, controlling the hemorrhage is a critical priority. Direct pressure can help to initiate the clotting process and decrease blood loss, potentially stabilizing the patient until professional medical care can be rendered.

In emergency situations such as this, the main focus is often on managing life-threatening issues like severe bleeding. Therefore, while other options may have relevance in different contexts, the immediate necessity to control the bleeding by applying direct pressure takes precedence. This action not only addresses the urgent need for hemostasis but also allows for other interventions, such as preparing for transport or administering supplemental oxygen, to take place once the bleeding is under control.