Would I ligate a bleeding vessel - yes. I've done it hundreds (if not thousands) of times - if the choice is bleeding or ligating, I'll ligate. If I can control the bleeding in other ways(pressure/wound packing, etc...), that would be my first choice.

Would I close a wound, probably not - again,as stated before, the risk of infection is too great. I've closed more wounds than I can recall (I'm a PA, working in surgery), from operative wounds to traumatic wounds. I've also treated more wound infections than I can recall (some from operatiions, some from trauma, some just localized infections from folliculitis, etc..). The open wound will more than likely not kill you, overwhelming sepsis can. Control the bleeding, apply a dressing, get to a higher echelon of care.

Sam