Page 108 - Participant Manual

sterile gauze pad or other clean dressing (Box 6-2) and apply direct pressure with your gloved hand until the
bleeding stops. This may take as long as 15 minutes. If blood soaks through the first dressing, place another
dressing on top of the first and apply additional direct pressure (press harder than you did before, if possible).
Repeat with additional dressings as needed, always maintaining direct pressure. Do not remove the blood-
soaked dressings because disturbing them may disrupt clot formation and restart the bleeding.
When the bleeding stops, check the skin on the side of the injury farthest away from the heart (e.g., the hand
or foot) for feeling, warmth and color. Then apply a bandage over the dressing to maintain pressure on the
wound and to hold the dressing in place. To apply a roller bandage, hold one end of the roller bandage in
place while you wrap the other end around the wound and dressing several times, using overlapping turns.
Make sure the dressing is completely covered and allow a margin of several inches on all sides. Tie or tape
the bandage to secure it (Figure 6-2). The bandage should be snug but not too tight. Check for feeling,
warmth and color again. If there is a change in feeling, warmth or color from your first check (for example,
the skin is cooler or paler than it was before, the area is swollen, or the person complains of a numb or tingly
feeling), then the bandage is too tight and needs to be loosened.

Have the person rest comfortably and provide care for shock, if necessary, until help arrives. Remember to
wash your hands with soap and water after providing care, even if you wore gloves. Skill Sheet 6-1 describes
step by step how to use direct pressure to control external bleeding.

Box 6-2. Dressings and Bandages

Dressings and bandages are staples of any well-stocked first aid kit and have a variety of uses.

Dressings

A dressing is a pad that is placed directly on a wound to absorb
blood and other fluids, promote clotting and prevent infection.
To minimize the chance of infection, dressings should be sterile.
There are many different types of dressings available. In a first aid
situation, gauze pads, which are available in a variety of sizes, are
most commonly used as dressings.

Bandages

A bandage is a strip of material used to hold the
dressing in place and to control bleeding. Roller
bandages, made of gauze or a gauze-like material,
are frequently included in first aid kits and come in
a variety of widths and lengths. Wrap the bandage
around the injured body part, covering the dressing
completely and allowing a margin of several inches
on all sides. Then tie or tape the bandage to
secure it in place. Bandage compresses, which are
specially designed to control severe bleeding and © 2011, 2016 The American National Red Cross. All rights reserved.
usually come in sterile packages, are thick gauze
dressings attached to a bandage that is tied in
place.

Chapter 6 Traumatic Injuries | 100 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual Chapter 6 Traumatic Injuries | 101 | First Aid/CPR/AED Participant’s Manual