Page 159 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

FIRST AID 157

Severe bleeding

Severe bleeding is likely to be distressing both for the victim
WARNING
and for the person who is assisting. It is usually the result of
a serious injury such as a stab wound, a severe blow, or a Dial 911 or call EMS.
deep cut. The main priorities are to stop the bleeding then to Profuse or prolonged bleeding can
be life-threatening.
monitor the victim’s condition continually. If a large amount of
blood is lost, life-threatening shock may develop.

PRACTICAL TECHNIQUE
Treating severe bleeding to reduce the risk of infection. You then need to check
While you wait for medical help to arrive, your immediate that the bandage is not restricting circulation. You should
priority is to stem the flow of blood. Once you have done also watch the victim for signs of shock (see p.165)
this, you need to dress the wound as quickly as possible and try to prevent or minimize its effects.

Call 911. Put on disposable gloves or wash Help the victim lie
your hands. Apply pressure on the wound down, keeping the injured
1 with a clean, nonfluffy pad or the palm of 2 part raised above the
your hand. Raise the injury heart. Continue to apply
above heart level to firm pressure on the
reduce blood loss. If an wound for up to
object is embedded in 10 minutes.
the wound, don’t
remove it; press
firmly on either Keep the injured
side of it to push area raised while
you apply
the edges of the pressure
wound together.

Once the bleeding has slowed, cover Check the circulation beyond
the wound with a sterile dressing and the bandage every 10 minutes.
3 secure it with a bandage that is tight 4 Press on a nail or the skin
enough to maintain pressure but not so beyond the bandage until it
tight that it impairs the blood supply. turns pale, then release the
pressure. If the color does
CAUTION: Do not apply a tourniquet. not return, or returns slowly,
If there is an object in the wound, the bandage is too tight.
build up padding on either side,
and bandage carefully to avoid Loosen a tight bandage just
pressing on the object. a little, making sure the
injured part is still supported.

If further blood loss occurs, apply a second Monitor and record breathing, pulse, and level of
dressing on top of the first. If blood continues consciousness regularly. Watch for signs of shock
5 to seep through the top dressing, remove both 6 (see p.165) and, if necessary, raise the victim’s legs
dressings and apply a fresh one. Bandage firmly, so they are above the level of the heart. If he or
making sure that you are applying pressure she becomes unconscious (see UNCONSCIOUSNESS,
accurately over the point of bleeding. p.168), be prepared to begin CPR (see pp.170–171).