Bleeding is the loss of blood. Bleeding may be: Show
Bleeding may occur:
Get emergency medical help for severe bleeding. This is very important if you think there is internal bleeding. Internal bleeding can very quickly become life threatening. Immediate medical care is needed. Serious injuries may cause heavy bleeding. Sometimes, minor injuries can bleed a lot. An example is a scalp wound. You may bleed a lot if you take blood-thinning medicine or have a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia. Bleeding in such people requires medical attention right away. The most important step for external bleeding is to apply direct pressure. This will likely stop most external bleeding. Always wash your hands before (if possible) and after giving first aid to someone who is bleeding. This helps prevent infection. Try to use latex gloves when treating someone who is bleeding. Latex gloves should be in every first aid kit. People allergic to latex can use nonlatex gloves. You can catch infections, such as viral hepatitis or HIV/AIDS, if you touch infected blood and it gets into an open wound, even a small one. Although puncture wounds usually don't bleed very much, they carry a higher risk for infection. Seek medical care to prevent tetanus or other infection. Abdominal, pelvic, groin, neck, and chest wounds can be very serious because of the possibility of severe internal bleeding. They may not look very serious, but can result in shock and death.
Blood loss can cause blood to collect under the skin, turning it black and blue (bruised). Apply a cool compress to the area as soon as possible to reduce swelling. Do not place ice directly on the skin. Wrap the ice in a towel first. Bleeding can be caused by injuries, or it can be spontaneous. Spontaneous bleeding most commonly occurs with problems in the joints, or gastrointestinal or urogenital tracts. First aid is appropriate for external bleeding. If bleeding is severe, or if you think there is internal bleeding, or the person is in shock, get emergency help.
WHEN TO USE A TOURNIQUET If continuous pressure has not stopped the bleeding, and bleeding is extremely severe (life threatening), a tourniquet can be used until medical help arrives.
DO NOT peek at a wound to see if the bleeding is stopping. The less a wound is disturbed, the more likely it is that you will be able to control the bleeding. DO NOT probe a wound or pull out any embedded object from a wound. This will usually cause more bleeding and harm. DO NOT remove a dressing if it becomes soaked with blood. Instead, add a new one on top. DO NOT try to clean a large wound. This can cause heavier bleeding. DO NOT try to clean a wound after you get the bleeding under control. Get medical help. Seek medical help right away if:
Use good judgment and keep knives and sharp objects away from small children. Stay up-to-date on vaccinations. Blood loss; Open injury bleeding Bulger EM, Snyder D, Schoelles K, et al. An evidence-based prehospital guideline for external hemorrhage control: American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2014;18(2):163-173. PMID: 24641269 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2464126. Doucet J, Coimbra R. Prehospital management of the trauma patient. In: Cameron AM, Cameron JL, eds. Current Surgical Therapy. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:1112-1118. Hayward CPM. Clinical approach to the patient with bleeding or bruising. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, Silberstein LE, et al, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 128. Simon BC, Hern HG. Wound management principles. In: Walls RM, Hockberger RS, Gausche-Hill M, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 52. Updated by: Jesse Borke, MD, CPE, FAAEM, FACEP, Attending Physician at Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, CA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. What is the first step used to control external bleeding?The most important step for external bleeding is to apply direct pressure. This will likely stop most external bleeding. Always wash your hands before (if possible) and after giving first aid to someone who is bleeding.
What are the steps for controlling external bleeding?External bleeding.. Apply direct pressure to the bleeding wound.. Raise the injured area.. DO NOT remove the foreign object, but apply padding on either side.. If blood leaks through the pressure pad and bandage.. Control any bleeding.. Recover the severed part.. Apply firm pressure, elevation and rest.. What are the first 5 steps in controlling bleeding?Five steps to Stop the Bleed. Serious injuries can and do happen in an instant — and they're more likely to be fatal if there's uncontrolled bleeding.. Ensure your own safety. Don't become the next injured person. ... . A — alert help. ... . B — Locate bleeding site. ... . C — Compress to stop the bleeding. ... . Advocate for bleeding control.. What are the 3 steps to controlling bleeding?Three quick emergency bleeding control techniques that can help save a life include:. Applying proper pressure.. Correctly packing a wound.. Placing a tourniquet.. |