Bleeding

Bleeding

• BLEEDING ============================

In cases of bleeding, keep the victim still until the bleeding has stopped. Any movement can hinder clotting. If someone is bleeding,

1. Remove enough of his clothing to locate the exact source of bleeding.
2. Remove any loose glass, metal, or wood. Gravel, soil, or other fine particles should be left alone until the victim can receive proper medical attention.
3. Cover the wound with sterile dressings.
4. Apply pressure firmly over the bleeding area (or around it if foreign materials or broken bones are present). The pressure will be painful to the victim, but it is necessary for the bleeding to stop.
5. When the bleeding has slowed down, put another sterile cloth over the wound and form a pad. This pad can be held in place with adhesive tape or by tying a strip of fabric around it. It should be tight enough to apply pressure to the wound, but not so tight that it will cut off circulation.
6. If the wound continues to bleed after the dressing has been applied, put another pad over the first one and tie it slightly tighter. Do not remove the first dressing. Never use a tourniquet except as a last resort.
7. Raise the bleeding part unless you would risk disturbing broken bones. The legs should be raised, also, if other injuries do not prevent it, so that blood will go to the heart and brain, where it is most needed.
8. Get the victim to a hospital as soon as possible so that lost blood can be replaced. Continue to watch for renewed bleeding or signs of shock.

Whenever there is a deep, penetrating wound caused by a knife or nail, there is a danger not only of bleeding but also of infection deep inside the body.

1. DO NOT attempt to treat these yourself.
2. Put clean sheets or clothing over the wound to keep the victim from losing too much blood.
3. If air is being sucked into the lungs through a wound in the chest, cover the wound at once with a sheet of plastic or other airproof material.
4. Get the victim to the hospital as quickly and as gently as possible, preferably by ambulance.

If someone is bleeding internally, get him to a hospital as soon as possible. The symptoms are hard to recognize, so watch the victim closely for these symptoms:

• pale appearance
• bruises and swelling (especially around broken bones)
• faintness or dizziness
• cold, clammy skin
• dialated pupils
• shallow and irregular breathing
• rapid, weak, irregular pulse
• spitting or coughing up blood
• bleeding from the ear or heavy bleeding from the nose
• presence of blood in urine or bowel movements
  1. Make the victim rest.
  2. If he is very pale or dizzy, raise his legs to transfer blood to the heart and brain.
  3. Get the victim to the hospital quickly, preferably by ambulance.