If possible, before you try to stop severe bleeding, wash (or use hand sanitizer) your hands to avoid infection and put on latex gloves.
1. Have the injured person lie down and cover the person to prevent loss of body heat. If possible, position the person's head slightly lower than the trunk or elevate the legs. This position reduces the risk of fainting by increasing blood flow to the brain. If possible, elevate the site of bleeding.
2. While wearing gloves, remove any obvious dirt or debris from the wound. Don't remove any large or more deeply embedded objects. Don't probe the wound or attempt to clean it at this point. Your principal concern is to stop the bleeding. The first step in controlling a bleeding wound is to plug the hole. Blood needs to clot in order to start the healing process and stop the bleeding. Blood will not coagulate when it's flowing.
3. Apply FIRM pressure directly on the wound until the bleeding stops. Use a sterile bandage or clean cloth and hold continuous pressure for at least 20 minutes without looking to see if the bleeding has stopped. Maintain pressure by binding the wound tightly with a bandage (or a piece of clean cloth) and adhesive tape. Use your hands if nothing else is available. If possible, wear rubber or latex gloves or use a clean plastic bag for protection. Most bleeding can be stopped by holding FIRM, DIRECT PRESSURE on the wound. NO quick clot needed.
4. Don't remove the gauze or bandage. If the bleeding continues and seeps through the gauze or other material you are holding on the wound, don't remove it. Instead, add more absorbent material on top of it and apply DIRECT FIRM PRESSURE. Peeling blood soaked gauze off a wound removes vital clotting agents and encourages bleeding to resume.
5. Squeeze a main artery if necessary. If the bleeding doesn't stop with direct pressure, apply pressure to the artery delivering blood to the area of the wound. Pressure points of the arm are on the inside of the arm just above the elbow and just below the armpit. Pressure points of the leg are just behind the knee and in the groin. Squeeze the main artery in these areas against the bone. Keep your fingers flat. With your other hand, continue to exert pressure on the wound itself.
6. Immobilize the injured body part once the bleeding has stopped. Leave the bandages in place and get the injured person to the emergency room as soon as possible.
7. Tourniquets are tight bands used to control bleeding by completely stopping the blood flow to a wound. Tourniquets work only on arm and leg injuries. Tourniquets are usually reserved for the worst bleeding to keep the victim from developing shock. Complications of tourniquet use have led to severe tissue damage. Victims treated with tourniquets have had amputations of limbs attributed to the use of the tourniquet.
If you suspect internal bleeding, call 911 or your local emergency number. Get to the closest hospital fast!! Signs of internal bleeding may include:
Bleeding from body cavities, such as the ears, nose, rectum or vagina, vomiting or coughing up blood bruising on neck, chest, abdomen or side (between ribs and hip) Wounds that have penetrated the skull, chest or abdomen, abdominal tenderness, possibly accompanied by rigidity or spasm of abdominal muscles, fractures, shock- indicated by weakness, anxiety, thirst or skin that's cool to the touch.
(These are REALLY BAD and if you cant get to an operating room quickly you are probably S.O.L.)
