Bleeding

• Apply pressure to the wound with your hand to stop the bleeding
• Raise the injured part to diminish the force of the blood flow at the injury Maintain pressure even after a clot has form
• Move the limb as little as possible as there may be further injuries
• Improvise a pad and hold it securely over the wound with a bandage

First-Aid

1.      Stop the bleeding by placing your hand immediately over the wound and applying firm pressure; or, if this is easier and equally effective, pinch the edges of the wound firmly together

2.      Lay the patient down and raise his arm. Maintaining pressure all the time, use your free hand to make any available material (such as a belt, scarf or tie) which will act as a bandage. Wrap this tightly around the pad. Hold firmly over the wound

3.      Still maintaining pressure, find other material which will act as a bandage. Wrap, and secure it with a very firm knot

How to Bandage

·         Tie the bandage very firmly much more so than you would to secure an ordinary dressing. But never apply a tourniquet.

·         Make the patient lie down or at least sitting down, as soon as possible, and thereafter make sure exert he is not disturbed.

·         Don't waste time washing your hands or looking for orthodox sterile dressings

·         Priority goes to speed - the risk of haemorrhage is far greater than the risk of infection

·         Don't ask the patient to use his own hand to pressure - he may be too weak

Important Points

·         Keep checking on a bleeding patient for signs of shock. In an extreme case, he will be faint, pale, cold, sweating, thirsty and have a rapid, shallow pulse and breathing rate. At its worst, breathing is laboured and gasping.

·         If any of the above signs appear in a patient without visible injury, suspect internal bleeding.

·         Be suspicious of an external blow which has left no significant mark on the skin, but has had the force to imprint a pattern of bruising from overlying objects, such as a buckle or pocket contents. In such a case there may be internal damage with bleeding.

·         Stomach bleeding becomes obvious if the patient vomits blood. The colour of the blood depends on how long it has lain in the stomach. Sometimes it is brown or black and resembles coffee grounds - this means there has been time for stomach acids to work on it. Equally it may be red in colour - this is also an indication of an internal haemorrhage, but of a more severe type

What to do in an emergency

Coughing up blood

Place patient in recovery position but if breathing is difficult get him half propped up, leaning on, pillows. If you know from which side the see blood is coming, let him lie towards that side, Clean away any blood from his mouth. Get medical aid quickly. The smallest amount of blood must be reported to a doctor.

Vomiting Blood

Place the patient in the recovery position. Clear away any vomit from his mouth. Get medical aid or an ambulance. Keep the vomit for the doctor to examine Blood which collects for some time in will alter its colour to brown or black, with tarry stools.

Internal Bleeding

·         Pain or discomfort can be deceptively slight. If the patient shows signs of shock (faintness, paleness, sweating, coldness, thirst, rapid pulse etc), lay him down, preferably in the recovery position or with his head low and legs raised. Loosen tight clothing. Keep patient warm. Give nothing by mouth. Send for urgent medical help.

·         The risk of shock is high when the patient has lost a lot of blood. Keep him warm. In severe cases of bleeding call an ambulance immediately, and give details of the bleeding. Keep a close watch on the bandage. Do not remove it. Apply more pressure, or make another cloth pad and bandage over it.

Nose Bleed

Make the patient sit up, bend forward, and pinch his nose for at least 5 minutes without letting go. He should spit out any blood from his mouth into a bowl. Do not let him blow his nose. A nosebleed after a fall, or impact accident could be due to a skull injury, so get immediate medical advice from your doctor.