First Aid for Stemming Bleeding

First aid for bleeding:

Severe or continuous bleeding may lead to collapse and death. Thus, the person doing first aid must try to control this severe bleeding. The total amount of blood in the human body varies according to size. An adult can lose 500 ml of blood without causing any harm, but the loss of 300 ml might cause death in an infant. Major bleeding may be a life-threatening condition requiring instant attention. Bleeding can be external or internal. It may be from an artery, a major blood vessel which carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart all through the body. It may be from a vein, which takes the blood back to the heart to be oxygenated or could be from a capillary, the smallest of our body's blood vessels.

Treatment:

The main objectives are to stop the bleeding, prevent infection, and prevent shock. Apply direct pressure on the injury. Use a dressing, if available. If a dressing is not accessible, use a rag, towel, piece of clothing or your hand only. If bleeding continues, and you do not suspect a fracture, raise the wound above the level of the heart and carry on to apply direct pressure. If the bleeding isn’t controlled, the next step is to apply pressure at a pressure point.

For wounds of the arms or hands, pressure points are situated on the inside of the wrist or on the inside of the upper arm. For wounds of the legs, the pressure tip is at the crease in the groin. Steps 1 and 2 should be sustained with use of the pressure points. The last step to control bleeding is to apply a pressure bandage over the injury. Note the difference between a dressing and a bandage. A dressing may be gauze square applied directly to a wound, while a bandage, such as roll gauze, is used to hold a dressing in place. Pressure must be used in applying the bandage. After the bandage is in place, it is important to test the pulse to make sure circulation is not interrupted. When faced with the need to control major bleeding, it is not important to use a sterile dressing. Use whatever you have at hand and work quickly.

Conclusion:

First aid for internal bleeding is. If the wound appears to be a simple bruise, apply cold packs to slow bleeding, relieve pain and reduce swelling. If you suspect harsh internal bleeding, monitor the patient and be prepared to administer CPR if required.

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