Types of bleeding
Classified by the type of blood vessel that is damaged:
1. Artery
2. Vein
3. Capillary.
Arterial bleeding can be very dramatic but copious venous bleeding is potentially more serious.
Arterial bleeding
Richly oxygenated blood is bright red.
Under pressure from the heart, it spurts from a wound in time with the heartbeat.
A severed main artery may jet blood several feet high and rapidly reduce the volume of circulating blood.
Venous bleeding
Venous blood is dark red.
It’s under less pressure.
Vein walls are capable of great distension and therefore blood can pool within them.
Blood from a severed major vein may gush profusely.
Capillary bleeding
Occurs at the site of all wounds.
At first may be brisk but blood loss is usually slight.
A blunt blow may rupture capillaries under the skin causing bleeding into the tissues(bruise)
Severe external bleeding
Bleeding at the face or neck can impede the airway.
Shock is likely to happen and the casualty may lose consciousness.
Aims of treatment
1. To control the bleeding
2. To prevent and minimize the effects of shock
3. To minimize the risk of infection
4. To arrange urgent removal of the casualty to hospital
Treatment
1) Remove or cut clothing to expose the wound. Watch out for sharp objects such as glass that may injure you.
2) Apply direct pressure over the wound with your fingers or palm preferably over a sterile dressing or clean pad. Do not waste time hunting for a dressing.
3) If you cannot apply direct pressure e.g. if an object is protruding, press down firmly on either side.
4) Raise and support the injured limb above the level of the casualty’s heart.
5) Lay the casualty down. This will reduce blood flow to the site of the injury and minimize shock.
6) Leaving any original pad in place, apply a sterile dressing. Bandage it in place firmly but not so tightly as to impede circulation. If blood seeps through the dressing, bandage another firmly over the top.
7) If there is a protruding foreign body, build up padding on either side of the object until high enough to bandage over the object without pressing on it.
8) Secure and support the injured part with bandaging
9) Call for help. Treat shock, check dressing for seepage and check for circulation beyond the bandage.
Classified by the type of blood vessel that is damaged:
1. Artery
2. Vein
3. Capillary.
Arterial bleeding
Richly oxygenated blood is bright red.
Under pressure from the heart, it spurts from a wound in time with the heartbeat.
A severed main artery may jet blood several feet high and rapidly reduce the volume of circulating blood.
Venous bleeding
Venous blood is dark red.
It’s under less pressure.
Vein walls are capable of great distension and therefore blood can pool within them.
Blood from a severed major vein may gush profusely.
Capillary bleeding
Occurs at the site of all wounds.
At first may be brisk but blood loss is usually slight.
A blunt blow may rupture capillaries under the skin causing bleeding into the tissues(bruise)
Severe external bleeding
Bleeding at the face or neck can impede the airway.
Shock is likely to happen and the casualty may lose consciousness.
Aims of treatment
1. To control the bleeding
2. To prevent and minimize the effects of shock
3. To minimize the risk of infection
4. To arrange urgent removal of the casualty to hospital
Treatment
1) Remove or cut clothing to expose the wound. Watch out for sharp objects such as glass that may injure you.
2) Apply direct pressure over the wound with your fingers or palm preferably over a sterile dressing or clean pad. Do not waste time hunting for a dressing.
3) If you cannot apply direct pressure e.g. if an object is protruding, press down firmly on either side.
4) Raise and support the injured limb above the level of the casualty’s heart.
5) Lay the casualty down. This will reduce blood flow to the site of the injury and minimize shock.
6) Leaving any original pad in place, apply a sterile dressing. Bandage it in place firmly but not so tightly as to impede circulation. If blood seeps through the dressing, bandage another firmly over the top.
7) If there is a protruding foreign body, build up padding on either side of the object until high enough to bandage over the object without pressing on it.
8) Secure and support the injured part with bandaging
9) Call for help. Treat shock, check dressing for seepage and check for circulation beyond the bandage.
