Bleeding, also called hemorrhage, is the name used to describe blood loss. It can refer to blood loss inside the body, called internal bleeding, or to blood loss outside of the body, called external bleeding. Show Blood loss can occur in almost any area of the body. Internal bleeding occurs when blood leaks out through a damaged blood vessel or organ. External bleeding happens when blood exits through a break in the skin. Blood loss from bleeding tissue can also be apparent when blood exits through a natural opening in the body, such as the:
Bleeding is a common symptom. A variety of incidents or conditions can cause bleeding. Possible causes include: Traumatic bleedingAn injury can cause traumatic bleeding. Traumatic injuries vary in their severity. Common types of traumatic injury include:
Medical conditionsThere are also some medical conditions that can cause bleeding. Bleeding due to a medical condition is less common than traumatic bleeding. Conditions that can cause bleeding include:
MedicinesSome medicines and certain treatments can increase your chances of bleeding, or even cause bleeding. Your doctor will warn you about this when they first prescribe the therapy. And they’ll tell you what to do if bleeding occurs. Medications that may be responsible for bleeding include:
If bleeding is severe, seek help immediately. You should seek emergency help if you suspect internal bleeding. This can become life-threatening. People who have bleeding disorders or take blood thinners should also seek emergency help to stop bleeding. Seek medical help if:
When you call for help, emergency services will tell you what to do and when they’ll arrive. In most cases, emergency services will tell you to continue to put pressure on the wound and keep reassuring the person who’s bleeding. You may also be told to lay the person down to reduce their risk of fainting. A person can bleed to death in 5 minutes. Bystanders may be able to save a life before emergency personnel can arrive. There is a national campaign called Stop the Bleed to teach anyone how to stop bleeding. People in mass casualty events have died from blood loss even when their wounds shouldn’t have been fatal. First aid for traumatic bleedingIt’s possible to treat external traumatic bleeding. Seek emergency help if the person is having any of the emergency signs listed above and if you need help to stop the bleeding. The person who’s bleeding should try to remain calm to keep their heart rate and blood pressure controlled. Either heart rate or blood pressure being too high will increase the speed of bleeding. Lay the person down as soon as possible to reduce the risk of fainting, and try to elevate the area that’s bleeding. Remove loose debris and foreign particles from the wound. Leave large items such as knives, arrows, or weapons where they are. Removing these objects can cause further harm and will likely increase the bleeding. In this case, use bandages and pads to keep the object in place and absorb the bleeding. Use the following to put pressure onto the wound:
Maintain medium pressure until the bleeding has slowed and stops. Do not:
Use tourniquets only as a last resort. An experienced person should apply the tourniquet. To apply a tourniquet, follow these steps:
You will need emergency medical care if:
Paramedics will attempt to control the bleeding before rushing you to the hospital. In some cases, care might be given at home or while on a stretcher. The treatment required will depend on the cause of the bleeding. In rare cases, surgery may be required to stop bleeding. A medical professional should see anyone who experiences unexplained or uncontrolled bleeding. Traumatic bleedingIf an injury or accident causes bleeding, it may be stopped with local first aid. If it’s just a minor wound, it may heal without further care. More significant wounds may require sutures, medicated dressings, or corrective surgery. Medical bleedingIf a medical condition causes bleeding, and the condition isn’t identified or diagnosed, the bleeding is likely to recur. Any bleeding that continues without medical treatment could be fatal. For example, if someone has acute bleeding in a short period of time and loses 30 percent or more of their blood volume, they could bleed to death very quickly and would require IV fluid and transfusion of packed red blood cells for resuscitation. Even medical conditions that cause slow blood loss over time can add up and cause major organ injury, possibly leading to death. Exsanguination, which is severe bleeding or bleeding to death, can occur without any visible external bleeding. Catastrophic internal hemorrhages can cause a great deal of blood loss, such as ruptured blood vessel aneurysms. What is the first aid procedure for heavy bleeding?Stop the bleeding.
Cover the wound with sterile gauze or a clean cloth. Press on it firmly with the palm of your hand until bleeding stops. But don't press on an eye injury or embedded object. Don't press on a head wound if you suspect a skull fracture.
What is the first step in caring for bleeding?Apply direct pressure on the cut or wound with a clean cloth, tissue, or piece of gauze until bleeding stops.. If blood soaks through the material, don't remove it. ... . If the wound is on the arm or leg, raise limb above the heart, if possible, to help slow bleeding.. What is the first aid provided to the victims with bleeding wounds?apply and maintain pressure to the wound with your gloved hand, using a clean pad or dressing if possible; continue to apply pressure until the bleeding stops. use a clean dressing to bandage the wound firmly.
|