Knowledge of the first aid basics basics will help you help the victim quickly and effectively, which can save their life. In this article we will talk about how to stop different types of bleeding. Knowing how to apply a tourniquet or to bandage a wound can be the difference between life and death.

FIRST AID FOR BLEEDING

The optimal time for first aid in case of bleeding is up to 30 minutes after injury. When breathing stops, this time is reduced to 5 minutes. The importance of the time factor is determined by the fact that among people who received first aid within 30 minutes after the injury, complications occur 2 times less often than in people who received help later. The absence of first aid within 1 hour after injury increases the number of deaths among the seriously injured by 30%, up to 3 hours - by 60%, up to 6 hours – by 90%. Among the causes of death, trauma incompatible with life is the most common one, traumatic shock is the second, acute blood loss is the third.

USEFUL TO HAVE IN THE FIRST AID KIT

EPLUN is a universal remedy for rapid healing of burns, wounds, any skin damage

1.9 million people die from bleeding every year. In a critical situation you may be the only person who can help the victim. Situations in which first aid will be required will most likely be trivial: car accidents, accidents with glass or metal objects at home or at work, as well as dangerous situations that occur while hiking, cycling, etc.

Risk of bleeding

Bleeding often occurs after injury when blood vessels are damaged. Bleeding can occur outside the body (external bleeding) or inside the body (internal bleeding).

Minor bleeding injuries can heal on their own when the body produces blood clots to stop the bleeding. However, when the bleeding becomes more severe and does not stop by itself, first aid is necessary. Specific actions will depend on the type, severity and cause of the injury.

3 types of bleeding

There are 3 types of bleeding: arterial, venous and capillary.

1) Arterial bleeding is usually the most severe. Blood flows from the damaged artery in the rhythm of the victim's heartbeat. This is because the blood is under direct pressure due to the pumping activity of the heart. Arterial bleeding is an urgent situation and usually leads to the loss of the largest volume of blood from the three types of bleeding. Arterial blood has a bright red color due to the high oxygen content in it.

2) Venous bleeding can also be serious, since a large volume of blood also passes through the veins. Unlike arterial bleeding, blood usually does not "gush" from a damaged vein. Instead, blood will flow out constantly. This is because the veins are not under direct pressure from the heartbeat. Despite this, damage to the veins can still lead to rapid blood loss. Since there is not much oxygen in the venous blood, it has a dark red color.

3) Capillary bleeding occurs in all wounds. This is the least serious of the 3 types of bleeding, because it is the easiest to control and it leads to the least blood loss. Blood "oozes" from the capillaries for a short time and eventually stops.

First aid for bleeding

It is necessary to treat all the wounds a person received. Different wounds will require a different approach, but there are some general guidelines to follow.

Before trying to help a person who is bleeding, be sure to take the necessary precautions:

• Make sure that the surroundinga are safe;
• If the bleeding is severe, call an ambulance;
• Wear personal protective equipment.

First aid for minor bleeding

First aid for minor (capillary) external bleeding is simple: if possible, clean the affected area with an antiseptic or remove dirt with sterile bandage or a similar object in the absence of disinfectants. Do not use a cloth that may leave threads or debris in the wound. Apply direct pressure on the wound and carefully bandage it. In most cases, minor bleeding can be stopped by putting direct pressure on the wound. Since there is no risk of large blood loss, the main priority in this situation is to wash the wound to prevent infection, and then stop the bleeding.

Recommendations for the use of EPLUN cream and EPLUN solution at all stages of treatment and healing of burns and wounds of any etiology for adults, children and animals. EPLUN is used to treat wounds and skin injuries of any origin, accelerates healing, reduces the risk of complications, prevents the development of pustular skin lesions, destroys microbes and bacteria, prevents infection of wounds.

Learn more about wound treatment with EPLUN

First aid for severe bleeding

If a person gets a severe bleeding injury, the main priority is to stop the bleeding. Call 112 and follow the operator's instructions. If the first aid kit is available, prepare it. If the victim is conscious, ask him to put pressure on the wound. Apply a bandage tightly to the wound. Keep pressing on this area with your fingers or palm.

If the bleeding does not stop after dressing the wound, apply a second bandage over the first and increase the pressure. Do not try to remove the first bandage, as this may lead to increased bleeding.

In very severe cases, a tourniquet may be required to stop the bleeding. A tourniquet is applied to the bleeding limb above the wound, exerting pressure to stop the blood flow. You can purchase commercial harnesses, but if you don't have them, in an emergency you can make them yourself from a waist belt or a long piece of fabric.

How to apply a tourniquet to a wound

Temporary stop of arterial bleeding with the use of a hemostatic tourniquet.

Rules for applying the harness:

1. Lift the injured limb (to ensure blood outflow);
2. Stop the bleeding by pressing the vessel with your fingers: – on the extremities – above the bleeding site; – on the neck and head – below the wound or in the wound;
3. The tourniquet is applied to a pad of soft material without folds (the tourniquet is not applied to the naked body);
4. Take the tourniquet by the middle, wind up by the limb and stretch with maximum effort;
5. Press the first turn and make sure there is no pulse;
6. Apply the following coils with less effort, which should fit on top of each other without hurting the skin;
7. Fasten the harness fastener;
8. Attach a note under the elastic band of the harness indicating the time and date (hours, minutes) of applying the harness;
9. In cases of blueness and swelling of the limb (if the tourniquet is applied incorrectly), the tourniquet should be immediately re-applied.

How long to apply the tourniquet for: in summer – up to 1 hour, in winter up to 40 minutes (to avoid tissue necrosis). After this time the tourniquet should be slowly loosened for 5-10 minutes till the skin turns pink and sensitivity is restored (during this period, press the artery with your finger) and apply the tourniquet again a little higher or lower.

Conclusions

In this article we have analyzed the basic principles and algorithms of first aid for venous, arterial and capillary bleeding, which will help you quickly and correctly help the victim. Having knowledge of first aid and having a first aid kit with you, you can be ready to act in emergency situations and help yourself and others in case of injury.