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How to Stop Serious Bleeding
Uncontrolled bleeding may cause death quite rapidly, but in most cases bleeding can be stopped easily and swiftly by good first aid treatment.
Blood flowing from a vein oozes from the wound and is dark red in color. Blood from a cut artery spurts out with each pulsation of the heart and is bright red in color.
In almost all cases, applying "Direct Pressure" to the wound may stop bleeding. That is by pressing down upon the wound with your fingers or hand. If a sterile dressing is available, it may be placed on the cut before pressing down, but if the bleeding is serious, DO NOT WAIT for the sterile material. It is better to have a live victim with a few germs than a sterile wound on a dead patient.
ALWAYS WEAR LATEX GLOVES WHEN APPLYING FIRST AID TO A BLEEDING VICTIM.
There are a few cases of arterial bleeding when direct pressure may not be used:
- If there is a broken bone deep in the wound.
- If the wound is too large to cover with your hand.
- If there is a foreign object such as a piece of glass, or metal, within the wound.
In these cases, arterial bleeding may be stopped by pressing firmly on the area above the wound where the artery is close to a bone and may be compressed.
Don't forget that after you have stopped the bleeding, you must dress the wound, treat for shock, and transport the victim to medical care as fast as possible.
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