Bleeding
Minor cuts, scratches and grazes
Treatment
- Wash and dry your own hands.
- Cover any cuts on your own hands and put on disposable
gloves.
- Clean the cut, if dirty, under running water. Pat dry with a
sterile dressing or clean lint-free material. If possible, raise
affected area above the heart.
- Cover the cut temporarily while you clean the surrounding skin
with soap and water and pat the surrounding skin dry. Cover the cut
completely with a sterile dressing or plaster.
Severe bleeding
Treatment
- Put on disposable gloves.
- Apply direct pressure to the wound with a pad (e.g. a clean
cloth) or fingers until a sterile dressing is available.
- Raise and support the injured limb. Take particular care if you
suspect a bone has been broken.
- Lay the casualty down to treat for shock.
- Bandage the pad or dressing firmly to control bleeding, but not
so tightly that it stops the circulation to fingers or toes. If
bleeding seeps through first bandage, cover with a second bandage.
If bleeding continues to seep through bandage, remove it and
reapply.
- Treat for shock.
- Dial 999 for an ambulance.
Remember: protect yourself from infection by
wearing disposable gloves and covering any wounds on your
hands.
If blood comes through the dressing do not
remove it – bandage another over the original.
If blood seeps through both dressings,
remove them both and replace with a fresh dressing, applying
pressure over the site of bleeding.
Objects in wounds
Where possible, swab or wash small objects out of the wound with
clean water. If there is a large object embedded:
Treatment
- Leave it in place.
- Apply firm pressure on either side of the object.
- Raise and support the wounded limb or part.
- Lay the casualty down to treat for shock.
- Gently cover the wound and object with a sterile dressing.
- Build up padding around the object until the padding is higher
than the object, then bandage over the object without pressing on
it.
- Depending on the severity of the bleeding, dial 999 for an
ambulance or take the casualty to hospital.
Related topics
Please note:
These hints are no substitute for thorough knowledge of first
aid! St John Ambulance holds first aid
courses throughout the country.