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.