When bleeding is severe, it can be dramatic and distressing. Acting quickly is vital. Find out what to do.
When bleeding is severe, it can be dramatic and distressing. If severe bleeding isn’t controlled quickly, it is possible for someone to lose a lot of blood, become unresponsive, and possibly develop shock. Shock is a life-threatening emergency, caused when the body doesn't have sufficient blood circulating to supply the vital organs with oxygen.
Your priority is to stop the bleeding.
With open wounds there’s a risk of infection, so wear protective first aid gloves (if available) to help prevent any infection passing between you both.
Apply direct firm pressure to the wound using a sterile dressing if possible or a clean non-fluffy cloth to stop the bleeding.
If you don't have a dressing, you can ask the casualty to do this themselves.
If the wound is covered by the casualty's clothing, remove or cut the clothes to uncover the wound.
If there’s an object in the wound, don’t pull it out. It may be acting as a plug to reduce the bleeding Instead, apply pressure on either side of the object to push the edges together.
Ask a helper to call 999 or 112 for emergency help. Give the emergency call handler details of where the wound is and the extent of the bleeding.
If you are on your own, use the hands-free speaker on a phone so that you can treat the casualty while speaking to the emergency call handler.
Firmly secure the dressing with a bandage to maintain pressure on the wound. Make it firm enough to maintain pressure but not so tight that it restricts their circulation.
Check their circulation beyond the bandage. Press one of the nails or the skin beyond the bandage for five seconds until it turns pale, then release the pressure. If the colour does not return within two seconds, the bandage is too tight. If necessary, loosen and reapply the bandage.
The loss of blood could cause the casualty to develop shock. Treat them for this by helping them to lie down on a rug or blanket. Raise and support their legs, so that they are above the level of their heart. You should then loosen any tight clothing around their neck, chest, and waist and cover the casualty with a blanket to keep them warm.
If blood comes through the dressing, remove it and reapply pressure with a new dressing or pad to control the bleeding. Once the bleed is under control, secure the dressing in place with the bandage, tying the knot over the wound to keep the pressure applied.
Support the injured part with a sling or bandage. Keep checking the circulation beyond the bandage every 10 minutes.
Keep monitoring their level of response until help arrives. If they become unresponsive at any point, prepare to start CPR.
If the bleed is not controlled with pressure, it is possible that the emergency call handler will ask you to improvise a tourniquet if you do not have one or are not trained. They may ask you to use items such as a triangular bandage, a belt, or a tie and instruct you on what to do.
