Overview
- Severe bleeding involves loss of large amount of blood
- This may occur externally through natural openings, like mouth
- A cut on the skin too can lead to bleeding
- Internal bleeding occurs due to an injury to blood vessel
Causes
- Accidents/Falls
- Blow to the head
- Injuries, like scalp wounds
- Tooth Extraction
- Certain medications
- Illnesses like
- Hemophilia
- Scurvy
- Cancer
- Thrombocytopenia
- A plastic Anemia
- Leukemia
- Hemorrhage
- Peptic Ulcer
- Platelet Disorder
- Liver Disease
- Septicemia
Symptoms
- Discharge of blood from a wound
- Bruising
- Blood in stool/urine
- Blood coming from other areas, like mouth/ear
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Treatment
- Wash hands well before administering to patient
- Wear synthetic gloves
- Make the victim lie down
- Slightly elevate the legs
- If possible keep the affected area elevated
- Remove any obvious debris/particle
- Apply direct pressure using clean cloth/bandage
- Use hand if cloth is not available
- Apply pressure continuously for at least 20 minutes
- Do not remove the cloth to check the bleeding
- Hold the bandage in place using an adhesive tape
- If bleeding seeps through bandage, do not remove it
- Add extra bandage on top of the first one
- Apply direct pressure on the artery if necessary
- The pressure points for arm--below arm- pit/above elbow
- For leg--behind knee/near groin
- Squeeze the artery keeping finger flat
- Continue applying pressure on the wound
- Once bleeding stops immobilize the affected part
- See a doctor
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Consult a doctor
- If bleeding does not stop
- If bleeding occurs through nose, ears etc
- Coughing up blood
- Vomiting
- Bruising/deep wounds
- Abdominal tenderness
- Fracture
- Shock
Steps To Avoid
- Do not try to replace a displaced organ
- Just cover the wound with a clean cloth
- Do not try to remove an embedded object
