Techniques to Stop Severe Bleeding

Posted by: Admin

To receive automatic updates of Nursing News, Nursing Care Plans, Case Studies and the much awaited November 2008 Nursing Board Exam Result: click Subscribe to NursingCrib.com by Email or via RSS. If you have other topics to discuss, make a post on our Nursing Crib Forum. Thanks for visiting and enjoy your stay!

Direct pressure

Severe bleeding of an open wound can usually be controlled by pressing with the palm of one hand to compress of cloth over the entire area of the wound. A thick pad of sterile gauzes is preferable, but any soft clean cloth can be used in an emergency. Ever unclean material can be used, but only if nothing better is immediately available.

In an emergency in the absence of compresses, the bare hand or fingers may be used; but only until a compress can be applied. Don’t disturb the blood clots that from in the cloth. If blood soaks through the entire compress, do not remove it; add thicker layer of cloth and continue direct pressure.

The reason for applying hand pressure directly is to prevent loss of blood from the body without interfering with normal-blood circulation. The first-aider is handicapped in carrying out other emergency care, and if such care is necessary, the compress should be secured in place by a pressure bandage.

Elevation

Unless there is evidence of a fracture, or severely bleeding open wound of the head, neck, arm, or leg should be elevated – that is raised above the level of the victim’s heart. Elevation uses the force of gravity to help reduce the blood pressure in the injured area and thus aids in slowing down the loss of blood through the wound opening. However, direct pressure on a thick pad over the wound must be continued.

Pressure on the Supplying Artery

If direct pressure and elevation do not stop severe bleeding from an open wound of the arm or leg, the pressure point technique may be required. This technique involves applying pressure at a specific point on the arm or leg to temporarily compress the main artery supplying blood to the affected limb. There is one recommended pressure point on each arm and leg.

The use of pressure point not only stops blood circulation to the injured limb. Therefore pressure points should not be used unless the technique is absolutely necessary to help stop severe bleeding. The brachial artery in the biceps and triceps is pressured when the wound is no the arm, while the femoral artery just in front of the thigh just below the middle of the crease of the groin where the wound is located in the lower extremities.

Tourniquet

Is only used when all the other methods failed in stopping the severe bleeding. Do not use a narrow band, rope, or wire. Application of a tourniquet can control severe bleeding from an open wound of the arm or leg but is rarely needed and should not be used except-in critical emergency where direct pressure on the appropriate pressure point fails to stop bleeding. The uses of tourniquets are dangerous. Properly applied, it will stop all blood circulation to a limb beyond the point of application. But if is left in place for an extended period of time, uninjured tissues may die from lack of blood and oxygen. Releasing the tourniquet tends to increase the danger of shock, and bleeding may resume. If a tourniquet is applied improperly (too loosely), it will not sop arterial blood flow to the affected limb, but will only slow or sop venous blood flow from the limb. The result is increased bleeding, instead of the controlled bleeding from the wound.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

• Severe Bleeding Loss of more than a quart of blood is a threat to a person’s survival. Hemorrhage from the aorta or from combined external and internal injuries may be so rapid and extensive that the victim dies almost immediately. The loss of blood in some other kinds of wounds such as the partial or complete severing
• Closed Wounds External forces, such as falls and motor vehicle accidents, cause most closed wounds. May closed wounds are relatively small and involve soft tissues; the black eye is an example: Others, however, involve fractures of the limbs, spine, or skill and damage to vital organs within the skull, chest, or abdomen. Massive injury to soft
• First Aid for Open Wounds If the wound is in an inconspicuous location, is not deep, and gapes slightly, the first-aider may find that he need only hold the wound edges together and dress and bandage the injury. At times, however, it may be difficult for the first-aider to decide whether a wound needs medical care. He may ask himself,
• Types & Causes of Open Wounds A wound is a break in the continuity of a tissue of the body, either internal or external. Wounds are classified as open or closed. An open wound is a break in the skin or in a mucous membrane. A closed wound involves underlying tissues without a break in the skin or a mucous membrane. Causes Wounds
• Fetal Circulation Oxygenated blood enters the umbilical vein from the placenta Enters ductus venosus Passes through inferior venacava Enters the right atrium Enters the foramen ovale Goes to the left atrium Passes through left ventricle Flows to ascending aorta to supply nourishment to the brain and upper extremeties Enters superior vena cava Goes to right atrium Enters