Volume 9
Stop the Bleeding Now - What YOU Can Do Call 9-1-1
• Call 9-1-1 yourself - OR - Tell someone to call 9-1-1
Ensure Your Safety
• Before you offer any help , you must ensure your own safety !
• If you become injured , you will not be able to help the victim .
• Provide care to the injured person if the scene is safe for you to do so .
• If , at any time , your safety is threatened , attempt to remove yourself ( and the victim if possible ) from danger and find a safe location .
• Protect yourself from blood-borne infections by wearing gloves , if available .
Look for Life-Threatening Bleeding
• Find the source of bleeding
• Open or remove the clothing over the wound so you can clearly see it . By removing clothing , you will be able to see injuries that may have been hidden or covered .
• Look for and identify “ life-threatening ” bleeding . Examples include :
• Blood that is spurting out of the wound .
• Blood that won ’ t stop coming out of the wound .
• Blood that is pooling on the ground .
• Clothing that is soaked with blood .
• Bandages that are soaked with blood .
• Loss of all or part of an arm or leg .
• Bleeding in a victim who is now confused or unconscious .
Champions Edition
Compress and Control Key Point There are a number of methods that can be used to stop bleeding and they all have one thing in common — compressing a bleeding blood vessel in order to stop the bleeding . If you don ’ t have a trauma first aid kit :
Apply direct pressure on the wound ( Cover the wound with a clean cloth and apply pressure by pushing directly on it with both hands ) 1 . Take any clean cloth ( for example , a shirt ) and cover the wound . 2 . If the wound is large and deep , try to “ stuff ” the cloth down into the wound . 3 . Apply continuous pressure with both hands directly on top of the bleeding wound . 4 . Push down as hard as you can . 5 . Hold pressure to stop bleeding . Continue pressure until relieved by medical responders . If you do have a trauma first aid kit : For life-threatening bleeding from an arm or leg and a tourniquet is NOT available OR for bleeding from the neck , shoulder or groin :
• Pack ( stuff ) the wound with a bleeding control ( also called a hemostatic ) gauze , plain gauze , or a clean cloth and then apply pressure with both hands 1 . Open the clothing over the bleeding wound . ( A ) 2 . Wipe away any pooled blood . 3 . Pack ( stuff ) the wound with bleeding control gauze ( preferred ), plain gauze , or 50