Introduction
If you’ve suffered an unfortunate accident, you may have experienced severe bleeding. This can be a life-threatening situation, so taking care of yourself and getting help as soon as possible is crucial.
Bleeding is the body’s way of getting rid of damaged tissue and harmful substances. It’s a process your body uses to heal itself. Bleeding can also be scary and trying to stop it can feel overwhelming.
Hence, if you find yourself or someone you love injured, here are several ways to stop the bleeding and prevent further injury:
Use A Hemostatic Agent
A hemostatic stabilizer or hemostatic agent help stop severe bleeding. They can be used in case of an accident and are available in two types:
Hemostatic Dressings
They’re placed over an injury site and packed in place with gauze or other material until clot forms to stop bleeding. This type of dressing is commonly used on large skin surface wounds called abrasions.
Hemostatic Powders
They’re sprinkled onto the wound, which can be challenging if multiple wounds or deep injuries require cleaning first. When applied correctly, however, these powders can effectively stop severe bleeding from deeper bodily injuries such as gunshot wounds or stab wounds caused by broken glass or metal objects.
Read the hemostatic agent’s special instructions for proper use. Never use hemostatic dressings on open skull fractures and chest and abdominal wounds. If you’re unsure how to use a hemostatic agent, it’s best to wait for the emergency responder than cause more harm to the victim because of incorrect application.
Apply Pressure To The Wound
If you’re bleeding profusely and can’t stop the flow, press down hard on the wound with a clean cloth or bandage. Apply pressure for at least 5 minutes until the bleeding stops. If you’re alone, tie a bandage around the wound and apply direct pressure for 15 minutes. If there’s no improvement after 10 minutes of direct pressure, call 911.
If there’s an object in your wound, don’t remove it unless it’s causing pain or making it difficult to breathe or walk. If it does need to come out, gently work it back and forth until it slides out easily. See a doctor immediately if you have a head injury or other serious injury that might cause bleeding inside your body, such as a broken bone.
Even minor wounds or other injuries need medical consultation for claims purposes. If the victim can’t show medical documents of injuries, there’s a chance of settlement reduction or claim denial. Seeking legal help for victims and suspected at-fault drivers is also a must. If you’re in need of DUI defense in Oakland, consult an experienced lawyer from a reputable law firm.
Elevate The Injury
You may have internal bleeding if you’ve been involved in an accident or suffered a severe injury. While bleeding can be scary, you must learn to stop blood flow and treat the wound.
Elevating the wounded area above the level of your heart can help prevent further blood loss. If possible, get someone else to hold a towel or blanket under your leg or arm while you elevate it. This should be enough pressure to stop most internal bleeding within 5 minutes or less.
Consider Tourniquets When Necessary
If you’re alone and have no other option for stopping the bleeding, use whatever is available. You can use your belt, shoelace, or strip of cloth to create a tourniquet around the injured area. Tie it as tightly as possible without cutting off circulation. The goal is to stop blood flow in the affected limb so it can heal properly.
Tourniquets should only be used, when necessary, on arms or legs with significant bleeding after an accident or injury that involved broken bones, deep cuts, or severed limbs. In these cases, it’s crucial to get help from 911 immediately after applying the tourniquet and leave it in place until emergency responders arrive at the scene.
Never attempt to use a tourniquet if you’re unsure what to do. If a tourniquet is too tight or left for more than two hours, it can cause total blood flow disruption, leading to amputation. That’s why the tourniquet application is only for trained civilians in case of emergency and first aid responders.
Cover Wound With Bandage
You can use a bandage to stop severe bleeding in an emergency. If you don’t have a bandage, use your clothing or other material to apply pressure to the injury.
To ensure the pressure is applied evenly around the wound, put a cloth over it and then wrap it with gauze or other material. Tie it tightly in place with a knot or safety pin.
Covering a wound with a bandage is an excellent way to stop severe bleeding. You can do this by pressing the bandage firmly onto the wound. This will also help you stem the blood flow and prevent further injury.
If there’s no fabric or cloth, you can use paper towels. They’re an alternative to bandages during an emergency, like a vehicular accident. You’ll need a clean gauze or non-paper material to place onto the wound’s surface, and then use paper towels and secure the protective covering using sticky tape.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ever in a situation where you need to stop severe bleeding after an accident, these ways to stop the bleeding can help keep you safe and healthy. Too much bleeding can cause death after accidents, but there are simple things you can do to avoid it.
If you’re bleeding and don’t know where the blood is coming from, try to calm down and assess your situation. Don’t panic. This will only make your condition worse and could lead to more injuries. Remember that every minute counts when there’s severe bleeding, and every second counts even more if your blood is coming from an artery.