Individual Medical Insurance / Bleeding First Aid

Accidents and Emergencies do happen and when faced with one, the action you take can make all the difference.

First of all try to keep calm. Assess the situation and make sure that there is no further danger to the casualty, your self or anyone else.

Use bystanders to fetch help and where necessary, get them to call the local emergency services, making sure that they know where you are, can describe what has happened and any injuries that can immediately be identified without moving the patient.

The following advice is of course no substitute for proper medical training and you must always seek professional medical help, but the more you know about first aid, the better you'll be able to manage when faced with a real emergency.

External Bleeding

The principle of controlling blood loss is to restrict the flow of blood to the injured part by pressure and elevation.

Severe Bleeding

• Apply a clean dressing to the wound with firm, constant pressure, which should be held for up to twenty minutes.
• If there is a foreign body in the wound, such as glass, apply pressure alongside.
• If you are sure there are no fracture or dislocation, raise the part and support it while maintaining pressure. This should decrease the flow of blood.
• If bleeding continues, apply indirect pressure. Press the artery at the next pressure point (pressure Points are difficult and sometimes dangerous to use and should only be used by someone trained in first aid).
• Cover and /or dress the wound as soon as possible.
• Send for medical assistance. Wrap any severed part, (such as a finger) in a bag and place it in ice if possible, and send with casualty (don't place the finger in direct contact with the ice).
  
  

Cuts, Scratches and Scrapes

Mild to moderate bleeding cuts and scrapes usually stop bleeding if washed and dressed firmly. A course of tetanus injections may be necessary.

Internal Bleeding

Visible Bleeding

• Where the result of internal bleeding can be seen.
• Bleeding in the lungs: frothy, bright red blood coughed up by the casualty.
• Bleeding in the stomach: dark "coffee grounds", or red blood, in vomits.
• Bowel or intestinal bleeding: dark, loose, foul smelling stools.
• Anal or vaginal bleeding: usually red blood, mixed with mucous.

Remember, visible internal bleeding is referred to this way because the results of the bleeding can be seen.

Concealed Bleeding

Concealed Bleeding is harder to diagnose because we can't see it, but if you take a full history from the patient, the patient's family or bystanders at the scene, you should get a better picture of what injuries might be hidden from you. Look at the mechanism of injury.

This will also indicate where the patient might be injured, i.e. chest, abdomen or pelvis. Look for clues on the patient's body, like bruising and tenderness.

It's important to remember that some critical signs and symptoms may not appear until well after the incident has happened.

This is due to the nature and speed of the internal bleed, it can be slow or perfuse. Following the above information should give you the necessary clues as to whether internal bleeding may be present.

If you are not sure, assume the worst and treat for internal bleeding, always err on the side of caution. Obvious sign and symptoms are normally identified as:

• Pale, cool, clammy skin
• Thirst.
• Rapid, shallow breathing.
• Abdominal tenderness and/or guarding of the abdomen.
• Pain and/or discomfort.
• Nausea and/or vomiting.

If you are in any doubt or have any concerns about any injury or illness always seek professional medical advice as soon as possible.

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