First Aid for Bleeding Wounds

Most bleeding from wounds can be stopped when you apply pressure directly on the wound. Use a tourniquet only if direct pressure did not stop the flow. Tourniquets can cut off circulation – so use them only when direct pressure fails.

First Aid for Bleeding

1. Remove or cut the patient’s clothing to find the wound.
2. Press directly on the wound with clean dressing, absorbent pads, bandages, gauze or cloth.
3. Keep pressing until the bleeding stops.
4. Do not remove the dressing even if it becomes saturated with blood. If necessary, place new dressing over saturated ones.
5. For injuries in arms or legs, raise the wounded area until it is above heart level. Note: Don’t elevate a fractured limb.
6. Wrap a belt, rope or piece of fabric between the patient’s heart and his/her wound to create a tourniquet. Wrap it loosely enough to place a stick or rigid object under the tourniquet next to the skin. Turn the stick to tighten the tourniquet, but don’t strangle the limb. Don’t loosen the tourniquet until emergency rescue workers arrive.

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