Preparation and awareness are key to treating any wound properly.
Or, they may be reluctant to make the call because of a lack of insurance.
The wound may stillrequire stitchesto heal properly.
Rod Brouhard
Certain wounds require vaccination to reduce the risk oftetanusorrabies.
These could be signs of a potentially deadly infection known ascellulitis.
If you do decide to make your own kit (for the house, car, office, etc.
Rod Brouhard
Rod Brouhard
The first step in controlling a bleeding wound is to plug the hole.
Blood needs to clot to get to stop the bleeding and start the healing process.
Peeling blood-soaked gauze off a wound removes vital clotting agents and encourages bleeding to resume.
Rod Brouhard
Once bleeding is controlled, take steps totreat the victim for shock.
Step two to control bleeding uses this principle.
When using pressure points, confirm you are pressing on a point closer to the heart than the wound.
Rod Brouhard
Pressing on a blood vessel farther from the heart than the wound will have no effect on the bleeding.
Remember to also keep the wound elevated above the heart and keep pressure directly on the wound.
Common pressure points:
How to Stop Bleeding: Tourniquets
When should you use a tourniquet?
The simple answer:almost never.
Tourniquets severely restrict or occlude blood flow to the arm or leg to which they are applied.
Using a tourniquet to stop bleeding has thepotential to damage the entire arm or leg.
People lose limbs from the use of tourniquets.
Instead of tilting your head back, lean forward and breathe through your mouth.
Afterward, rinse with salt water or anantiseptic mouthwashto reduce bacteria and inflammation.
Smaller cuts are treated similarly to larger wounds.
Place pressure on the cut with a clean tissue.
When the bleeding stops, place the cut under cold running water to remove any debris.
Gently apply antiseptic cream, and cover with an adhesive bandage.
Some of the more common include:
American Red Cross.Make a first aid kit.
Cleveland Clinic.When does a cut need stitches?
Donley ER, Munakomi S, Loyd JW.Hemorrhage control.
StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
Haseer Koya H, Paul M.Shock.
StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
Sullivan T, de Barra E.Diagnosis and management of cellulitis.Clin Med (Lond).
2018;18(2):160-3. doi:10.7861/clinmedicine.18-2-160
University of Rochester Medical Center.Taking care of cuts and scrapes.
Harvard Medical School.Emergencies and first aid - direct pressure to stop bleeding.Harvard Health Publishing.
Lee C, Porter KM, Hodgetts TJ.Tourniquet use in the civilian prehospital setting.Emerg Med J.
2007;24(8):584-7. doi:10.1136/emj.2007.046359
MedlinePlus.Nosebleed.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About heavy menstrual bleeding.
Rathee M, Jain P.Gingivitis.
In:StatPearls [Internet].
