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Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso
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BLEED
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1991-11-18
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SECTION IV
BLEEDING
Major bleeding may be a life-threatening condition
requiring immediate attention. Bleeding may be
external or internal. Bleeding may be from an
ARTERY, a major blood vessel which carries
oxygen-rich blood from the heart throughout the
body. It may be from a VEIN, which carries blood
back to the heart to be oxygenated or bleeding may
be from a CAPILLARY, the smallest of our body's
blood vessels.
ARTERIAL bleeding is characterized by spurts with
each beat of the heart, is bright red in color
(although blood darkens when it meets the air) and
is usually severe and hard to control. ARTERIAL
bleeding requires immediate attention!
VENUS bleeding is characterized by a steady flow and
the blood is dark, almost maroon in shade. Venus
bleeding is easier to control than Arterial
bleeding.
CAPILLARY bleeding is usually slow, oozing in nature
and this type of bleeding usually has a higher risk
of infection than other types of bleeding.
FIRST AID FOR BLEEDING IS INTENDED TO:
l. STOP THE BLEEDING
2. PREVENT INFECTION
3. PREVENT SHOCK
HOW TO CONTROL BLEEDING:
1. APPLY DIRECT PRESSURE ON THE WOUND. USE A DRESSING,
IF AVAILABLE. IF A DRESSING IS NOT AVAILABLE, USE A
RAG, TOWEL, PIECE OF CLOTHING OR YOUR HAND ALONE.
IMPORTANT:
ONCE PRESSURE IS APPLIED, KEEP IT IN PLACE. IF
DRESSINGS BECOME SOAKED WITH BLOOD, APPLY NEW
DRESSINGS OVER THE OLD DRESSINGS. THE LESS A
BLEEDING WOUND IS DISTURBED,THE EASIER IT WILL BE TO
STOP THE BLEEDING!
2. IF BLEEDING CONTINUES, AND YOU DO NOT SUSPECT A
FRACTURE, ELEVATE THE WOUND ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE
HEART AND CONTINUE TO APPLY DIRECT PRESSURE.
3. IF THE BLEEDING STILL CANNOT BE CONTROLLED, THE NEXT
STEP IS TO APPLY PRESSURE AT A PRESSURE POINT. FOR
WOUNDS OF THE ARMS OR HANDS, PRESSURE POINTS ARE
LOCATED ON THE INSIDE OF THE WRIST ( RADIAL
ARTERY-WHERE A PULSE IS CHECKED) OR ON THE INSIDE OF
THE UPPER ARM (BRACHIAL ARTERY). FOR WOUNDS OF THE
LEGS, THE PRESSURE POINT IS AT THE CREASE IN THE
GROIN (FEMORAL ARTERY). STEPS 1 AND 2 SHOULD BE
CONTINUED WITH USE OF THE PRESSURE POINTS.
4. THE FINAL STEP TO CONTROL BLEEDING IS TO APPLY A
PRESSURE BANDAGE OVER THE WOUND. NOTE THE
DISTINCTION BETWEEN A DRESSING AND A BANDAGE. A
DRESSING MAY BE A GAUZE SQUARE APPLIED DIRECTLY TO
A WOUND, WHILE A BANDAGE, SUCH AS ROLL GAUZE, IS
USED TO HOLD A DRESSING IN PLACE. PRESSURE SHOULD BE
USED IN APPLYING THE BANDAGE. AFTER THE BANDAGE IS
IN PLACE, IT IS IMPORTANT TO CHECK THE PULSE TO MAKE
SURE CIRCULATION IS NOT INTERRUPTED.
A SLOW PULSE RATE, OR BLUISH FINGERTIPS OR TOES,
SIGNAL A BANDAGE MAY BE IMPEDING CIRCULATION.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF INTERNAL BLEEDING ARE:
* BRUISED,SWOLLEN, TENDER OR RIGID ABDOMEN
* BRUISES ON CHEST OR SIGNS OF FRACTURED RIBS
* BLOOD IN VOMIT
* WOUNDS THAT HAVE PENETRATED THE CHEST OR ABDOMEN
* BLEEDING FROM THE RECTUM OR VAGINA
* ABNORMAL PULSE AND DIFFICULTY BREATHING
* COOL, MOIST SKIN
FIRST AID IN THE FIELD FOR INTERNAL BLEEDING IS
LIMITED. IF THE INJURY APPEARS TO BE A SIMPLE
BRUISE, APPLY COLD PACKS TO SLOW BLEEDING, RELIEVE
PAIN AND REDUCE SWELLING. IF YOU SUSPECT MORE
SEVERE INTERNAL BLEEDING, CAREFULLY MONITOR THE
PATIENT AND BE PREPARED TO ADMINISTER CPR IF
REQUIRED (AND YOU ARE TRAINED TO DO SO). YOU SHOULD
ALSO REASSURE THE VICTIM, CONTROL EXTERNAL
BLEEDING, CARE FOR SHOCK (COVERED IN NEXT SECTION),
LOOSEN TIGHT-FITTING CLOTHING AND PLACE VICTIM ON
SIDE SO FLUIDS CAN DRAIN FROM THE MOUTH.
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