| Direct
Pressure for Bleeding |
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| 1. Elevate
the wound above the heart and apply firm pressure with
a clean compress (such as a clean, heavy gauze pad,
washcloth, T-shirt, or sock) directly on the wound.
Call out for someone to get help, or call 911 yourself.
Do not remove a pad that is soaked through with blood;
you will disturb any blood clots that have started
to form to help stop the bleeding. If blood soaks through,
place another pad on top of the soaked one and continue
applying direct pressure. |
2. When
the bleeding slows or stops, tie the pad firmly in
place with gauze strips, a necktie, strips of sheet,
or a shoelace. Do not tie so tightly that blood flow
to the rest of the limb is cut off. Stay with the person
and keep the wound elevated until medical help arrives. |
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Pressure
Points for Severe Bleeding
If severe
bleeding does not stop with direct pressure and elevation, apply
direct pressure to an artery. Use direct pressure on an artery
along with elevation and direct pressure on the wound. There are
specific major arteries in the body where pressure should be placed
(see illustration on facing page).
When you
apply pressure to an artery, you stop bleeding by pushing the artery
against bone. Press down firmly on the artery between the bleeding
site and the heart. If there is severe bleeding, also apply firm
pressure directly to the bleeding site.
To check
if bleeding has stopped, release your fingers slowly from the pressure
point, but do not release pressure at the bleeding site. If bleeding
continues, continue to apply pressure to the artery. Continue until
the bleeding stops or until help arrives. After bleeding stops,
do not continue to apply pressure
to an artery for longer than 5 minutes.
| Pressure
Points for Bleeding |
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| The circles
show places to apply direct pressure on an artery
in order to stop the flow of blood from an injury. |
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