Common methods of stopping bleeding

Traumatic hemostasis is very critical. There are many ways to stop bleeding. If there is no gauze bandage and hemostatic drugs, we can only stop bleeding by pressing, because the wound can be pressed during the pressing process, so the blood circulation of the wound will become slower, which can help accelerate the coagulation time of platelets. So what are our more common methods of stopping bleeding?

Trauma includes skin damage, broken blood vessels and nerves, fractures, etc. Bleeding is very common. The bleeding visible to the naked eye is called external bleeding. As long as it is not bleeding from the large arteries, the chances of being saved are relatively high. Internal bleeding is difficult to judge. When the amount of bleeding reaches a certain level, the victim will go into shock and pain.

Four common methods of stopping bleeding

Pressure: When a wound is bleeding, press the bleeding area with your hands. There are two types: one is direct pressure on the wound, whether using clean gauze or other cloth items to press directly on the bleeding area, it can effectively stop the bleeding. Another method is to use pressure to stop bleeding. Press your fingers on the bone near the proximal end of the bleeding artery to block the source of blood supply and achieve the purpose of hemostasis. The latter requires training to learn.

Bandage: The materials used for bandaging are gauze, bandages, elastic bandages or clean cotton cloth or padding made of cotton fabric. The principle of bandaging is to cover first and then wrap, with moderate force. Cover first and then bandage, that is, cover the wound with a dressing (a large and thick enough cotton pad), and then bandage it with a bandage or triangular bandage. This is because the commonly used ordinary gauze can easily rub against the wound, making subsequent treatment more difficult. Moderate strength means that the bandage should stop bleeding effectively, and the distal artery should still be pulsating; if the bandage is too loose, the bleeding will be ineffective; if the bandage is too tight, it will cause ischemia, hypoxia and necrosis of the distal tissue.

Packing: A method of hemostasis used for armpits, shoulders, mouth, nose or other blind tube injuries and tissue defects. It is to tightly pack the bleeding cavity or tissue defect with cotton fabric until the bleeding stops. After filling, cover the outside of the wound with dressing and then apply pressure to stop bleeding. The danger of this method is that using pressure to pack the cotton fabric tightly may cause local tissue damage, while also bringing external dirt into the body and causing infection, especially anaerobic bacterial infection, which often leads to tetanus or gas gangrene. Therefore, try not to use this method unless necessary.

Tourniquet: Tourniquet hemostasis is usually used in surgery and is effective in controlling limb bleeding, but it may cause nerve and muscle damage and may also cause systemic complications due to limb ischemia. Do not use this method unless it is absolutely necessary.

1. The tourniquet does not come into direct contact with the skin and uses cotton fabric as a padding.

2. The tightness of the upper tourniquet should be appropriate, and the distal end should no longer bleed profusely after the bleeding has stopped. The looser the better.

3. Relax the tourniquet regularly, every 40 to 50 minutes. When loosening, use your hands to apply pressure to stop the bleeding for 2 to 3 minutes, and then tighten the tourniquet again.

4. Make a clear mark, record the time of applying the tourniquet, and inform the successor. The total time the tourniquet is applied should not exceed 2 to 3 hours.