Bleeding control Direct pressure
Stop the Bleed – Control Severe Haemorrhaging FAST!
Severe, life-threatening bleeding needs to be controlled immediately. Death from blood loss can happen in minutes—and in some cases, even seconds, depending on which artery is involved. I'm going to break down the primary interventions for severe bleeding management in a series of posts, focusing on direct pressure, wound packing, tourniquets, haemostatic dressings, and more.
Quick note: Pressure points and elevation can sometimes slow the bleeding, but they won’t stop it. We’re not covering those techniques here because they don’t effectively control major haemorrhaging.
Let’s focus on direct pressure as the first line of defence. You’d be surprised to learn that a large number of heavily bleeding wounds can be managed with pressure alone—before considering a tourniquet. If pressure works, it’s typically followed by a pressure bandage. Here’s how you apply direct pressure:
✅ Expose the Wound: If time allows, wipe away excess blood to get a visual on the wound. You need to know what you’re dealing with—location, severity, and any foreign objects.
✅ Apply Direct Pressure: Place the dressing over the wound and apply firm, direct pressure. Focus on the bleeding vessel—this is crucial. If you hit the right spot, most bleeding will stop immediately. Pressure works best when it’s applied directly to the wound, compressing the bleeding vessel. That’s why it's critical to visualize the wound when you can.
✅ Maintain Pressure: Keep steady pressure until the bleeding stops. In most cases, normal clotting should occur within 10–20 minutes (assuming no clotting disorders). Once coagulation starts, apply a pressure bandage to maintain pressure and prevent further bleeding.
Pressure Bandages: There are plenty of commercial options, but if you don’t have one, improvise with whatever you have on hand (shirt, sock, plastic bag, etc.). My go-to bandage is a simple hook-and-loop ACE wrap, which you can easily tighten to increase pressure as needed.
Tourniquets: If you’ve applied a tourniquet, mark the time it was applied. After about 30 minutes, reassess the casualty’s CSMT (Circulation, Sensation, Mobility, Temperature). You can loosen or remove the pressure bandage if necessary to ensure the CSMTs stay intact below the bandage.
Stay sharp. Keep it simple. Apply pressure, and stop the bleed.
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