Try to remain calm and do not panic; taking a few deep, even breaths should help with this. Sit down before inspecting the injury closely, feinting from shock could cause further injuries if it happens from a standing position. Once able to do so, inspect the wound further to determine the nature of the injury.
Types of bleeding
There are three different types of bleeding, depending on the blood vessel that has been cut:
- Arterial - blood from arteries is bright red blood in colur, and will gush in a spurt with each heartbeat.
- Venous - damaged veins bleed dark red, blood loss may not be as rapid but may be steady.
- Capillary - coming from small blood vessels distributed throughout the body. Blood loss is not normally severe.
How to control severe bleeding
Keeping arterial bleeding under control can be problematic. The most efficient remedy is to apply direct pressure:
- Place a sterile wound dressing over the injury, and secure it with surgical tape.
- If the bleeding does not cease, place another dressing over the first one.
- Do not remove a dressing after it has been applied, this may restart the bleeding.
- Try to raise the injured limb above the level of the heart (unless the bone is broken).
Direct pressure should be applied to most cuts; except those that are caused where an object is embedded in the wound, or those that have protruding bone. For those types of wounds, indirect pressure should be applied by pressing down firmly on either side of the object.
If the wound has any of the following symptons, you should get to the Accident and Emergency department of the hospital:
- Spurting blood - it is probable that an artery has been severed.
- The wounded limb feels cooler than other body parts - the blood supply may have been severed.
- The edges of the wound do not meet - stitches will be required.
- More than ¼" deep.
- Facial wound - scarring is more of a concern on the face.
- Muscle, fat, or tendons are visible.
- The cut has made a flap of flesh.
- Unable to move adjacent joints- this indicates possible tendon damage.
- Numbness beyond the wound - an indicator of possible nerve damage.
Call the emergency services for puncture wounds of any depth to the neck.
