Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

7 Bleeding, Wound Care and Trauma

Bleeding Part of proper perfusion is the requirement of enough blood for the heart to pump. Bleeding is the loss of blood from the body’s blood vessels. It can be out of the body ( external bleeding) or it can be into the surrounding tissue or into body cavities ( internal bleeding) . Any time there is trauma and damage to the soft tissue or bones of the body, it can result in a wound and bleeding. There are different types of wounds but the goal is the same, apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding and prevent infection. The body can tolerate minor bleeding before it becomes a problem and some bleeding may be beneficial, helping to wash germs and contaminants from a wound. Consider that when a healthy adult donates blood, 450ml is deemed a safe amount for the body to lose. Most people experience no ill effects from this while others may have only minor dizziness.

Dizziness is an early sign of shock, however, in donating blood, since there is no continued loss of blood, it is minor. Something sweet to help restore glucose to the body and several minutes of rest are usually all it takes for a blood donor to recover. In the case of severe bleeding, which can be a life threat, blood loss must be stopped quickly to minimize shock and keep the patient alive. First Aider in Action: Part 1 You are at the beach playing frisbee. While running for a catch, one of your friends, Anita, suddenly cries out and falls to the sand. As you hurry over she is holding her foot and blood is flowing through her fingers. Even from a distance you can see she has become very pale. What is your first consideration in giving first aid to Anita?

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