Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

7 Bleeding, Wound Care and Trauma

Internal Bleeding When a patient is bleeding internally there is usually no exposed blood to see. There may be signs of severe bruising, mottled skin, and swelling, but the MOI alone may suspect internal bleeding. In the case of a penetrating wound, such as an embedded object or a knife/gunshot injury, there may be very little external bleeding even with severe damage to organs and blood vessels. Specific signs of internal bleeding include: • Blood seeping from the ear canal or nose. • Coughed up blood. Bright red, frothy blood indicates bleeding from the lungs. • Blood in Vomit. Bright red or dark brown and coarse, like wet coffee grounds. • Severely bloodshot eye or eyes.

• Blood in stool. Bright red or black and tar like. • Blood in urine. Colour varies from brown to red. Assess the mechanism of injury (MOI) and signs and symptoms of shock as your primary guide to suspecting internal bleeding. Patients with internal bleeding need medical help. Any patient that shows signs and symptoms of shock or has an MOI that suggests severe force needs emergency medical care. Provide first aid for shock and get help immediately. Tell medical personnel that you suspect internal bleeding and why.

Internal bleeding of the eye

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