Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Minor injuries
• Method 2 of 3: Larger wounds
• Method 3 of 3: Internal bleeding
• Tips
• Warnings

Bleeding is the loss of blood from blood vessels in the body. If someone is injured, get the bleeding under control as soon as possible and eventually stop. Usually this does not cause major problems, but in more severe cases bleeding can lead to shock, broken blood circulation or worse health problems such as damage to organs or tissue, which can lead to death. Follow the steps below to control the bleeding.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Minor injuries

1. Use water. Running water cleans the wound and helps control bleeding. Let the cold water get on the wound so that the blood vessels constrict and the bleeding stops. You can do the same with warm water which will harden a wound and cause the blood to clot. You are not supposed to use both methods interchangeably, either is good enough.
   • You can also use an ice cube instead of cold water to close the arteries. Hold the ice on the wound for a few seconds until it is closed and no more blood comes out.
   • If you have several small cuts on your body you can also take a hot shower. This washes all blood from your body and ensures that all the small cuts are closed at the same time.
2. Use petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly is so waxy that a little petroleum jelly on small wounds will stop blood from coming out of the wound and allow it time to harden. You can also use lip balm if you don't have petroleum jelly with you.
3. Use white vinegar. The astringents in the vinegar disinfect the wound and cause small wounds to clot. Dip a cotton ball in the vinegar and hold it against the wound until it is closed.
4. You can also use witch hazel. This substance works the same as white vinegar. Pour a little on the wound or use a cotton ball and hold it against the wound.
5. You can also use cornstarch. Sprinkle some cornstarch on the wound, taking care not to touch it to avoid further injury. Lightly press on the wound to speed up the process. Once the bleeding has stopped, clean the wound with cold water.
6. Use a spoonful of sugar. Follow Mary Poppins' advice and pour some sugar on the wound. The antiseptic nature of sugar can be used to clean a wound and helps the blood to clot.
7. Use spider webs. This is an option that is especially suitable for when you are outside. Take a spider web (without spider) and hold it on the wound, roll up the web if necessary. The spider web stops bleeding and gives the wound time to harden.
8. Use a styptic pen. These are intended for healing razor wounds but can also be used for other small wounds. Move the pen over the skin and let the minerals do their work. The pen may hurt a little on the first touch but then both the pain and the blood will go away on their own.
9. Use deodorant. Just like the styptic pen, deodorant contains aluminum chloride, which acts as an astringent and stops bleeding. Keep your finger in the fabric and then spread it over the wound, or hold the deodorant against the wound (this can only be done with a roller).
10. You can also use Listerine. Listerine was developed as an aftershave, but Listerine also stops the blood flow. Rub some Listerine on a wound or use a cotton ball to rub the Listerine on the wound. The bleeding should subside within two minutes.
11. Pour some pepper on the wound. Cayenne pepper makes the wound heal faster and stops bleeding. However, this is one of the more painful methods. If you are in a hurry and can handle the stinging pain, you can sprinkle some cayenne pepper on the wound. When the bleeding stops, rinse the pepper off the wound with some cold water.
12. Use an alum block. This block consists of minerals so it can be used to stop bleeding. You need to wet the block and then gently rub the wound.
13. Use an egg shell. You may know that if you break an egg and the egg is out of the shell, a kind of thin layer still sticks to the inside of the shell, which is the membrane. You can use this (preferably as large as possible) and place it on your wound. In a few minutes you will see the bleeding decrease and eventually stop.
14. Dress the wound. Use a sterile dressing so that dirt does not get into the wound and it does not start to bleed again. You can use a simple band-aid or use a new piece of gauze.

Method 2 of 3: Larger wounds

1. Lay down. This reduces the chance that you will go into shock. Check the victim's breathing and circulation first.
2. Raise the arm / leg that is injured. Keeping it above the heart will reduce the risk of severe bleeding. If you think there is a broken bone, it is better not to touch the body part.
3. Remove clutter. Clean up all visible things that do not belong in or on the body (also called foreign bodies), but do not clean the wound thoroughly as this can aggravate the wound. Your first priority is to make sure that the bleeding stops, and the cleaning of the wound can wait.
   • If there is a large "foreign body" (piece of glass, knife, or similar) you should not try to remove it. This ensures that the bleeding is not worse. Apply pressure to the wound and bandage around the wound. This should be done carefully so that you do not push the object further into the body.
4. Keep applying pressure to the wound until the bleeding stops. Use clean gauze, bandages or clothing (you can even do this with your hand if nothing else is available). Move your hand over the mesh and keep applying pressure with your fingers or hand.
5. Keep applying pressure. If the injury involves an arm or leg, you can use tape or a piece of cloth to keep pressure on the wound (a triangular bandage on the wound and tied is ideal). For injuries around the groin or other areas of the body where the wound cannot be wrapped, use gauze and use both hands to keep pressure on the wound.
6. Check if the wound is leaking. Use more gauze and bandages if the original bandage / gauze is soaked. Make sure that the dressing you are using remains tight, as the pressure on the wound may increase again. If you suspect that the bandage is no longer working, you will need to replace it as well as the gauze. If the bleeding appears to be under control, keep applying pressure to the wound until you are sure the bleeding has stopped or until help has arrived.
   
   
7. Use pressure points if necessary. If you can't stop the bleeding with just pressure, you need to keep putting pressure on the wound and applying pressure to a pressure point. Use your fingers to press the blood vessel against the bone. Most common pressure points are briefly mentioned below:
   • The upper arm artery. When it comes to wounds on the forearm. This can be found on the inside of the arm between the elbow and armpit.
     
     
   • The femoral artery. For thigh wounds. This artery can be found around the groin and bikini line.
   • The artery in the back of the knee. For wounds on the lower leg. This is located behind the knee.
8. Continue to apply pressure until the bleeding has stopped or until help arrives.
   • Do not use a tourniquet unless it is the last resort to save someone's life. If not done properly, it can lead to unnecessary, serious injury or even the loss of an arm or leg.
9. Monitor your breathing. Make sure the dressings are not too tight, if the victim has cold, pale skin, toes or fingers that do not return to their normal color even after compression, or if victims suffer from numbness or tingling, the bandages may be too sitting tight.

Method 3 of 3: Internal bleeding

1. Call an ambulance right away. Get the bleeding victim to a hospital as soon as possible. Internal bleeding cannot be treated at home and can only be treated by a doctor.
2. Relax in an easy position. Keep the victim calm and prevent further injury. Try to stay down if you can.
3. Monitor breathing. Check the victim's airway, breathing and circulation. If there are no problems with this, you need to treat the external injuries.
4. Maintain normal body temperature. Make sure you don't get too hot or too cold by putting wet wipes on the forehead.

Tips

• When applying pressure to a bleeding wound, do not move the dressing to see if the bleeding has stopped. Stay focused on applying pressure.
• Arterial bleeding takes a different kind of pressure than venous bleeding. With arterial bleeding, the pressure should be directed more towards the blood vessel, while with venous bleeding, pressure should be applied to the wound. With arterial bleeding, the pressure with the fingertips should be directed to where the blood is coming from. This is due to the fact that the pressure of the arterial system is different. For arterial bleeding, seek immediate medical attention if possible.
• If present, find rubber or latex gloves before touching someone else's blood. You can also use plastic bags to protect your hands.
• If you are on blood thinners, it takes more pressure / time to stop the bleeding. If you are treating someone else, look for a bracelet or necklace that shows the person is on blood thinners.
• In case of heavy bleeding, ask for help as soon as possible by calling or asking other people for help if they are nearby.
• If a person has had abdominal injuries, do not move the organs, but only cover them with a bandage until the person can be moved by someone with a medical background.

Warnings

• To prevent a disease from spreading from the victim to others, it is important that you take measures:
  • Make sure there is always a barrier between your skin and the blood. Wear gloves (preferably non-latex gloves as some people are allergic to it) or a clean folded cloth.
  • Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after touching a bleeding victim. Use a sink where food is not normally prepared.
  • After treating a bleeding victim, do not touch your nose, mouth, and eyes until you have washed your hands. During this time you are also not allowed to eat or drink anything.
• It is not recommended to use a tourniquet (pressure bandage) yourself. When it comes to serious injuries or severed arms or legs, it is sometimes necessary to be able to save someone's life, but also in such circumstances the victim can lose their arm / leg due to such a compression bandage.