Bleeding

Bleeding occurs when one or more blood vessels is damaged. Bleeding can be external from a wound or from the nose for instance, or it can be internal, when blood vessels insidethe body are damaged but the skin remains unbroken: this type of bleeding is harder to detect than external bleeding. There are three different types of bleeding:

There are three different types of bleeding:

1. Arterial bleeding – bright red blood which spurts with each beat of the heart from damaged arteries (blood vessels which carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body).
2.Venous bleeding – dark red blood which comes from veins (blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart). Blood loss may be severe but it occurs at a steady rate.
3. Capillary bleeding – oozing blood from capillaries (tiny blood vessels found throughout the body). Only slight blood loss normally occurs.

The seriousness of the injury depends on the depth of the cut, the amount of bleeding, the time it takes to control the bleeding and the type of blood vessels damaged.

What should I do if someone is bleeding?

Be aware that coming into contact with blood and body fluids may expose you to infections such as hepatitis B and C, and HIV, so whenever possible, put on a pair of disposable, preferably sterile gloves before touching the person who is bleeding. If gloves are not available, use a thickly folded, smooth- textured cloth, such as a dish towel and wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching the person.

Internal bleeding

Internal bleeding is always serious and requires immediate medical assistance. Causes of internal bleeding include bone fractures, ulcers, certain drugs, or a forceful external impact such as a road traffic accident. It can be difficult to know if internal bleeding is occurring, but signs to look out for include a fast weak pulse, marks or fresh bruises on the chest or abdomen, bleeding from mouth or blood in urine, confusion or restlessness, or pale appearance with cold, clammy skin.

Minor external bleeding

Minor bleeding can usually be stopped by applying pressure to the wound:

First, rinse the wound under running water to clean it

Pat the wound dry with a sterile gauze swab or any clean, non-textured cloth

Put a sterile dressing or a clean, non-textured cloth on the wound and apply firm pressure to control bleeding



Nosebleeds

Nosebleeds can occur spontaneously or when a person has banged their nose or been hit on the nose by someone else.

Have the person sit down and loosen any tight clothing around the neck.

If the bleeding hasn't stopped, continue pressure for another 10 minutes.

If the nose is still bleeding after 30 minutes, seek medical help.



Bleeding from the mouth

Bleeding from the mouth can happen when a tooth is knocked out or a person bites their lip, tongue or cheek.

Have the person sit down and lean their head forward, towards the injured side to let the blood drain out of their mouth. The person should be encouraged not to swallow the blood because it induces vomiting.

Apply a sterile gauze pad or any clean non- textured cloth over the wound and have the person squeeze it to stop the bleeding.

If the wound is large or the bleeding doesn't stop, seek medical help