How to provide first aid for arterial bleeding. Instructions for assistance with arterial bleeding. Maximum fixed limb flexion

Blood provides organs and tissues with necessary nutrients, protects them from foreign agents, and removes metabolic end products. The stability of its transport activity contributes to the coordinated functioning of all body systems. When the integrity of the vascular bed is violated and bleeding occurs, disruptions in the functioning of organs appear. Massive blood loss (more than 50% of blood volume) creates a serious danger to human life and health, so it is necessary to know the basics of first aid in this situation.

Blood loss occurs as a result of the damaging effects on the vascular system of various factors: injuries, diseases of internal organs, disorders of coagulation processes. As a result, bleeding of varying severity occurs. The choice of method of assistance directly depends on the type of blood loss.

Depending on the area of ​​bleeding, it can be:

• external- blood flows from the vascular bed into the external environment. Its outpouring occurs on the surface of the skin from wounds, which are of various types, based on the damaging factor: cut, torn, punctured, bruised, chopped, gunshot, bitten, crushed;
• internal- when blood is shed inside the body. The causes of its appearance are blows, diseases of internal organs (parenchymal bleeding), puncture and gunshot wounds, fractures, falls. It can have an obvious and hidden form.

The first option is characterized by bloody discharge from natural orifices: ears, nose, vagina, anus, mouth, urethra. In the latent form, blood accumulates in a certain cavity (abdominal, pelvic, pleural).

Depending on the type of damaged vessel, bleeding is classified:

• capillary- appears as a result of a superficial wound, deep tissues are not affected, the blood is bright red in color. Blood loss in this case is small, there is a danger of infection entering the affected area;
• venous– Occurs with deeper damage. Blood loss can be quite profuse, especially when a large vein is injured. This condition can pose a fatal risk. The outpouring of blood occurs at a measured pace, continuously, without gushing;
• arterial– the most dangerous type of bleeding, especially when large arteries are injured. Blood loss develops at a rapid pace, often massive, which poses a mortal danger. The release of scarlet-colored blood occurs in pulsating impulses (gushing), since it is under high pressure in the vessel, moving in the direction from the heart;
• mixed– characteristic of a deep wound, appears when blood loss of various types is combined.

Symptoms

To determine the necessary measures to help the victim, sometimes it is necessary to know the clinical manifestations of blood loss. At outdoor form of bleeding, diagnosis does not cause difficulties. Pallor, dizziness, fainting, a feeling of thirst and dryness in the mouth are observed, blood pressure decreases, the pulse quickens, but its filling is weak, difficulty breathing, and a state of shock may be present.

At internal In cases of blood loss, assessment of symptoms is important to confirm the presence of bleeding. In this case, the same symptoms are present as in the external form. However, hemoptysis, respiratory failure (with pulmonary hemorrhage), a painful, hard abdomen, coffee-colored vomiting, and melena (with blood loss in the abdominal cavity) may additionally be added. The patient's condition deteriorates sharply, leading to shock and cardiac arrest.

First aid for bleeding

If a situation arises that threatens a person’s life, in particular with blood loss, you need to know the basics and some of the nuances of providing first aid. This will save precious minutes until doctors arrive and will help preserve the person’s health and life.

The table shows general methods for stopping and reducing blood loss for various types of bleeding.

To put these methods of stopping and reducing blood loss into practice, you need to know their detailed technique, take into account some of the nuances and possible consequences.

For capillary bleeding

For minor damage, a simple sterile bandage made from a bandage or napkin is often sufficient. The wound must be washed and the edges treated with an antiseptic (iodine, brilliant green, alcohol). A pressure bandage may be used if blood continues to ooze. In this case, a sterile napkin with an antiseptic is placed on the wound, tightly bandaged, a cotton swab is placed on top and again tightly secured with a bandage.

For venous bleeding

With this type of blood loss, the use of a pressure bandage is most justified. Its purpose is to accelerate thrombosis of the vessel; often this is enough to stop blood loss. If it is soaked in blood, there is no need to change it; you need to put an additional bandage on top.

ATTENTION! If you do not have the means to make a bandage, you can apply pressure to the wound with your fingers or palm.

Elevating the limb helps reduce or stop blood loss.

The mortal danger of such bleeding may lie in the possible occurrence of an air embolism, due to the absorption of air bubbles through damage in the venous bed and their entry into the heart.

ATTENTION! It is forbidden to remove blood clots from a wound, as this can cause massive blood loss!

For arterial bleeding

With this type of blood loss, every minute is valuable, so the priority technique is to clamp the artery, usually the brachial or femoral one. This is done above the injury site with significant force. Pressing is carried out with a finger or palm, fist (in case of damage to large vessels). This method is designed for a short period of time, since it requires a lot of effort, but it makes it possible to prepare a tourniquet and seek medical help during this period.

ATTENTION! If, when pressing the artery for ten minutes, blood loss does not stop, you should take a break for a few seconds to avoid the formation of a blood clot in the vascular bed!

Flexing the limbs can help stop blood loss. If the popliteal artery is damaged, it is necessary to bend the leg at the knee joint until it stops; if the femoral artery is damaged, bring the thigh as close as possible to the stomach. The subclavian artery is compressed using arms bent at the elbows, placed behind the back and securely fixed. When the brachial artery is injured, the arm is bent all the way at the elbow joint.

The use of a tourniquet is advisable in extreme situations, when other methods are unsuccessful, since its prolonged use leads to nerve atrophy and tissue necrosis. The tourniquet is stretched and wrapped several times around the leg or arm above the affected area like a bandage, the first wrap (tour) is the tightest and needs to be secured, subsequent rounds (3-4) are weaker. It is applied exclusively to clothing or any available material to avoid pinching the tissue. You can make a tourniquet yourself from rope, belt, twisted fabric (twist). In this case, the arm or leg is tightly bandaged, a stick or other similar objects (pen, spoon) are inserted into the knot, secured with an additional knot and wrapped several times until the blood loss stops. The correct use of the tourniquet is determined by the pronounced pallor of the limb and the absence of a pulse. It is necessary to indicate the time of application of the tourniquet.

IMPORTANT! The time of its exposure should not exceed two hours in the summer and half an hour in the winter (for children - no more than fifty minutes). If there is a delay, the tourniquet is loosened for a quarter of an hour, using the method of pressing the vessel, then applied again slightly above or below the original location.

For internal bleeding

The main thing in this condition is to completely immobilize the patient, giving him a certain position:

• in case of blood loss in the chest, in the stomach area, or in case of miscarriage, the patient takes a semi-sitting position;
• if the abdominal cavity or pelvic organs are affected, the legs are given an elevated position;
• for traumatic brain injury, a position with the head slightly elevated is used.

It is forbidden to feed, water, or anesthetize the patient; cold is applied to the affected area; the victim must be covered.

IMPORTANT! It is necessary to monitor the person’s condition and be prepared to carry out resuscitation measures! Transportation is carried out in a sitting position!

First aid in special cases

In some cases of bleeding, a special approach to first aid is required, following certain rules.

1. It is forbidden to remove anything from the wound yourself, be it glass, sand, or a protruding object. This is done exclusively by a doctor. If there is a protruding object (or part of a bone), it is recommended to apply a bandage near it. Self-removal may cause increased blood loss.

   

2. When bleeding from the nose, cold is applied to this area, the head is slightly moved forward. If after a quarter of an hour the blood loss has not stopped, this is a reason to seek medical help.

   

3. If there is ear bleeding, you should inspect for superficial wounds that can be treated with an antiseptic. If there are no injuries, you should urgently seek medical help; this may be a symptom of a basal skull fracture.

   

4. In case of damage to the peritoneum (penetrating), assistance is provided in the same way as for internal blood loss. If there are prolapsed internal organs, they are placed in a bag and bandaged or glued with a plaster. The intestines must be constantly moisturized.

   

5. In case of traumatic amputation, together with measures to stop blood loss, the amputated limb must be placed in a bag, then in another with cold water or ice. At the same time, you need to keep it suspended.

   

If serious bleeding occurs, seek medical attention immediately. The danger of blood loss is that the deterioration of the condition increases sharply and without the provision of high-quality first aid, the prognosis in most cases is disappointing. Correct and prompt application of methods to stop bleeding can preserve the health and life of the injured person.

No person is immune from injury. First aid is a skill that everyone should ideally have. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the rules of first aid for various types of bleeding.

Algorithm for emergency care for bleeding: ways to stop bleeding

With any type of bleeding, it is extremely important to provide timely assistance to the injured person in order to avoid critical blood loss, which is possible with serious injuries and damage. To provide first aid, use the following algorithm:

1. Make sure you and the victim are safe (at a safe distance from the roadway, away from debris, etc.)
2. Call for help and call an ambulance
3. Check your consciousness
4. If possible, wear gloves
5. Remove clothing from the affected area
6. Determine the type of bleeding
7. Try to stop the bleeding
8. If necessary and in the absence of contraindications, anesthetize
9. Provide psychological support to the victim until help arrives.

Temporary way to stop bleeding

The method of stopping bleeding depends on its type and cause. First, we determine the nature of the bleeding: the amount of blood and the intensity of its flow. If there is a lot of blood, then there is a danger of blood loss and the main goal is to cover the wound with a pressure bandage.

If there is only a small amount of blood, wash the wound before applying a bandage to prevent infection. If you see that blood is flowing out like a fountain, you need to apply a tourniquet as quickly as possible.

And now I suggest you familiarize yourself in more detail with the methods of temporarily stopping bleeding:

• raising a limb or injured area - to achieve blood flow from the injured area. If a limb is injured, lift it; if the wound is located on the torso, place it on the opposite side
• applying a bandage - the bandage must apply pressure to the wound. To achieve this, place a roll of bandage on a napkin placed on the wound, then bandage tightly
• applying cold to the affected area - often used for internal bleeding
• inserting a tampon into the wound - used for arterial bleeding in the extremities in the presence of a deep wound
• pinching the arteries is the fastest and most effective way to stop it. Press the artery with your fingers in the area between the wound and the heart so that blood stops flowing to the affected area. Use this method on the section of the artery closest to the skin. Disadvantages of clamping are quite painful
• tourniquet application - used for damage to large arteries
• flexion in the joint - causes compression of blood vessels and a decrease in blood flow to the wound

Types of bleeding and first aid for bleeding

There are five types of bleeding, which differ in danger:

1. Capillary bleeding is the most “harmless” bleeding, which poses virtually no threat to human life and health. Occurs due to injections, abrasions, small cuts and scratches
2. Venous bleeding poses a serious threat if first aid is not provided for a long time. Blood is dark in color and flows out slowly at the same speed
3. Arterial bleeding is one of the most dangerous bleeding due to rapid blood loss. You can recognize it by the scarlet color of your blood, which pulsates like a fountain as it flows out.
4. Parenchymal bleeding - occurs with penetrating wounds and injuries to internal organs. You can recognize it by blood from a wound, blood-soaked clothing, or the presence of blood near the victim
5. Internal is the most dangerous type of bleeding due to late recognition. Mainly occurs with injuries and bruises of internal organs. The presence of internal bleeding can be determined only by pain at the site of injury (which may not exist) and signs of blood loss (weakness, thirst, vomiting, fainting, pallor, weak pulse, rapid breathing)

First aid for bleeding, bruises and fractures

As a result bruise nosebleeds may begin. In severe cases, internal bleeding may begin. The probability of the latter can be determined by the following criteria:

• Rapid pulse
• Low pressure
• Pallor
• Pain in the abdominal area
• In some cases, a bruise is visible
• If the stomach or esophagus is damaged, very dark blood may be vomited
• Tarry stool indicates intestinal damage
• A cough with bloody foam indicates a lung injury

If there is internal bleeding, apply ice to the injured area and calm the victim. In the event of a lung injury, place the person in a semi-sitting position; in other cases, place the person on a flat surface until the ambulance arrives.

Important: If you suspect internal bleeding, do not feed or water the victim under any circumstances, and do not give medications.

Fractures there are open and closed. For a closed fracture with obvious bruising, immobilize the injured part and apply ice until hospitalization.

Open fractures are very dangerous due to rupture of soft tissues and the formation of an open wound. Once you have immobilized the limb, treat the wound and stop the bleeding. The method of stopping depends on the type of bleeding.

Important: If there is a need to apply a tourniquet during a fracture, do it for the shortest possible time

First aid for arterial bleeding

Arterial bleeding is extremely dangerous due to the risk of rapid and severe blood loss. For example, with a severe wound, a liter of blood can spill out in a matter of minutes. Therefore, it is necessary to stop it as quickly as possible. For example, you should not waste precious time searching (possibly unsuccessfully) for a sterile dressing. Use what you have on hand.

The most important thing is to slow down the blood loss, so the first thing you should do is clamp off the artery. Then prepare the victim for transport to the hospital and apply a tourniquet.

Important: The tourniquet can be placed on the victim for no more than 30 minutes in winter and 1 hour in summer. If help has not yet arrived, carefully and, most importantly, slowly remove it until blood circulation is restored, then reapply

Arteries and method of pressing:

• Sleepy - press your palm to the back of the neck, and pinch the artery with your fingers, do not try to press the wound with both hands - you are unlikely to stop the bleeding in this way, and you can strangle the person
• Facial - holding the lower jaw with your palm, pinch the artery at the junction of the upper and lower jaw with your fingers
• Temporal - press on the artery in front of the tragus of the ear
• Subclavian - press the artery that is located behind the collarbone to the first rib. This is quite a difficult task, so if possible, move the victim's arm back
• Brachial - there are no special nuances in pressing, the artery is easily accessible
• Axillary - make an effort by squeezing the artery, it is located quite deep
• Popliteal - press in the popliteal fossa without making much effort
• The femoral artery is a large artery, press it against the pubic bone

How to apply a tourniquet correctly:

• The tourniquet should be 3-5cm above the wound
• Be sure to put it on your clothes or place a cloth under the tourniquet
• Stretch the tourniquet and wrap it 2-3 times around the limb, secure
• Wrap the affected limb in clothing or cloth
• Be sure to place a note under the tourniquet with the exact time of application of the tourniquet so that it is immediately visible. It’s even safer to write the time on the victim’s forehead.
• When the tourniquet is applied correctly, you should not feel the pulse below the tourniquet.

Instead of a tourniquet, you can use a rubber hose, belt, bandage, tie and other materials at hand, with the exception of thin, inelastic items, such as shoelaces, thin rope, etc. If you are using makeshift rag ropes, secure them with a loop and place a stick under the knot. With its help, you can efficiently tighten the bandage. Secure the position of the stick to prevent the tourniquet from unwinding.

Important: Apply a tourniquet only in case of bleeding from the brachial or femoral artery, and not in the area of ​​the middle third of the shoulder and lower third of the thigh.

Venous bleeding, signs and first aid

With venous bleeding, the blood flows evenly. Represents a threat of blood loss in the absence of timely assistance. In addition, if the wound is located on the neck or in the chest area, there is a risk of air entering the vein when inhaling, which leads to death.

Do not try to wash the wound or remove excess (shards, dirt, etc.) from it, and under no circumstances touch the resulting blood clots or blood clots. Your task is to apply a bandage as quickly as possible to stop the bleeding.

1. Treat the area around the wound or wipe with a damp cloth
2. Place a napkin, piece of cloth or a clean handkerchief on the wound
3. Cover the deep wound with a tampon
4. Secure the napkin with a bandage
5. Apply direct pressure to the wound using a small bandage roll
6. Apply a tight bandage
7. Elevate the affected limb

Important: If the bandage gradually becomes saturated with blood, then you have applied it incorrectly, but you should not remove it. Place several layers of bandage on top to increase pressure on the wound.

• After applying the bandage, the affected part of the body should be in the same position as during its application
• If you are bandaging your arm, bend it at the elbow
• When applying a bandage to your leg, bend it at the knee, your foot should be at an angle of 90°
• Wind the bandage from left to right, in addition, each new turn should cover half of the previous one

Emergency care for capillary bleeding

Capillary bleeding occurs with minor cuts, scratches, abrasions, and small wounds. Blood flows out slowly, often in drops. After a while, the blood clots and the bleeding may stop on its own.

• Treat the damage with an antiseptic
• Apply a clean bandage if necessary

Help with nosebleeds

Nosebleeds are classified as special cases of external bleeding. If you encounter such a case, do the following:

• Calm the victim
• Apply cold to your nose
• Place a tampon or press a napkin into the nasal cavity
• Ask the victim to tilt his head
• Call an ambulance if the bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes

Important: Do not allow the victim to throw their head back, blood may enter the respiratory or digestive tract, and bloody vomiting may occur.

First aid for gastrointestinal bleeding

Gastric bleeding can occur due to an ulcer, tumor, poisoning (due to excessive vomiting), severe bruise, or a foreign object entering the esophagus or stomach. You can recognize it by the following signs:

• Vomiting very dark blood
• Dark, tarry stools
• Pain may be present
• Confusion
• Pallor
• Sudden weakness, flickering before the eyes, fainting
• General signs of blood loss

With this type of bleeding, it is extremely important to provide the victim with qualified medical care as quickly as possible; before that, you can take some steps:

• Raise the person's legs slightly while lying down
• If you are vomiting, turn your head to the side
• Put cold on your stomach
• Calm the victim

Important: Under no circumstances give the victim food, drink or medications.

Uterine bleeding, help

Symptoms of bleeding:

• Pallor
• Vomiting or nausea
• Discharge of blood from the genitals
• Rapid pulse

If you suspect uterine bleeding, you must urgently take the victim to the hospital, and until help arrives:

1. Place your body in a horizontal position, raise your legs slightly
2. Put the cold on your stomach
3. Give drink constantly (water, juice, rosehip decoction, tea will do)

Important: Under no circumstances should you take a warm bath or place a heating pad on your stomach.

How to properly assist with bleeding: tips and reviews

• Do not wash the wound with antiseptics or water, except in cases where a caustic substance has entered the wound.
• Do not use ointments or powders
• Do not remove anything from the wound, be it splinters, dirt or blood clots. You may cause more bleeding
• Do not remove a bandage that is soaked in blood
• Clean the skin around the wound if it is heavily soiled. When cleaning, move away from the wound, making sure that nothing gets into it
• You cannot bandage over a tourniquet. The hospital may not notice him
• Apply a tourniquet only when absolutely necessary, it can lead to irreversible damage to health, as it completely cuts off the nutrition of tissues and bones
• Save the material (bandage, napkins, tissue) you used to stop the bleeding for medical workers. This can help to correctly assess the extent of blood loss
• If you are able to stop the bleeding, seek medical attention to properly clean the wound and avoid infection. If you suspect significant blood loss, seek help immediately

Video: First aid for bleeding

The main signs of arterial hemorrhage: the blood is bright scarlet, the flow is “gushing”, the emissions coincide with the pulse!

Providing first aid for arterial bleeding:

Action 1: Clamp the artery! Press the vessel above the bleeding site. It is important to press, but DO NOT squeeze the artery!
It may not be possible to press the artery with one finger; to do this, you need to squeeze it with your entire palm or even your fist. If everything is done correctly, the arterial bleeding will stop immediately. This method of assistance requires physical strength and is not very convenient to use for more than 10 minutes, so it is temporary.

Action 2: if the bleeding is slight, apply a pressure bandage; if it is severe, use a tourniquet!

Applying a bandage:

Several layers of bandage, clean gauze or a handkerchief are applied to the surface of the wound. Then a tightly rolled material or bandage is placed. The top is firmly fixed with several layers of bandage.

No need to treat the wound! You need to act quickly! If large vessels are injured (carotid, femoral arteries), death can occur within 2.5-3 minutes.

Application of a tourniquet

• The tourniquet can be replaced with a handkerchief, rubber band, belt, bandage or even a tie.
• Place the tourniquet over the wounded area
• The tourniquet can be wound several times; the first turn should be as tight as possible.
• When using a handkerchief and other similar material suitable for providing assistance, a twist is made. That is, the ends are loosely tied and any board, stick or thick ballpoint pen is placed under the knot. The device must be tightened so that arterial bleeding stops completely.
• Write down the time for applying the tourniquet and put it in the tourniquet!
• Check for pulsation below the injury; it should persist.
• Watch the limb; the skin may turn pale, but not blue!
• The tourniquet should be relaxed for a few minutes after half an hour in winter, and after 1 hour in summer. In this case, the artery is pressed against the bone with your fingers.
• After stopping the flow of arterial blood, the patient must be hospitalized. The part of the body on which the tourniquet is applied must not be covered.

The location of the tourniquet depending on the location of the bleeding:

• Arms - upper third of the shoulder.
• Legs - middle third of thigh.
• Femoral artery - apply a second tourniquet slightly higher than the first.
• Carotid artery and face - place a soft bandage under the tourniquet. Prevent suffocation and deterioration of cerebral circulation

If, after tightening the tourniquet, for example, it does not stop, the pulse on the radial artery cannot be felt, and your fingers turn blue, immediately press the vessel and remove the tourniquet. Then the manipulation is repeated.

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If it is impossible to apply a tourniquet, provided that the injury is not accompanied by a fracture, full flexion of the injured limb at the joint can be used. In this case, a small roller, for example, a roll of bandage, is placed in the subelbow or popliteal fold (depending on the situation). It is advisable to fix the hand, since the victim will not be able to hold it in this position for a long time on his own.

How to stop arterial bleeding in the neck or thigh

These types of bleeding are the most dangerous and severe. You can stop bleeding from the carotid artery by pressing it through clothing to the cervical vertebrae. For convenience, we move the victim’s head in the direction opposite to the wound.

Further help consists of applying a bandage made of several layers of gauze or bandage. They are fixed with a tourniquet to the elevated limb or splint (can be replaced with a board or stick) on the opposite side of the arterial blood loss.

If there is bleeding from the thigh, press the artery with your fist! And apply 2 tourniquets.

General principles

For arterial bleeding, the main signs and first aid are the same regardless of the location of the injury.

How can you stop any arterial bleeding:

• Pressing the artery against the bone;
• Maximum limb flexion;
• Applying a tourniquet or pressure bandage.

Must be observed, otherwise all the measures taken will be useless or will cause complications such as paralysis, gangrene, etc. In children, a tourniquet is applied for a shorter period of time in case of bleeding.

Medical care consists of suturing the vessels, tamponade the wound, or applying a vascular suture for injuries to large arteries. The operation is performed on an emergency basis and is accompanied by general measures aimed at compensating for blood loss (blood transfusion).

Bleeding from arterial vessels is characterized by high intensity. If a major artery is damaged, there is a high risk of critical blood loss within a short period of time, measured in minutes. In case of arterial bleeding, it is very important to provide timely assistance, since any delay can pose an immediate threat to a person’s life.

Arterial bleeding develops when arteries are damaged against the background of various injuries, cuts, knife wounds, gunshot wounds, and shrapnel wounds. This type of injury most often develops in adult men.

Signs

External arterial bleeding is characterized by the appearance of several typical signs, which include:

• The appearance of a stream of blood in the area of ​​damage to the skin, soft tissues or mucous membranes.
• High intensity - a large volume of blood is lost over a short period of time, which is associated with high blood pressure in the arterial vessels.
• Scarlet, bright and saturated color of blood, which is due to the oxygen content (arterial blood is saturated with oxygen).
• Pulsation of the jet in time with the contractions of the heart.

If clinical signs of external arterial bleeding are detected, emergency care should be started immediately.

Urgent Care

If arterial bleeding is detected, the damaged vessel should be immediately pressed above the site of injury. Holding the artery by pressing it to the bone base is quite difficult physically. You can press the vessel with your finger, fist or palm. Pressing will temporarily stop the bleeding and gain time to prepare a tourniquet or belt to stop the bleeding. Longer pressure on the damaged arterial vessel is carried out using 3 main techniques:

• Strong extension or flexion in certain joints followed by fixation - this allows you to press the artery in the joint area and ensure the cessation of bleeding.
• Applying a circular tourniquet above the site of damage or injury.
• Applying a special clamp directly to an arterial vessel - the manipulation must be performed by a trained person, a paramedic or a doctor.

Each technique for stopping arterial bleeding has certain advantages and disadvantages. The best option today is to use a circular tourniquet.

Flexion or extension

Depending on the location of the damage to the arterial vessel, maximum flexion or extension of the limbs is performed in various joints:

After maximum bending in a certain joint, you can use a regular trouser belt or rope to fix it, which should not be applied to bare skin.

Applying a tourniquet

Applying a tourniquet for arterial bleeding is a reliable and preferred method of stopping it. To perform the manipulation correctly and effectively, you should adhere to several rules and recommendations:

When applying a tourniquet, it is important to avoid several common mistakes, which include using the technique for venous bleeding, insufficient tightening, in which only the venous vessels are pressed, causing blood stagnation and increased bleeding, applying the body to the head with pinching of the skin, and also far from the injury.

Efficiency mark

Successful stopping of bleeding is indicated by several criteria for the effectiveness of the procedure:

• Instant stop of bleeding.
• Pale discoloration of the skin below the applied tourniquet.
• Absence of pulsation in the arteries below the damage.

If, after stopping the bleeding, the injured person’s consciousness is absent, an audit of the respiratory tract should be performed to ensure the presence of breathing and heartbeat. If necessary, resuscitation measures are carried out using the ABC system (first the bleeding stops, and then resuscitation is carried out). It is very important to deliver a person as quickly as possible to a medical facility where qualified assistance can be provided.

The prognosis for arterial bleeding depends on the caliber of the vessel, the location of the damage, as well as the timeliness and adequacy of emergency care provided.

Bleeding is a severe traumatic injury. Among all its types, arterial is considered the most dangerous. After all, untimely or incorrectly provided first aid for arterial bleeding can result in unpleasant consequences for the patient, including death.

There is an opinion that only medical workers should have knowledge, as well as practical skills in providing first aid, because this is their direct responsibility. In fact, it is the duty of every person to know and be able to apply basic medical skills in practice. After all, one day it may help save a human life.

In case of arterial bleeding, first aid should be provided immediately. After all, blood is lost at a very high speed, and there is practically no time for thought. In such a situation, a clear algorithm of actions helps, which needs to be worked out until it becomes automatic.

Distinctive signs of arterial bleeding

The classification of bleeding implies its division into three main types:

• arterial,
• venous,
• capillary.

With extensive traumatic injuries, mixed bleeding, for example, venous and arterial, can be observed. In addition, any bleeding, relative to where the blood flows, is divided into internal (in the body cavity) and external (into the external environment). First aid for internal bleeding, as well as its diagnosis itself, is carried out exclusively by medical staff. External bleeding is easier to diagnose and can be treated by anyone.

Arterial bleeding occurs due to damage to the arterial trunks - the vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the cavities of the heart to all tissues of the body. Venous-type bleeding develops when the integrity of the veins that collect blood saturated with carbon dioxide and carry it to the heart is disrupted. Capillary bleeding occurs due to trauma to capillaries - small vessels that are directly involved in tissue gas exchange.

With arterial bleeding, the color of the flowing blood is bright red or scarlet, in contrast to venous bleeding, in which the blood is dark red and comes out slowly. In the case of arterial damage, blood is released rapidly, in a gushing stream. At the same time, the blood stream pulsates, each portion of it comes out synchronously with the pulse and heartbeat. This is due to high pressure in the arterial vessels that come directly from the heart.

In case of arterial bleeding, if help is not provided in time, the phenomena of hemorrhagic shock quickly increase - a pathological condition due to significant blood loss. It has the following symptoms:

• drop in blood pressure;
• increased heart rate;
• pallor and marbling of the skin;
• cyanosis of the extremities;
• respiratory disorders;
• decreased diuresis;
• severe weakness;
• dizziness;
• cold extremities;
• loss of consciousness.

Attention! The faster a person loses blood, the more pronounced the symptoms of shock are, since the body does not have time to compensate for the blood loss.

First aid

The most important role in emergency care for bleeding of arterial origin is played by the time factor: for maximum effectiveness it should be provided no later than 2-3 minutes from the moment of injury. If it concerns the main arterial trunks, then bleeding from them must be stopped no later than 1-2 minutes after the injury. Otherwise, the chances of a successful outcome will decrease every second with every milliliter of blood lost.

Important! No matter how critical the conditions, before helping others, protect yourself first - put on rubber gloves from your travel first aid kit, and if they are not available, minimize contact with blood using available items (for example, cellophane).

The algorithm for stopping any arterial bleeding is as follows:

1. Assessing the type of bleeding.
2. Finger pressure on an artery that is damaged.
3. Applying a tourniquet, applying maximum limb flexion or a pressure bandage.
4. Applying an aseptic dressing to the wound.

This sequence of actions may vary slightly depending on the characteristics of the damaged anatomical area.

Methods to stop bleeding can be temporary or permanent. Temporary arrest of arterial bleeding is used at the stage of first premedical and medical care. The final stage is carried out in a hospital and is part of the hospital stage of care. It is worth noting that in some cases, temporary stopping measures are enough to completely stop the bleeding.

Finger pressing

This technique should be used as a starting one when assisting a wounded person. The basic principles of digital compression depend on the anatomical region in which the artery injury occurred. The general rule is that the vessel should be pressed above the site of injury. But if bleeding occurs in the neck or head area, then the vessels are compressed downward from the wound. This is explained by the fact that the arteries in this area go upward from the heart.

Attention! When using any methods to stop bleeding, you need to lift the affected limb upward to reduce blood flow to it.

Damaged arterial vessels must be pressed against the bony protrusions, as they can slip out, and then bleeding will resume.

To better remember the method, you can use the 3D mnemonic rule:

• “Press.”
• "Ten".
• "Ten".

It means that you need to press the artery by pressing with ten fingers of both hands for 10 minutes, after which it is recommended to check whether the bleeding has stopped. If it is stopped, and this happens if it is not the main arterial vessel that is damaged, then you can limit yourself to applying a pressure aseptic dressing to the wound.

Since the blood pressure in the arteries is very high, it will take a lot of effort to apply pressure to the vessel and stop the bleeding. Finger pressure is a method of temporarily stopping bleeding, therefore, while one person is pressing the artery, the second should already be looking for a tourniquet and dressing material. There should be no time wasted taking off clothes or freeing limbs. At the same time, one of the eyewitnesses must immediately call an ambulance to provide first aid and transport the victim to a hospital.

The biggest disadvantages of the finger pressing technique are:

• significant pain for the injured person;
• physical fatigue of the person providing emergency assistance.

Speed ​​of execution is considered the most important advantage of temporarily stopping external arterial bleeding using finger pressure.

Maximum fixed limb flexion

In some cases, you can use maximum flexion of the limbs as a method of temporarily stopping bleeding from the artery. It should be performed after making sure that the victim does not have a fracture of the injured limb.

A thick pad should be placed at the bend of the limb (popliteal, elbow and groin areas) to compress the damaged artery at maximum flexion

After inserting the roller, the bent arm or leg is fixed to the patient’s body. Such actions are aimed at temporarily stopping bleeding, and if they are ineffective, one should prepare to apply an arterial tourniquet. This same technique, even when performed correctly, has questionable effectiveness.

Applying a tourniquet for arterial bleeding

Stopping bleeding from an artery by applying a tourniquet is a temporary method of stopping bleeding. The task of everyone who helps the victim is to correctly perform the technique of applying a tourniquet and ensure the delivery of the wounded person to a medical facility.

A tourniquet should be applied only in case of severe arterial bleeding. In all other cases, you should try to stop the bleeding with digital compression or a pressure bandage. A pressure bandage is made in case of arterial bleeding from a whole roll of sterile bandage, which is tightly fixed to the wound surface.

If the rules for applying a tourniquet are violated, sad consequences may occur: necrosis, gangrene, damage to nerve trunks

This is especially true for the shoulder region, because the radial nerve is located superficially there. A tourniquet is applied to the middle third of the shoulder only as a last resort. It is better to choose a place higher or lower. One of the available means can be used as a tourniquet: a wide rope, a belt or a scarf.

Attention! A homemade tourniquet should not be too thin, as this can cause tissue necrosis.

So how to apply a tourniquet during arterial bleeding so as not to harm the patient in the future? By remembering a few basic rules, you can avoid a lot of mistakes.

The algorithm for applying a tourniquet is as follows:

1. Select a place to apply the tourniquet. It is located above the site of damage, but as close as possible to it (the optimal distance is 2-3 cm). We should not forget about injuries to the neck and head - there a tourniquet is used below the wound. If the femoral artery is damaged, it is compressed at the level of the middle third of the thigh, and if there is bleeding from the arm, it is compressed in the upper or lower third of the shoulder.
2. Wrap the selected area with cloth, gauze or bandage.
3. The limb should be in an elevated position.
4. The tourniquet is stretched and made several turns around the limb. In this case, its first turn is made with greater, and all subsequent turns with less effort. If large arterial trunks are damaged, for example, the femoral artery, it makes sense to apply two tourniquets - one higher, the other lower.
5. Its ends are tied into a knot or secured with a special chain or hook.
6. The correct application of the tourniquet is checked: pulsation of the injured artery below the injury is not palpable, and bleeding from the wound stops.
7. The exact time of application of the tourniquet is recorded. This can be done on a piece of paper, which is inserted under the tourniquet itself, directly on the patient’s body near the site of injury, or on clothing.
8. An aseptic bandage is applied to the wound.

In case of injuries to the carotid artery, the tourniquet is applied below the injury, but it should not compress the artery of the same name on the other side. To do this, a tight roller is applied on the side of the injury, and a tourniquet is fixed on the opposite side through the patient’s raised arm and an attached flat board.

Correct application of a tourniquet according to Mikulicz for injury to the carotid artery

The tourniquet should not be applied too tightly, since applying the tourniquet correctly means applying minimal pressure to stop the bleeding. In this case, the blood supply should be carried out through deep arteries and veins, and in no case should it stop completely.

If the tourniquet is applied too tightly, it can lead to necrosis of the limb, followed by amputation.

The time factor is also important here. The maximum time for applying a tourniquet varies depending on the ambient temperature:

• in summer - for 1 hour;
• in winter - for 30 minutes.

If a longer time interval is required to transport the victim to the nearest hospital, the tourniquet is temporarily removed, switching to 10 minutes of finger pressure. Then you need to apply a tourniquet again according to the rules described above.

In the absence of a special tourniquet, you can use an improvised twist tourniquet. To form it, you need to take a wide ribbon, scarf or piece of fabric and wrap it around the limb above the wound site. The fabric is then tied using a double knot. A small stick is inserted into the gap between the resulting nodes and twisted with rotational movements until the bleeding stops.

Do not use rope or wire for a twist cord.

The stick is fixed with a rope above the place where the tourniquet is applied to the limb, also with double knots. A note is placed under the tourniquet indicating the exact time of application of the twist.

Thus, due to the direct threat to life that occurs with arterial bleeding, you need to act very quickly. The briefly described first aid rules will help you not to panic and, in an extreme situation, save someone’s life.