Arterial bleeding, characterized by the bright red color of arterial blood, is a medical emergency that requires immediate first aid. It’s also one of the most dangerous types of bleeding because it can lead to death within minutes if not stopped. However, arterial bleeding can be stopped with the right equipment and knowledge of what to do. High blood pressure can exacerbate arterial bleeding by weakening arterial walls, making it even more critical to act quickly. In this article, we’ll explore how to identify arterial bleeding, control it, and treat it so you’re ready for all kinds of emergencies.
Arterial bleeding is life threatening bleeding.
It can be fatal and is considered life threatening bleeding, making it a medical emergency. While venous bleeding is also serious, arterial bleeding is more immediately life-threatening due to the nature of blood flow. Arterial bleeding occurs when an artery is severed or injured, typically in the neck, armpit, groin, or abdomen. The injury results in bright red blood spurting out of the wound with every heartbeat–a telltale sign that you need to seek immediate treatment for arterial bleeding!
The first step is to determine where the blood is coming from.
Look for a bleeding wound, or try to find a blood stain on the ground. Ask the victim where they think their bleeding is coming from, and if they can feel blood running down their arm. Capillary bleeding, while less severe, can sometimes be mistaken for more serious types of bleeding and should be properly identified. Cut off their clothes so that you can see if there are any wounds on their body or chest area (if possible). Check for rapid heartbeat and pale skin by feeling for pulse points in your patient’s neck or wrist area; also feel for coolness: if it feels cool then this could indicate shock has occurred and needs immediate attention!
If ABCs (airway/breathing/circulation) are good then proceed with the treatment of wounds by applying pressure bandage over them while waiting for help to arrive.
Start with your ABCs -- Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.
When you arrive on the scene of an arterial bleed, your first priority is to determine whether or not the person is breathing. If they are not breathing and have no pulse, then begin CPR immediately by performing chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute. If there is a pulse but no airway (i.e., their mouth is closed), perform abdominal thrusts until it’s clear enough for you to insert a suction device or other tool into their throat and remove any blockage.
If both conditions are met–there’s an open airway and there’s no blockage–then proceed with checking circulation by placing two fingers on either side of your patient’s neck where their carotid arteries are located (these are two large veins located close together just behind each ear). If these arteries aren’t pulsing strongly enough for you to feel them beating under your fingers after one minute has passed since beginning CPR on someone who has lost consciousness due to blood loss (or any cause), continue chest compressions and consider applying pressure to a pressure point until help arrives because this means that blood flows through those vessels has been cut off due to pressure building up inside them while trying desperately hard against gravity while lying flat on their backside during cardiac arrest. Veins carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart, which is why checking for a pulse is crucial.
Make sure you have the right equipment.
When you’re working with arterial bleeding, it’s important to have the right equipment on hand. You need to know how to use each item and how they fit into the overall treatment plan.
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You’ll need pressure bandages and tourniquets for applying pressure on a wound site to slow or stop blood flow in an artery; these items are available at most medical supply stores and through emergency medical providers such as paramedics or EMTs (emergency medical technicians).
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It’s also helpful if you have tourniquet kits that include everything needed for applying one–including gauze pads, gloves, and tape–in case someone needs immediate care but doesn’t have access to their own supplies when they’re injured outdoors or away from home without time for preparation beforehand.
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Hemostatic gauze, which enhances blood clotting, is also essential for covering a bleeding wound and maintaining pressure until further medical assistance is available.
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Keep in mind that not all tourniquets are created equal: some take longer than others do before causing significant damage because they’re too tight around limbs; other models aren’t made out of materials strong enough to withstand prolonged use without breaking down completely over time due to either poor manufacturing standards or poor design choices made during production processes used by manufacturers themselves! Always check reviews before purchasing anything online just so there aren’t any surprises later down the line when trying something new.
Stop the bleeding with direct pressure.
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Apply pressure dressing and bandage over the tourniquet, then remove it when the bleeding stops or slows down significantly (about five minutes).
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If you don’t have any of these items, try to apply direct pressure with your hand or fingers to the wound for 10-15 minutes until help arrives; this may be enough time for someone else to arrive with supplies from home or work emergency kits–or at least long enough for you both to get out of danger’s way!
Control the bleeding and apply direct pressure.
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Use direct pressure to stop arterial bleeding. If a wound is bleeding heavily and cannot be controlled with gentle pressure, it may be a case of uncontrolled bleeding, and you should place a tourniquet around the injured limb above the wound site. Tie it tightly enough that you can feel its effects on your patient’s pulse (you’ll have to remove it later). Never use metal objects like wire or shoelaces as tourniquets; they can cause damage to nerves and blood vessels in addition to restricting blood flow through an artery for too long, which will render them ineffective when needed most!
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Apply additional materials such as hemostatic agents or bandages soaked with these substances over top of your initial control efforts if necessary until medical help arrives and takes over caring for this injury victim–don’t forget about yourself either!
Helping someone with arterial bleeding requires quick action and careful attention to detail
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Don’t waste time. If you’re not sure what to do, call 911 immediately.
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Don’t panic. Remember that most arterial bleeding stops on its own and is treatable if it’s recognized quickly enough and treated properly–even when it appears to be life-threatening.
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Don’t move the person unless you absolutely have to; moving an injured person may cause further damage and make controlling the bleeding more difficult or impossible (if they’ve been impaled by something that can’t be removed).
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Don’t try cleaning or bandaging wounds on an injured person who has lost a lot of blood; doing so could dislodge clots that are helping stop bleeding inside their arteries, making matters worse instead of better!
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Be aware of the signs of internal bleeding, such as abdominal pain or swelling, which may require different treatment and immediate medical attention.
Conclusion
The first step in helping someone with arterial bleeding is to determine where the blood is coming from. If you’re not sure, ask them. Listen carefully for clues and then check your patient’s pulse: look at their wrists or neck for signs of a pulse (like a vein bulging out). If you don’t see one anywhere on their body, call 911 immediately! Next, take control of the situation by starting with your ABCs – Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (in this case circulation). Make sure you have the proper equipment like bandages and gauze pads before attempting anything else because they can save lives in emergencies like this one. Finally, stop any bleeding that cannot be controlled manually by applying pressure directly overtop where it occurs.
