First Aid For Hemorrhage

Introduction:

Hemorrhage, also known as bleeding, is a clinical condition characterized by blood loss. It can either occur inside the body (internal bleeding) or outside the body (external bleeding). It can be experienced in any part of the body. Sometimes, it can indicate a serious condition involving natural openings like the vagina, mouth, nose, or rectum.

What Causes Hemorrhage?

Hemorrhage is a common symptom that can be caused due to various reasons. Following are some of the commonly encountered causes of bleeding:

1) Traumatic Bleeding: Certain types of injury can lead to traumatic bleeding. These types of injuries differ in their severity. The following are the most common types of traumatic injury:

• Abrasions or scrapes that do not penetrate too much into the skin.

• Gunshot injury.

• Hematoma.

• Bruises.

• Cuts or lacerations.

• Crushing type of injuries.

• Puncture wounds caused due to needles, knives, nails, etc.

2) Medical Disorders: Certain medical conditions also cause bleeding. However, bleeding due to a medical condition has less prevalence than traumatic bleeding. Following are some of the medical conditions which may induce bleeding:

• Liver disorders.

• Hemophilia.

• Leukemia.

• Injury to the brain.

• Menorrhagia is heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, as is sometimes seen in endometriosis.

• Thrombocytopenia is a condition involving decreased blood platelet count.

• Von Willebrand disease.

• Colon diverticulosis.

• Vitamin K deficiency.

• Acute bronchitis.

• Lung cancer.

3) Certain Medications: Certain treatments and medicines can increase the risk of bleeding and sometimes even induce bleeding. The physician tells about such medicines and treatments before initiating them. Following are the medicines which fall under this category:

• Blood thinners.

• Radiation therapy.

• Antibiotics (If they are consumed on a long-term basis).

• Aspirin.

• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug).

When Can Bleeding Be Considered As An Emergency?

Medical help should be utilized in cases of severe bleeding. Emergency help should be initiated immediately if there is internal bleeding, as it can become life-threatening. In case bleeding is experienced by those taking blood thinners or suffering from bleeding disorders, seeking emergency help is advisable to stop the bleeding.

Following are the situations which require emergency management:

• The bleeding cannot be controlled using pressure packs.

• The person has reached the stage of shock.

• The affected individual has a fever.

• The wound requires a tourniquet.

• Presence of foreign objects inside the wound.

• The bleeding was caused due to serious trauma.

• The injury was caused due to a bite from an animal or human.

• The wound requires stitches to stop bleeding.

• Infected wound showing symptoms like swelling, redness, or leaking whitish-yellow or brown-colored pus.

How Can Bleeding Be Managed?

First aid is important for the management of any type of hemorrhage. The bleeding can be stopped with first aid itself in most cases, but if it is severe bleeding, emergency medical service should be activated. The person who is bleeding should be made to stay calm so that the heart rate and blood pressure can be controlled.

An increased heart rate or elevated blood pressure can lead to an increased risk of bleeding. Therefore, making the person lie down as soon as possible is important to minimize unwanted symptoms like fainting. Moreover, elevate the area undergoing bleeding.

Remove any foreign body or loose debris from the wound. Do not remove large items like knives, arrows, or weapons from the injured area. Removal of these objects can lead to more harm and aggravate the bleeding.

Bandages and pads can be used to keep the object in place and help absorb the bleeding. Pressure packs can be of great help in arresting bleeding. Try to maintain medium pressure until the bleeding has decreased and stopped. Some pressure packs include clean clothes, bandages, gloves, or clothing.

What Should Be Avoided While Managing Bleeding?

Doing the following things should be avoided while managing bleeding or hemorrhage:

• Applying pressure on an injured eye.

• Removing the cloth after the stoppage of bleeding.

• Not using adhesive tape or clothing to wrap around the dressing; these will help hold the pressure pack in place.

• Remove the cloth from the wound, even if the bleeding has seeped through the material. In such a scenario, you can add more material on the top so that the pressure is continued.

• Looking at the wound to check the bleeding status. This can make the wound bleed more.

• Moving anyone with an injury in the head, neck, leg, or back.

• Tourniquets should be used only as a last resort. An experienced person should apply it.

Following are the steps to place the tourniquet:

• Identify the place where the tourniquet has to be tied.

• Prepare the tourniquet using bandages whenever possible.

• Tie them around the limb and tie a half knot.

• Make sure there is enough space to tie another knot using the loose ends.

• Keep a stick or rod between the two knots.

• Twist the stick so that the bandage is tightened.

• Secure the tourniquet in position using tape or cloth.

• Keep checking on the tourniquet every 10 minutes.

What Are the Complications of Untreated Bleeding?

Untreated bleeding can lead to certain complications, depending on the type of bleeding.

• Traumatic Bleeding:

If the bleeding has been caused due to an injury or accident, it can be stopped with local first aid. It can heal without further care if it is a small wound. If it is a large wound, it may require sutures, medicated dressings, or corrective surgery.

• Medical Bleeding:

If the bleeding has been caused due to a medical condition and the condition has not been identified or diagnosed, the bleeding has more chance of recurrence. Any bleeding continuing without medical care can turn out to be fatal.

Conclusion:

Hemorrhage results from damaged blood vessel that can induce internal or external bleeding. the condition can result from trauma, fall, accident, or other factors. First aid for external hemorrhage is necessary to avoid any further complications. Using online medical platforms, you can consult a specialist online to know more about this condition.