The first priority of wound care is to control bleeding.   Major blood loss can cause the blood pressure to fall dangerously low; this is known as cardiovascular shock.   Shock occurs when the body’s tissues do not receive enough oxygenated blood.  The steps below are guidelines to help when you come across a wound. Always seek medical care if bleeding cannot be controlled, wounds are deep  and if infections are present.

To control bleeding follow the steps below.

1.       If possible, wash your hands  with soap and water before caring for a wound

2.       Ask the victim to sit or lie down. Fainting reactions can happen.

3.       3. Expose the wound. Remove any clothing barrier. Do not cut the clothes unless absolutely necessary.

4.       Put on medical gloves to protect against bloodborne infections. If gloves are not available cover hand with a plastic bag or similar material.   If not available you can have the victim assist you by holding pressure on the bandage and wound.

5.       Place a sterile gauze pad over the entire wound and press evenly for 5-10 minutes. Direct pressure stops almost all bleeding.  Wounds of the scalp, hands and feet bleed more profusely because of their rice blood supply.

6.       If bleeding is from an extremity, elevate the injured area above the level of the heart to reduce blood flow while continuing to apply direct pressure on the bleeding site.

7.       If bleeding persists after you have maintained pressure on the wound for at least 10 minutes, press harder over a wider area.

8.       Apply a pressure dressing. This will allow you to attend to other injuries.  You can make a pressure bandage by covering the wound with a thick layer of gauze or the cleanest material available, and then wrap a bandage over the dressing, extending above and below the site. Do not cut off circulation.  

9.       If dressings become soaked with blood, place a fresh dressing on top of the soaked one.   Never remove a blood soaked dressing from the wound until all bleeding has stopped.