NOTES:
8
StandardFirstAid/Rev2/06062017 - COPYRIGHTS © SINGAPORE FIRST AID TRAINING CENTRE PTE LTD
BLEEDING
Bleeding or
HAEMORRHAGE
must be treated immediately as excessive bleeding
can lead to
shock
and
death
.
Bleeding occurs when there are damages to the blood vessels.
The severity of
bleeding depends on:
1. COLOUR
•
Bright red blood
indicates arterial bleed (from arteries which carries blood
out from the heart)
•
Dull dark red blood
indicates venous bleed (from veins which carry blood
back to heart)
2. FLOW RATE
•
Blood that
spurts
out from a wound indicates arterial bleed (from arteries)
•
Blood that
flows
out indicates venous bleed (from veins)
•
Blood that
oozes
out indicates capillary bleed (from capillaries)
TREATMENT
•
For minor wounds, wash the wound well with water and soap.
•
For major wounds, quickly proceed to stop the bleeding.
•
Cover the wound with gauze, a pad or your gloved hand.
•
If bleeding soaks through the gauze, add more dressings and press harder.
•
Alternatively, you can apply a pressure dressing using a crepe bandage.
•
If bleeding is severe or does not improve, call for ambulance.
•
Prepare to treat for shock.
WOUNDS
Different types of wounds include:
Illustration
Description
Illustration
Description
Abrasion:
Rubbing injury eg. fall
on road surface
Contusion:
Bruising or
“blue-black e.g.
knock against
hard objects
Incision:
Cleanly “sliced” eg:
with a knife or glass
Laceration:
Irregular, ripping
injury e.g. hit on
the edge of a
table
Puncture:
Penetrating injury
e.g. nail piercing
through a finger
Amputation:
Severed limb or
body part e.g. cut
by a bench saw
EMBEDDED OBJECTS
An embedded or impaled object may:
1. cause serious injury to the tissues beneath; and
2.
lead to major bleeding, shock and death
TREATMENT
•
Call for an ambulance immediately.
•
Apply gauze and add pressure to the sides
of the wound.
•
For large objects, place padding beside object
and bandage above and below the object.
•
Do NOT press on the object.
•
Prepare to treat for shock.
Do NOT remove the object.