MY HOW TO SPEECH - for College Writing - October 2005 - By:Sarah Skime

Learn How To Save A Life by Controlling One Not to Bleed to Death - Externally

Steps To Control Bleeding

1. Apply Direct Pressure

*Place Sterile Dressing or Cloth

*Place Firmly against wound with Gloved Hand

2. Elevate Wound above level of Heart

3. Apply Pressure Bandage or “roller gauze”

*Cover the Dressing using overlapping turns

*Secure Bandage

*If Blood Soaks through place additional dressing

(….At this point if bleeding stops, determine if further care is needed)

If doesn’t stop – Roller Gauze Wound

Send Someone to Call EMS

THEN..

4. Use a Pressure Point

*Maintain direct pressure and elevation as before

*Locate Pressure Point – if in arm – the brachial artery

*Press brachial artery against the underlying bone

(If wound is in leg …

Press with heel of your hand to the region where the leg bends at hip)

5. Continue to Minimize Shock

*Direct Pressure, Elevation, and Pressure Point to be Maintained

*Usually in external bleeding position person Sui-Pine or on back

*Monitor Breathing and Circulation

*Keep Person from getting chilled or overheating (place blanket over elevate feet over 12 inches)

*Apply as many additional dressings as necessary

REMEMBER TO KEEP THE VICTIM AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE

In First Aid there is the 3 C’s: CHECK, CALL, and CARE, but in case of external bleeding you want to take care of the injury immediately and call as soon as it is either controlled or if there is someone around you that can call.

BLOOD

-Average adult has between 10 and 12 pints of blood (5-6 liters)

-Platelets are solid components found in red and white blood cells that are an essential factor to the body’s clotting mechanism, since platelets bind together. Until the blood clots can be formed, you have to deal with controlling the bleeding artificially by the steps.

Blood has Three Major Functions:

-Transporting oxygen, nutrients, and wastes

-Protecting against disease and defense against pathogens by the production of antibodies

-Maintaining constant body temperature or known as “homeostasis” by circulating throughout the body.

Blood has Three Major Vessels:

-Arteries: Carry blood AWAY from the heart.

-Capillaries: Link arteries and veins, transporting oxygen and other nutrients from the blood to the cells (waste product such as carbon dioxide would be picked up from cells and then moved to veins)

-Veins: Carry blood to the heart.

*Arterial Bleeding is Most Severe (Life-threatening), since is under more pressure it is more difficult for clots to form. Clots cannot form as rapidly, so is harder to control the bleeding from wound. Since high concentration of oxygen – type of bleeding has a bright red color.

*Venous Bleeding is easier to control than arterial and since is under less pressure – closer to skin’s surface. Severe bleeding would happen in this case if injury were in thigh. Oxygen is poor in blood, so blood is a dark red or maroon.

*Capillary Bleeding is Most Common and usually slow flowing, since vessels are small. Clotting occurs easily.

PRECAUTIONS: USE GLOVES WHENEVER DEALING WITH FIRST AID.

- If Gloves are not absolutely necessary then fold a cloth or have victim hold the wound.

Preventing the Vital Organs to be damaged or fail when controlling the bleeding. Since severe bleeding reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to body.