Bleeding

Question 1

What are the average blood volumes for different age groups and their lethal blood loss?

Answer 1

• Adults: 6.6 L; a 2.2 L loss is lethal.
• Adolescents: 3.3 L; a 1.3 L loss is lethal.
• Children: 1.5-2 L; a .5-.7 L loss is lethal.
• Infant: 300+ ml; a 30-50 ml loss is lethal.

Question 2

What are the different types of external bleeding?

Answer 2

1. Arterial bleeding: bright red, often spurting, a severe loss over a short time.
2. Venous bleeding: dark red, steady flow, can be severe loss if a large vessel is involved.
3. Capillary bleeding: red color, generally oozes, slow flow.

Question 3

How do you manage bleeding?

Answer 3

1. Direct pressure (and rest).
2. Pressure points
3. Tourniquet (a last resort procedure)

Question 4

What are the rules for dressings and bandages?

Answer 4

• Materials must help control the bleeding.
• Maintain sterility of packaged dressings.
• Must cover the entire wound and surrounding area.
• Never remove dressing to inspect; add more.
• Do not bandage too tightly but snug enough too keep from slipping off
• Avoid lose ends; tuck them in.

Question 5

How do you manage small cuts and scrapes?

Answer 5

• Wear gloves.
• Wash wound with water for up to 5 minutes.
• Cover with sterile dressing.

Question 6

How do you manage a laceration?

Answer 6

• Wear gloves.
• Wash wound with water for up to 5 minutes.
• Cover with sterile dressing.
• Bandage and transport to medical care for stitching.

Question 7

How do you manage an avulsion?

Answer 7

• Wear gloves.
• Treat for possible shock symptoms.
• Wash wound with water for up to 5 minutes.
• Cover with sterile dressing.
• Bandage and transport to medical care for stitching.

Question 8

How do you manage an amputation?

Answer 8

• Wear gloves.
• Treat wound with clean sterile dressing and direct pressure.
• Wrap the amputated part in a clean dressing and place in a clean plastic bag (label with name, date and time).
• Place bag into ice and water then transport with the person to the hospital.

Question 9

How do you recognize internal bleeding?

Answer 9

• Subcutaneous bruising.
• Swollen and extremely tender soft tissue.
• Signs and symptoms of shock.
• Head injuries with or without wounds penetrating the skull.
• Vomiting or coughing up blood.
• Spasm or hardness of the abdominal muscles.
• Fractures (especially the pelvis).

Question 10

How do you treat internal bleeding?

Answer 10

• Minimize movement of injured person or specific body part and keep them calm.
• Monitor ABC’s and vital signs (record changes every 5 minutes).
• Use oxygen if available.
• Maintain body temperature.
• Treat all shock symptoms.