The Manchester Arena bombing report has highlighted the need for members of the public, young and older, to be trained in essential life saving skills. So here’s our guidance on how to treat a catastrophic bleed injury and make your own tourniquet out of everyday clothing if there is no first aid kit to hand. And although this advice is written by practising nurses this is no substitute for getting emergency professional medical help.
And its not just terriorist attacks and stab wounds that can cause such severe bleeding, as it can happen in the garden, doing DIY at home or in the sports field. Anyone who’s is bleeding needs immediate help and helping them is actually pretty straightforward, so just by following these three simple steps could really make a difference between life and death:-
If bleeding is controlled you can dress the wound and then put another second dressing on top.
Still bleeding? Still applying pressure, remove soaked dressings and start again. Do not remove anything that has knitted to the wound as this has now started to clot and is helping stop the blood.
If you don’t have a first aid kit, you can use a scarf as a bandage or item of clothing and push layers of clothing into the wound while still maintaining pressure. Then apply another layer, and another if needed, and secure in place by tying a bandage or scarf around it.
One of the easiest ways to make an improvised tourniquet from the contents of a standard first aid kit is to use a triangular bandage folded into a broad fold bandage and to tighten the tourniquet using scissors as a windlass. If you don’t have a first aid kit, use an item of clothing such as a tie, scarf or even a bag strap. Then use something woodend or metal like a pencil, a cutlery knife to make the windlass (winch). The tighter and more secure the tourniquet, the better the chances of stopping the bleed. It will be painful for the person injured but it must be tight enough to entirely stop the bleeding as arteries may be harder to stop as they are less easy to get to.
Watch our video on how to make your own tourniquet.
Please remember that although tourniquets can save lives, their use should not be taken lightly. They remain a second-line treatment when direct pressure is not possible or insufficient to control bleeding. And never be tempted to remove a tourniquet.
Did you know an adult could easily lose 40% of their blood volume in 3-4 minutes and even quicker in a child!
If there is an object in the wound, don’t remove it as this could make the bleeding a lot worse. Apply pressure around it. The general rule is NEVER remove a knife as if you unplug the hole and then start CPR you are pushing the blood out faster. OR if blade so central that it prevents the body from laying removal of knife is still last resort. Removal could sever a large vessel which is a death sentence.
It’s a judgement call and not an easy one. If the patient does go into cardiac arrest it is likely due to major haemorrage (blood loss) in which case compressions will do nothing due to an empty circulatory system. As a first aider you are stuck in a hard place and calling for help immediately will support your actions.
If a wounded person loses a substantial amount of blood, the body is no longer able to compensate for that amount of blood loss. There simply isn’t enough blood flowing through the body and they will develop hypovolaemic shock. Shock can be life-threatening so if you suspect someone is going into shock do the following:-
In environments where a catastrophic bleed is likely, tourniquets and haemostatic dressings should be an integral part of the first aid kit and all first aiders should be trained in their use.
Child Matters First Aid Kits contain a pack of wound plasters in two sizes, larger and more appropriate for child size wounds! So if you’d like one, shop here.
It is strongly advised to attend a practical first aid course to understand what to do in a medical emergency. You can attend our public family first aid classes or contact us or call 07788720612 for a private booking at home.
Alternatively, as a refresher, you can take an online Tourniquets, Haemostatic Dressing course in your own time.
