EXCESSIVE BLEEDING AND SHOCK
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Written by tony benjamin
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Sunday, 02 March 2008 |
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Venous bleeding. M you have read, it is the duty of the first aider to stop excessive bleeding at once. Bleeding from veins and capillaries can usually be stopped by direct pressure. Blood from veins is darker man that from arteries. It Rows in a steady stream. ince it is under lower pressure. it is easier to control. It i a good idea to make me person who is bleeding lie down, or at least sit down. Then elevate me bleeding part-except when the limb is fractured. Tight cloth?ing should be loosened or removed. Use a sterile piece of gauze or a clean hand?kerchief or two as a dressing, and place the dr ing directly over me wound. Hold the dre ing firmly in place. and then tie it snugly.
Arterial bleeding. Bleeding from arteries is more erious than bleeding from veins and capillaries. You can easily recognize this type of bleeding. The blood is bright red. and it spurts from the injured artery. To give first aid for arterial bleeding. use direct pressure or
apply pressure at the pressure points. This is called digital pressure because me fingers. or digits. are used. In case of excessive bleeding, you may have to use a tourniquet.
Always get a physician as soon as possible. In the meantime keep the injured person quiet. Remember that shock occurs in all cases of serious bleeding. Be sure to give first aid for shock as soon as you have the bleeding under control,
The pressure points. There are twelve places in the body where the arteries lie close to the bones. These six pairs of pressure points, as they are called, are shown in the diagram on this page. Clos?ing the artery by pressing it against the bone beneath it helps check the bleeding. The first aider should choose a poin' between the wound and the heart, Hoi ever, pressure over the wound shoul also be applied.
The use of a tourniquet. A tournique. may be used to control serious bleedin from the arm or leg. But it should be used with great care. The tournique, should be a Hat, strong band of cloth, three or four inches wide. A tie, scarf handkerchief. or towel may be used. But do not use rope or wire. for these materials may cut into the flesh and cause injury to the blood vessels. Elevate the injured arm or leg. and WTap the tourntquet around the limb close above the wound; then tie a half knot. Place a short stick, ruler. or lead pencil over the half knot and Lie a square knot over is Twist the stick rapidly and tie it in place. Be sure the tourniquet is tight enough to stop the bleeding, but not unnecessarily tight. Look at the illustration on page !II? You will see how to make a tourniquet.
A tourniquet should be used only when bleeding cannot be controlled by direct pressure. There is danger that it will by left on too long or be released too often However, the greatest danger is that will be released too often, resulting in excessive bleeding. The American Red Cross recommends that once the tourniquet has been applied, it shoul be loosened only by a doctor.
What causes shock. A good many accidenial deaths are caused by shock is a term used to describe many conditions that affect both mind and body, Is may result from emotional upsets, exposure to electricity, and poisoning, among other things. We are concerned mainly with what is known as traumatic shock. In this shock the body functions are slowed down because the blood is circulating more slowly.
Shock occurs whenever there is a serious injury to any part of the body. It may result from an accidental injury, severe bleeding, burns, fractures, bullet wounds, or injuries to the head or chest. Starvation and disease may also cause shock. It may occur after major surgery.
The shock may be very mild, simply causing one to shake. or it may be severe enough to cause total unconsciousness. Any person severely injured will develop shock, and treatment should be started immediately without waiting for symptoms to appear.
How shock aJfects the body. In a general way this is what happens to the body in shock. The blood vessels deep within me body become relaxed, and blood pours into them. As a result, vessels near the surface of the body are drained of much of their blood. This makes the arms, legs, and the surface of the body cold and clammy to the touch. Usually faintness occurs because blood drains from the vessels of the brain also. Breathing becomes rapid and shallow because the blood doesn't supply the nerve center in the brain that controls breathing with enough oxygen. Blood pressure falls, and the pulse is weak. Body temperature often falls, and sweating may occur in some cases.
Factors that inB.uence shock. There are many things that help determine the degree of shock. Here are some of them. Age and health are factors. A strong healthy adult can stand injuries that would cause shock in the young, very old, or the weak or sick. Loss of blood can deepen shock. In fact the greater the loss of blood, the deeper the shock will be. The wayan injured person is given first aid will also influence the degree of shock. Rough handling. unnecessary movement, and the wrong kind of transportation will make shock more severe. Pain caused by the original injury or exposure to cold or extreme heat will also make it more serious.
Symptoms of shock. Shock may set in immediately, or it may begin several hours after the acident, The injured person becomes weak; he feels faint, dizzy, or nauseated. The skin of his face, hands, and feet becomes white and cold. He breaks out in a cold sweat, and his face becomes drawn and gray in appearance. His eyes appear sunken. They may be dull and vacant looking. The pupils of his eyes become large. The heart beats rapidly, and the pulse is weak and is felt with difficulty. Vomiting often occurs. Blood pressure is below normal and breathing is shallow and rapid.
The important thing for a first aider to remember is that every injured person should be treated lor shock lllhether the symptoms are present or not. Shock may be averted by using as preventive meas?ures the same methods that correct it after it has developed.
First aid. Blankets or other covering should be placed under as well as over a person who has been huTt at all seriously. If there are no blankets, coats, sweaters, and even newspapers may be used. The color and temperature of a person's skin will help the first aider to know whether or not additional heat is needed. However, hot-water bottles and heating pads should be used with caution. A person in shock can be badly burned without knowing it, because he will not feel the heat. The best thing to do is to test the bottle or heating pad on one's own body first It is best to wrap a hot-water bottle in a towel. When used, hot-water bottles or heating pads should be placed at the feet, between the thighs or in the armpits.
The second thing to do in giving first aid for shock is to see that the person is in a proper position. Usually he should be placed in a horizontal position with his head and body level and his feet raised about twelve inches. This position will help blood flow to the brain. It may not be suitable for a person who has a chest injury or who has difficulty breathing. however. Such a person should have his
head raised slightly in order that he may breathe more easily. Also if a leg is broken, one should avoid lifting it. If there is a head injury, the victim's feet should not be raised.
The third step in giving first aid for shock involves the use of stimulants. Hot tea, hot coffee, warm milk or broth can be given to conscious, breathing patients who are not suffering from any abdominal injury or to those who are not in need of immediate surgery. After any severe bleeding has been controlled, fluids can be given to help restore blood volume. The fluid should be as hot as can be taken comfortably by the patient. It is sometimes a good idea to give the fluid with a spoon. Seldom more than a cupful at a time should be given, however. Alcoholic beverages should not be given inasmuch as they are depressants. The aim of first aid for shock. is to stimulate, rather than to depress, the body's functioning. There are, then, three key words to remember in treating or preventing shock. They are warmth, position, stimulants. The first aider can easily remember these key terms and the steps they suggest.
Fainting. Fainting is a mild form of shock. It occurs when the brain does not get enough oxygen. When a person feels faint, he should sit down and lower his head between his knees for a few minutes. If you are around when someone feels faint, you can help by putting your hands on the person's shoulders to steady him when he lowers his head. This will also keep him from falling to the floor or to the ground.
Do not move a person who has fainted, however, unless there is danger of further injury. If possible, lower the victim's shoulders and head and raise his feet slightly. Loosen his clothing, especially around the neck, and bathe his face with a cool cloth.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 March 2008 )
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