EMS Care for External bleeding Flashcards
What should be followed before caring for a patient with obvious external bleeding?
Standard precautions including gloves and eye protection
May include a mask and gown
What should be ensured about the patient before any intervention?
The patient has an open airway and is breathing adequately
What is the first step in treating obvious, life-threatening bleeding?
Control it as quickly as possible
What is the most common way to control external bleeding?
Applying direct, local pressure to the bleeding site
Should elevation of the extremity be used to control bleeding?
No, there is no evidence it helps and it may aggravate other injuries
What should you do if there is an object protruding from the wound?
Never remove it unless it is in the cheek and blocking the patient’s airway
How long should pressure be applied to a bleeding site without interruption?
At least 5 minutes
What is a pressure dressing?
A dressing created by wrapping a sterile, self-adhering roller bandage around the entire wound
What size sterile gauze pads should be used for small wounds?
4 x 4-inch (101 × 101-mm) sterile gauze pads
What should be done if bleeding continues after applying a dressing?
Reinforce it by applying more dressings on top
When should a dressing be removed?
Never until a physician has evaluated the patient
What assists in controlling bleeding and helps blood to clot?
When the pressure of the dressing exceeds arterial pressure
What should be done if direct pressure fails to stop hemorrhage?
Apply a tourniquet above the level of the bleeding
What should be considered if the bleeding is too proximal for a tourniquet?
A junctional tourniquet or wound packing with a hemostatic dressing
