Life-threatening Bleeding Flashcards
Recognizing Life-Threatening Bleeding
Two important aspects of LTB?
Volume and Flow
Recognizing Life-Threatening Bleeding
What volume of blood is life-threatening?
More than half of a soda can
Recognizing Life-Threatening Bleeding
What flow of blood is life-threatening?
Spurting or flowing continuously
Recognizing Life-Threatening Bleeding
First steps for LTB?
Call 911, get first aid kit, get AED
Treatment for LTB
How do you stop LTB?
Tourniquet (or direct-pressure if not a limb)
Treatment for LTB
Direct pressure technique for LTB?
Push hard! It takes a lot of pressure!
Treatment for LTB
What do you always use with direct pressure?
Dressing: this is a plumbing leak, hands won’t seal the wound.
Treatment for LTB
Best types of dressing?
Hemostatic (has chemicals to stop bleeding)
Treatment for LTB
What is a hemostatic dressing?
Dressing that has chemicals that can stop bleeding
Treatment for LTB
How does a hemostatic dressing work?
Has cauterizing agent, needs contact with ruptured vessels
Treatment for LTB
When do you stop direct-pressure for LTB (2)?
You don’t (unless a touniquet works). You’re stuck.
Treatment for LTB
When do you replace the dressing?
You don’t. Add more if still bleeding.
Treatment for LTB
Best position for effective direct-pressure?
Like CPR: both hands together, lock elbows, shoulders over arms.
If bleeding stops on its own
What if the bleeding stops on its own?
Apply roller bandage and keep pressure on the wound.
If bleeding stops on its own
What do you check after applying a bandage?
Circulation below the wound
If bleeding stops on its own
What if it starts bleeding again?
Remove roller bandage, leave dressing, apply direct pressure
Tourniquets
What isn’t true about tourniquets?
Doesn’t automatically mean they lose the appendage
Tourniquets
What makes a good tourniquet?
Wide material (not cord/wire that can cut skin)
Tourniquets
Steps to apply tourniquet?
Pull - Twist - Clip: pull tight, twist to tighten, clip to hold.
Tourniquets
What do you do after a tourniquet?
Tape “TQ 9:35am” to their forehead
Tourniquets
Where do you apply a tourniquet?
2” or more above wound
Tourniquets
Where do you never apply a tourniquet?
On a joint
Tourniquets
What do you do if you applied a tourniquet but still bleeding?
Apply another tourniquet above the first one
Tourniquets
When can you remove a tourniquet?
Never. Only by medical professional.
Tourniquets
What age can you use a tourniquet?
2 years or older
Tourniquets
Someone is applying direct pressure to LTB, should you apply a tourinquet?
YES, direct-pressure for LTB isn’t as effective as a tourniquet
