Signs of capillary bleeding and differences from venous
Capillary bleeding, which can be stopped with the help of improvised means, has characteristic symptoms. When small vessels rupture, liquid connective tissue spills into the cavity of the internal organs or into the external environment.
Main features:
- the blood flowing from the capillaries is bright red;
- there is no pulsation;
- biological fluid is released evenly and in small quantities;
- the wound is bleeding over the entire area.
In most cases, in people who do not have vascular diseases, the hemorrhage stops on its own, even if a large area is injured. With internal bleeding, connective fluid is present in tracheobronchial secretions, vomit or feces, as well as in urine.
Often internal hemorrhages are asymptomatic.
The latent form is recognized by a number of characteristic features:
- blood pressure surges;
- superficial weak pulse;
- increased heart rate;
- feeling of dry mouth;
- partial short-term loss of vision;
- dizziness;
- general weakness, fatigue;
- cyanosis or pallor of the skin.
The patient may experience aching pain at the site of the rupture. It is almost impossible to detect internal bleeding on your own. The patient should go to the nearest medical facility, where a specialist will examine him and prescribe a comprehensive examination.
Capillary bleeding is difficult to confuse with venous bleeding. When a large vessel ruptures, connective fluid flows out of the wound in a stream and has a dark burgundy color. The bleeding is continuous and profuse, there is no pulsation.
Causes and signs of venous bleeding
Venous bleeding can be characterized by the location of the blood leakage, since it determines the methods of first aid.
Venous bleeding can occur from:
- deep veins
- Superficial veins of the lower and upper extremities,
- Veins of the neck and head.
If there is a risk of venous bleeding, then only a doctor can diagnose and determine its location, since the type of bleeding cannot be determined only by external signs.
The following causes of bleeding can be distinguished:
- Superficial wounds and injuries (shrapnel, gunshot, knife, etc.),
- Phlebeurysm,
- Arterial hypertension,
- Pathologies of the hematopoietic system.
It is necessary to know by what signs different types of bleeding can be identified and how to separate venous from capillary or arterial.
Thus, venous bleeding has a number of signs, the most characteristic of which are the following:
- The dark red color of blood,
- The presence of a wound or injury in the veins,
- Hemorrhage in a continuous, even stream,
- The blood stream pulsates weakly or does not pulsate at all,
- If you apply pressure near the wound site, the intensity of bleeding decreases,
- Long-term preservation of the affected limb below the site of bleeding in normal condition. This fact is explained by the presence of two veins accompanied by each artery, so the blood circulation of the limb is disrupted only with severe blood loss,
- Arterial hypertension,
- Pale skin, adynamia, in case of massive blood loss, loss of consciousness is possible,
- Tachycardia.
Let's note a few points:
- If the superficial veins of the lower or upper extremities (feet and hands) have been damaged , mild bleeding is observed, the duration of which does not take much time. However, in this case, first aid is still a necessary measure, since damage to the deeper veins, which are usually located on the inner surface of the limbs, may subsequently be revealed.
- It should be taken into account that blood diseases, high blood pressure and alcohol intoxication have a negative effect on the rate of blood clotting, which can cause increased bleeding.
Types of capillary bleeding
Capillary bleeding (it can be stopped in several ways) is classified according to the location of the vessel rupture (external and internal) and the reason for its appearance:
Impact factors | Description |
Injuries | Thermal and chemical burns. They occur due to skin contact with hot liquids, acids and other substances. Provoke external bleeding. |
Abrasions, cuts. Appear as a result of a blow or fall. Cause external hemorrhages. | |
Coagulopathic changes | Von Willebrand's disease. A hereditary pathology is accompanied by spontaneous rupture of small blood vessels. There is a deficiency of plasma von Willebrand factor. |
Hemophilia. The disease is inherited. The pathology is characterized by a violation of the blood clotting process. When blood vessels rupture, biological fluid penetrates into the cavity of internal organs, joints and muscles. | |
Hemorrhagic diathesis (thrombocytopenic purpura). Internal hemorrhages occur against the background of a sharp decrease in the number of platelets. | |
Pathological changes | Hormonal disorders. A deficiency of organic compounds produced by the endocrine glands leads to thinning of blood vessels. |
Necrosis. When cells die, the blood circulation in the affected area is disrupted. The walls of blood vessels become fragile. | |
Atherosclerosis. The pathology is characterized by the growth of fatty plaques inside blood vessels. There is a narrowing and deformation of the lumen of the capillaries. | |
Inflammatory processes. Capillaries penetrate soft tissues. During inflammation, blood vessels are affected, which leads to their rupture. | |
Benign and malignant tumors. The growth of cancer cells leads to deterioration of blood clotting. |
Internal hemorrhages most often occur due to pathological and coagulopathic changes occurring in the body. Capillary rupture also occurs due to a fall from a great height.
Stomach bleeding
The main reasons for the formation of gastric blood loss are pathologies of the digestive organs and other diseases. These include the presence of:
- peptic ulcer in the stomach and duodenum;
- gastric diverticulum;
- oncology in this organ;
- benign tumors in the stomach or polyps;
- erosive formations on the gastric mucosa or erosive gastritis.
In addition, some medications that irritate the gastric mucosa can provoke gastric bleeding. These include acetylsalicylic acid, drugs from the NSAID group, etc. You can also encounter a similar problem with frequent stress or after surgery.
Symptoms
Internal bleeding, including gastric bleeding, is characterized by the following symptoms:
- severe weakness, even to the point of fainting;
- pale skin, blue skin on fingers, nose, lips;
- cold sweat;
- noise effect in the ears, flickering before the eyes;
- nausea;
- vomiting mixed with coagulated blood;
- pain in the stomach area;
- feces acquire a characteristic black tarry hue.
First aid for stomach bleeding
If signs of bleeding in the stomach are detected, emergency medical care must be provided to the victim. While waiting for an ambulance, you need to act as follows:
- Lay the victim on his back on a hard surface.
- If vomiting occurs, you need to turn his head to the side to prevent vomit from entering the respiratory tract.
- Place something cold on the peritoneal area (ice or a bottle filled with chilled liquid). Monitor your temperature to prevent frostbite.
- Monitor the victim's blood pressure. If blood pressure drops to 100 mm Hg. Art. and less, the bleeding began to transition to a more serious stage.
When providing first aid for gastric bleeding, some requirements should be observed:
- do not move the patient, create calm conditions for him and remain in a lying position on a solid horizontal plane;
- It is important to give up food and drink for a while; if you are thirsty, you can put a piece of ice in your mouth.
Why is capillary bleeding dangerous?
Capillary bleeding can be stopped with a cold compress. Many people mistakenly believe that rupture of a small vessel is not dangerous. External capillary bleeding, especially if a large area of the skin has been damaged, can trigger the development of blood poisoning.
Sepsis can be:
- chronic;
- sharp;
- lightning fast.
The latter type is characterized by a rapid course of the disease. Blood poisoning occurs within a few hours. Symptoms of the pathological process cannot always be identified in a timely manner. An increase in temperature after injury indicates the development of an inflammatory process. The patient should consult a doctor.
Indirect symptoms of sepsis include:
- rave;
- unstable psycho-emotional state;
- formation of ulcers on the skin;
- disturbances of the gastrointestinal tract (vomiting, diarrhea);
- chills;
- fever;
- weakness accompanied by increased sweating;
- superficial pulse;
- increased heart rate.
Local signs of blood poisoning after abrasions and cuts include:
- increase in temperature at the site of damage;
- painful sensations when touching the wound.
If the infection has penetrated the lymphatic ducts, then characteristic red stripes appear on the surface of the skin.
Internal bleeding is considered the most dangerous to human life. The rupture of blood vessels is accompanied by an outpouring of liquid connective tissue into the cavities of the internal organs. In this case, there is a high risk of blockage of blood vessels: blood accumulating inside the body promotes the active development of bacteria, which accelerates the development of the inflammatory process.
What is arterial bleeding
The most dangerous type is arterial, since when arteries are damaged, their walls do not collapse, blood is actively ejected in a pulsating stream, and blood loss increases very quickly, up to hemorrhagic shock and death. Arterial bleeding is called bleeding in which the vascular wall of the artery is damaged and scarlet, oxygen-enriched blood flows out. Extensive bleeding can occur with injuries, cuts, and taking certain medications.
Signs
It is not difficult to distinguish arterial bleeding by external signs. Difficulty in diagnosis can be mixed, which can combine signs of capillary, venous and/or arterial. Main characteristics of external bleeding:
Features | Arterial | Venous | Capillary |
Color of flowing blood | Scarlet | Dark red, burgundy | Dark red |
Blood flow rate | High | Depends on the size and location of the vessel. Can be high or low. | Low |
Jet characteristics | Pulsating, blood fountaining | Voluntary, constant flow of blood without pulsation | Over the entire surface of the wound |
Why is it dangerous?
Arterial bleeding is considered the most dangerous, since due to the high rate of blood loss without timely and correct medical care, the risk of death is high. Untimely and/or incorrectly provided first medical aid (PHA) can worsen the patient’s condition and provoke situations such as:
- hemorrhagic shock;
- wound infection;
- compression of limbs and tissue necrosis;
- blood aspiration;
- coma;
- fatal outcome.
Providing first aid before the doctor arrives
Capillary bleeding, which can be stopped in several ways, indicates damage to one or more vessels. For external hemorrhages, a hemostatic sponge is used.
A pharmaceutical product with broad-spectrum collagen is used in emergency cases with severe bleeding. The hemostatic sponge helps speed up the process of regeneration of damaged tissues, and an antiseptic effect is observed.
The composition is completely natural, it includes:
- collagen solution obtained from the skin and tendons of cattle;
- furatsilin;
- nitrofuran;
- boric acid.
The pharmaceutical product is heat-resistant; it can withstand temperatures up to 75° C. The hemostatic sponge has no structural analogues. The product prevents large-scale blood loss, more quickly restores the integrity of the skin and damaged blood vessels.
Therapeutic actions:
- sorbent;
- tonic;
- regenerating;
- antimicrobial;
- antiseptic;
- bactericidal.
It looks like a yellow pressed powder. In the pharmacy, the sponge is sold without a prescription, the dimensions are 5x5 cm or 9x9 cm. Pharmaceutical products stop not only capillary, but also alveolar and parenchymal bleeding. It can be used to stop unsanitary conditions.
The collagen sponge has virtually no contraindications, with the exception of hypersensitivity to the components present in the composition. For arterial bleeding, the drug is not used.
Pressure bandage
A pressure bandage helps stop venous and capillary bleeding. In arterial cases, this method is rarely used. After a mastectomy or phlebectomy, a fixing bandage acts as a preventive method for possible hemorrhages. The main indications for use are swelling.
Required materials and tools:
- gauze bandage;
- compression pillow;
- napkin or sterile swab;
- antiseptic solution.
The pressure pad, as the main element, must be large enough, dense and flexible. The latter factor ensures a tighter fit to the wound; the blood stops due to uniform pressure, leading to compression of the blood vessels. The pressure pad is included in the dressing kit, which can be purchased at the pharmacy.
In emergency situations, the pressure pad is replaced with cotton wool or a sterile bandage folded in several layers. The dressing technique may vary depending on the type of dressing material and the location of the wound.
Using a dressing package (standard action algorithm):
- wash your hands with soap or wipe with alcohol;
- treat the damaged surface with hydrogen peroxide, furatsilin solution or potassium permanganate;
- open the dressing package;
- Apply a sterile napkin to the wound and secure with a bandage;
- Apply a pressure pad and secure it with a bandage.
In case of severe capillary bleeding, the pillow quickly becomes saturated with blood, so it is necessary to apply gauze or a sterile bandage on top. An open wound should not be washed with antiseptics. Disinfect the area near the cut, scrape or burn. The skin is wiped from the edge to the periphery of the wound, removing small debris.
Cold compress
Ice, which is applied to the affected area of the skin for cuts and abrasions, can quickly stop capillary bleeding. A gauze pad soaked in cold water is applied to the wound. Using a cold compress can reduce the amount of liquid connective tissue released during internal bleeding.
To do this, an ice pack, wrapped in a towel several times, is applied to the site of possible localization of the injury (sternum, abdominal cavity). In case of internal bleeding, the victim should be placed on his back and his head should be turned to the left or right side. A cold compress can also help stop nosebleeds.
Application of a compressive tourniquet. Rules and algorithm
A tourniquet is a specialized first aid device used to stop capillary bleeding. Of all the existing types, “Alpha” is considered the most effective and safe. The product does not provoke necrosis and does not injure nerves and arteries. The design has a ribbed surface that allows you to maintain normal blood flow in the affected area.
For light bleeding, do not use a tourniquet; it is replaced with a fixing bandage. Complications that developed due to improper application of a specialized product. These include amputation of a limb, partial or complete loss of sensation in the injured area.
Overlay algorithm:
- Patients are positioned so that the injured area is above chest level. If a limb (arm or leg) is injured, it is slightly raised. When the wound is located on the body (peritoneal area), the victim is turned over on his side.
- The material used as a tourniquet must be soft. They are used to tighten the wound just above the injured area over clothing. Before applying a tourniquet, the abrasion or cut is treated and fixed with a bandage.
- Monitoring of the correct application of the tourniquet, which leads to a complete stop of bleeding, is carried out regularly. It is necessary to observe the pulsation below the wound fixation site.
The main errors in applying a tourniquet include:
- lack of time control;
- lack of lining for the tourniquet;
- too weak or strong compression of the damaged area.
Remove the tourniquet carefully and slowly. It is unwound carefully, trying not to damage the vessels. No more than 120 minutes should pass from the moment of application. In most cases, bleeding stops during this period.
Important differences
Treatment for bleeding will vary slightly depending on which vessel is damaged. Therefore, within minutes after injury, a diagnostic study must be performed to determine the type of blood loss.
The most minor damage in case of trauma is considered to be capillary bleeding, when only the superficial tissue of the skin or mucous membrane is damaged. In this case, medical help is not needed: the wound is treated with an antiseptic and then protected from external irritants with a bandage.
Damage to the arteries poses an immediate threat to the health and life of the victim. The fact is that arteries are special vessels, which in most cases are “hidden” deep in soft tissues or are located in close proximity to bones. In case of significant damage, the body cannot cope with such blood loss on its own, so it needs emergency help: blood gushing out of the wound like a fountain will quickly deplete reserve reserves and lead to death.
Veins are not located as deep as arteries, so they are injured much more often. They do not have the arterial ability to contract, but their walls can “stick together” because they are very thin. It is easy to distinguish venous bleeding from other types of blood loss: the biological fluid is dark, thick, and flows out of the wound in a continuous stream.
Methods for stopping venous bleeding depend on the type and location of the damaged veins.
What can replace the tourniquet?
The material from which the medical tourniquet is made must be soft. It is strictly forbidden to allow additional damage to an already injured area: this can lead to infection or compression of the main vessel.
A medical tourniquet must meet a number of requirements:
- sufficient length - you need to wrap the tourniquet around the limb 2 - 3 times;
- the design should not have plastic protrusions, plaques or metal inserts;
- It is best to use rubberized material that can be easily washed off from blood.
- It is strictly forbidden to use contaminated fabric that can cause infection in an open wound;
- a wide tape provides maximum compression of the vessel and eliminates additional injury;
- the tourniquet must be elastic.
Replace the medical tourniquet with a fairly wide piece of fabric, a rubber seal or an elastic bandage. Thin ropes, especially those made of nylon, are not recommended for these purposes.
Rules for applying a tourniquet
Application of a tourniquet for blood loss from a vein is used very rarely: it is necessary only when large vessels are injured, most often arteries.
Attention! By unprofessionally applying a tourniquet or holding it on the human body, the rescuer provokes a danger that can cause tissue death.
This complication can only be removed with the help of surgery, amputation of the limb. However, if the victim has profuse blood loss, and according to the rules, a pressure bandage and other methods of eliminating blood loss have not yielded results, the bleeding can only be stopped if a tourniquet is applied. The actions are:
- Find a material that you will use as a tourniquet: scarf, handkerchief, rubber tube, rope.
- Step back from the wound site approximately 50 mm downwards.
- “Tighten” the tourniquet until the blood stops flowing.
How to stop nosebleeds?
Capillary rupture occurs when blood pressure rises. High load on the vascular system is accompanied by loss of elasticity of the walls. Epistaxis or nosebleeds with hypertension can be profuse. The patient complains of vomiting, nausea and dizziness.
For nosebleeds, baths are used: feet are immersed in hot water, and hands up to the elbows in cold water. The resulting contrast accelerates the outflow of blood from the head and allows blood pressure to normalize.
Algorithm of actions to stop nosebleeds:
- take a sitting position;
- lower your head slightly;
- place gauze swabs into the nasal passages;
- remove clothes to facilitate breathing;
- provide oxygen flow.
Bleeding can be stopped with a cold compress:
- take a lying position;
- a cloth soaked in water is applied lightly to the bridge of the nose;
- The head is slightly thrown back.
If the bleeding is profuse, you need to make sure that the blood does not enter the nasopharynx. If epistaxis does not stop (despite first aid provided), you should consult a doctor. Excessive bleeding may indicate hemostasis. In a hospital setting, a specialist will select the safest and most effective hemostatic drug.
What is it characterized by and how to stop bleeding from superficial veins
Circulatory disturbance cannot be caused even by complete transection of any saphenous vein. However, despite the secondary importance of this group of vessels, even such venous bleeding can lead to a critical amount of blood loss.
Therefore, it is necessary to know the places at risk in this regard:
- Venous network of the wrist,
- The great vein of the thigh and leg with main tributaries located in the internal portion of these segments,
- Central veins of the outer and inner surfaces of the shoulder and forearm,
- Venous plexuses on the dorsum of the foot.
Venous bleeding caused by injuries in the listed places has the following clinical symptoms and features:
- More bleeding is observed from the lower end of the affected vein, which is explained by the centripetal direction of blood flow (upward),
- In case of damage to the subcutaneous small veins , they are able to thrombose on their own, resulting in spontaneous cessation of bleeding,
- Damage to the main veins of the shoulder and thigh can extremely rarely result in spontaneous stopping of bleeding,
- Increased bleeding can be caused by alcohol intoxication, high blood pressure, diseases of the blood system (thrombocytopenia, hemophilia, leukemia).
These circumstances predetermine the provision of first aid and the final stop of bleeding from the subcutaneous vessels.
Stopping capillary bleeding in unsanitary conditions
In case of a traffic accident, earthquake or fire, it is quite difficult to comply with sanitary standards. Victims must be given first aid in a timely manner, even if there is no tourniquet or sterile bandage at hand. To stabilize the patient's condition, improvised means are used.
If there is no iodine, hydrogen peroxide, furatsilin or potassium permanganate solution at hand, the wound is washed with clean water. This eliminates dust and other contaminants and minimizes the risk of infection entering the blood. After washing, bandaging begins.
If there is no bandage or gauze, plantain is applied to the affected area, the leaves of which are first washed in clean water. The wound is covered with a cloth and secured with a belt or scarf.
First aid for venous bleeding from superficial veins
Includes the following measures:
Location of damage | Measures |
Distal segments (forearm, hand, foot) | 1) Pressing the bleeding vein under the wound site through the skin. If this measure is not effective enough, the vein above the wound is compressed in the same way, |
2) Giving the injured limb an elevated position for a while, | |
3) Rinsing the damaged area with hydrogen peroxide or any other water-based product, followed by covering it with a gauze bandage, which should cover the wound area under and above the wound. Before bandaging, you can place a gauze roll soaked in peroxide into the wound itself, | |
4) You can finally stop blood loss from the superficial veins either by simply suturing the wound, or by combining suturing with ligation of the ends of the damaged vessel. | |
Proximal segments (hip, shoulder) | 1) Giving the injured limb an elevated position for a while, |
2) Pressing the bleeding vein under the wound site through the skin. If this measure does not have a sufficient effect, the vein above the wound is compressed in the same way, | |
3) Application of a tourniquet, | |
4) After removing the tourniquet, the damaged area is washed with hydrogen peroxide or any other water-based product, followed by covering it with a gauze bandage, which should cover the wounded area under and above the wound. Before bandaging, you can place a gauze roll soaked in peroxide into the wound itself, | |
5) To finally stop blood loss, you can simply suturing the wound or combining suturing with ligation of the ends of the damaged vessel. |
It is not advisable to apply a tourniquet in case of venous bleeding from the extremities, since such a procedure will only increase blood loss.
Basic mistakes when providing first aid
Capillary bleeding is characterized by the effusion of a small amount of biological fluid. You can stop it yourself by following the basic rules. Many people make mistakes when providing first aid to a bleeding victim.
These include:
- non-compliance with sanitary standards (dressing is done with dirty hands without the use of sterile materials and instruments);
- treating open wounds with iodine or a solution of brilliant green (drugs can cause burns);
- using cotton wool (after removal, cotton wool particles remain inside the wound);
- the use of wound healing agents (creams and ointments will not stop bleeding);
- removing the bandage with a sharp movement (a jerk can cause rupture of the blood clot and re-bleeding);
- removing large fragments from their wound (lack of proper experience will lead to additional damage).
If you have a nosebleed, you should not tilt your head back too much. This may cause breathing problems and suffocation.
Internal bleeding
The cause of this phenomenon can be a disease or injury to any internal organ. This condition is very dangerous, because blood loss cannot be controlled. In addition, with such bleeding there is no pain, which can serve as a signal of a problem. As a result, the presence of internal bleeding may not be noticed for a very long time. And the victim will pay attention to this only after a sharp deterioration in health.
The most risky is the flow of blood in the parenchymal system, which often lacks a cavity and has a well-formed structure of veins and arteries. These include the lungs, liver and pancreas.
Injury to any of these systems can cause serious bleeding. Such blood loss itself almost never stops, since the vessels here are located in the tissue and are prone to compression. For this reason, in case of bleeding in the parenchymal system, it is necessary to provide the patient with emergency assistance. In addition to injury, the development of such blood loss can be triggered by the presence of tuberculosis, decay or rupture of a neoplasm.
Symptoms
Internal bleeding is characterized by the gradual development of the following symptoms:
- lethargy;
- feeling unwell;
- dizziness;
- fainting;
- apathy;
- drowsiness;
- lowering blood pressure;
- pale skin;
- increased pulsation.
First aid for internal bleeding
The main goal of assistance with bleeding in internal organs is to urgently hospitalize the victim. While waiting for an ambulance, you need to do the following:
- Lay the patient down and keep him calm.
- Apply something cold to the abdomen or sternum, this is due to the location of the likely source of the problem.
- You can use hemostatic medications (Aminocaproic acid, Vikasol).
If the pressure drops sharply during parenchymal bleeding, raise the victim’s legs above the level of the heart by approximately 30-40 cm. Constantly monitor respiratory and cardiac functions.
If necessary, resuscitation measures are carried out. In this condition, the patient is contraindicated in taking painkillers and any other medications. Eating and drinking are also prohibited; you can only rinse your mouth with water.
If first aid is provided quickly and correctly for any type of bleeding, the prognosis will be favorable. Prompt provision of assistance also contributes to a quick recovery of the victim.
Medical care and prognosis for capillary bleeding
The patient should contact a medical facility if the bleeding does not stop after first aid. The specialist will carefully examine the victim, identify the cause of vascular rupture and select the most effective drugs to replenish blood loss. In severe cases, a transfusion may be needed.
Doctors give a favorable prognosis for capillary bleeding. Most often, the patient’s condition stabilizes within 20 to 30 minutes. The help of a surgeon, traumatologist and other specialists is necessary if gross errors were made during the provision of first aid and the patient experiences the development of complications.
Its manifestations include:
- severe pain when touching the wound;
- elevated temperature (up to 38 - 39° C);
- swollen lymph nodes;
- swelling.
You should consult a doctor if the affected area is large enough (for example, there is a missing flap of skin the size of your palm). Capillary bleeding also occurs due to animal bites. If a person is attacked by a dog (provided that the victim himself did not provoke the animal), then the specialist must vaccinate against rabies (6 procedures).
Capillary bleeding does not lead to death. It is not difficult to stop it if you have a tourniquet or dressing kit on hand. Compliance with sanitary standards and aseptic rules is a prerequisite to speed up the healing process of injured tissues.
Bleeding in the thigh area
Blood loss caused by bleeding from deep veins located in the extremities requires immediate action because a person can lose a lot of blood in a short period of time. A decrease in the amount of blood in the circulatory system leads to shock, kidney failure, and other complications that cause significant harm to the human body.
Providing first aid for venous bleeding in the thigh area involves taking the following measures:
- Raise the limb to give it an elevated position.
- Apply a tight bandage or tourniquet.
- Place ice or a heating pad with cold water on the bleeding site.
- Take the victim to the hospital.
The damaged limb can be fixed by bending it at the hip joint and tying the thigh with a bandage to the body.
The success of pre-medical care and the recovery period of the limb after medical intervention depend on how correctly the tourniquet is applied. In the summer, every hour, and in the winter, every 30 minutes, the tourniquet should be loosened for 3-5 minutes. At this time, the vessel must be pressed with your fingers to prevent re-bleeding.
Algorithm for providing emergency care for bleeding, ways to stop bleeding
With any type of bleeding, it is extremely important to provide timely assistance to the injured person in order to avoid critical blood loss, which is possible with serious injuries and damage. To provide first aid, use the following algorithm:
- Make sure you and the victim are safe (at a safe distance from the roadway, away from debris, etc.)
- Call for help and call an ambulance
- Check your consciousness
- If possible, wear gloves
- Remove clothing from the affected area
- Determine the type of bleeding
- Try to stop the bleeding
- If necessary and in the absence of contraindications, anesthetize
- Provide psychological support to the victim until help arrives.
How can I help you
First aid for venous bleeding is represented by a strict sequence of specific measures. Initially, the fingers press firmly against the bone to compress the areas around the injury. Then it is closed with a thick tampon - in this way a dangerous air embolism is prevented. The next step is to apply a pressure bandage and immediately hospitalize the patient. It is advisable to use the cold available on hand.
If the wound is close to the heart, there is a high probability of damage to a large vessel. It follows that bleeding from the distal parts (further from the body) of the legs and arms is less dangerous than from the proximal segments (closer to the body). The type of assistance also depends on the area of blood flow, for example, deep or superficial vessels.
How to stop bleeding from a vein in case of injury to the distal segments? The sequence of action is as follows:
- Finger pressing of the damaged vessel below the wound site.
- The location of the injured limb is on a slight elevation.
- Loose tamponing with an existing napkin, cotton wool using hydrogen peroxide.
- Superficial location of the pressure bandage.
How to stop venous bleeding when proximal segments are injured? The following activities should be carried out:
- Temporary placement of the wounded arm and leg on an elevation.
- Apply a pressure bandage to briefly stop bleeding.
- Applying a tourniquet to prevent deterioration of the victim's condition.
- When the tourniquet is removed, tamponing is immediately carried out, followed by fixation of a pressure bandage.
Correct application of a tourniquet to a limb
If the tourniquet is tightened correctly during first aid, the possibility of restoring damaged parts of the arms and legs during inpatient complex therapy increases significantly.
In this case, the question arises: how to apply a tourniquet for venous bleeding? It is important to adhere to certain rules:
- The described device is fixed below the injury site, but as close as possible to it.
- A soft napkin or other improvised means must be placed under it, which will prevent injury to the skin in the immediate vicinity of the damaged vein.
- Next, the tourniquet is wrapped around the leg or arm with fairly quick movements. It must first be tightened before pulling the limb. The coils must overlap slightly, as the skin may be pinched by them.
- A mandatory action is to mark the time of application of the medical device. After 1-1.5 hours in summer and after 1.5-2 hours in winter, the rubber device should be loosened to prevent deterioration of the patient’s condition.
If there is a suspicion of venous internal bleeding in dilated and large wounds, the following steps should be taken. The victim is positioned in a horizontal position with a slight elevation of the lower extremities. When the chest or abdominal cavity is injured, it is advisable to apply cold to stop the flow of blood. After this, immediately call an ambulance.
With a loss of 20% of blood, a person may experience acute renal failure, hemorrhagic shock with all the ensuing undesirable consequences. Urgent emergency care is the only way out for such injuries.
First aid for bleeding, bruises and fractures
As a result of injury
nosebleeds may begin. In severe cases, internal bleeding may begin. The probability of the latter can be determined by the following criteria:
- Rapid pulse
- Low pressure
- Pallor
- Pain in the abdominal area
- In some cases, a bruise is visible
- If the stomach or esophagus is damaged, very dark blood may be vomited
- Tarry stool indicates intestinal damage
- A cough with bloody foam indicates a lung injury
If there is internal bleeding, apply ice to the injured area and calm the victim. In the event of a lung injury, place the person in a semi-sitting position; in other cases, place the person on a flat surface until the ambulance arrives.
Fractures
there are open and closed. For a closed fracture with obvious bruising, immobilize the injured part and apply ice until hospitalization.
Open fractures are very dangerous due to rupture of soft tissues and the formation of an open wound. Once you have immobilized the limb, treat the wound and stop the bleeding. The method of stopping depends on the type of bleeding.
First Aid Basics
Knowing how to stop venous bleeding can help save a person's life. But the algorithm of actions for open and closed blood loss is different.
Closed
How to provide first aid if a person has no visible signs of bleeding, but only indirect signs. Unfortunately, these signs may indicate both blood loss and lack of circulation due to other reasons.
If there is a suspicion of internal blood loss, then it is immediately worth noting that complete cessation of venous bleeding in this case is impossible.
First aid will include the following:
- Providing the patient with complete rest.
- Applying an ice pack to the site of suspected bleeding. How to correctly determine this place? Even if there is no pronounced pain, at the site of damage to the vessel a person will feel discomfort and bloating due to accumulated fluid.
- Take the person to a medical facility as quickly as possible. If it is not possible to call an ambulance, you can transport it yourself, ensuring the patient is in a lying or semi-lying position.
It is important to remember that his life and health depend on how quickly the victim receives qualified medical care.
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How to stop bleeding when a vein is injured?
There are several ways to help the victim:
- tight bandage;
- finger pinch;
- application of a tourniquet.
First aid for venous bleeding, if the wound is not very large, will consist of treating the wound and applying a tight bandage. Mechanical light compression of the vessel helps slow blood flow and allows the formation of a blood clot.
When applying a bandage, you need to lift the victim's limb up and begin to apply the first tight turns of the bandage slightly below the wound. You cannot bandage too tightly - the skin should remain warm and retain its natural color. To verify that assistance is being provided correctly, it is recommended to check the pulse.
If there is no dressing material, and it is necessary to stop venous bleeding, then first aid can be provided by finger compression: a finger compresses the vessel below the wound site.
Any first aid should begin with a bandage and finger compression, and only if these methods do not have an effect and the abundant venous flow of blood cannot be stopped, then the blood flow must be completely stopped, cutting off the blood supply to the damaged area.
It’s worth clarifying right away that the recommendations on how to stop bleeding from a vein differ from those indicated in the pictures, which describe in detail how to stop heavy arterial bleeding.
If you follow the algorithm of actions proposed there, then using a tourniquet will not have any effect, because in the veins the blood flow has a different direction - from the periphery to the heart - and therefore clamping must be done below the wound site:
- The tourniquet is applied over clothing (you can put any fabric under it) for 1 hour in warm weather and for half an hour when it is cold.
- Instead of a tourniquet, you can use any available means (belts, belts, etc.).
- After providing assistance, attach a tag indicating the time of application.
But blood flow stopped in this way, if the victim is not transported to a medical facility in a timely manner, can provoke a violation of the trophism of peripheral tissues.
When it is not possible to deliver the patient to a medical facility in a timely manner, the tourniquet must be removed after an hour
It is important to first start stopping the bleeding, and only then, if possible, treat the wound with an antiseptic. In no case should you remove foreign bodies and pieces of clothing from the wound surface - this can cause additional damage to blood vessels
If treatment is not possible, then a sterile bandage must be applied to prevent secondary infection and the person must be taken to a medical facility as quickly as possible.
Knowing how to stop bleeding from a vein helps save a person’s life, because these vessels are injured much more often; if large blood loss occurs, this can be fatal.