Understanding the Different Types of Bleeding
Bleeding refers to the process of blood escaping from blood vessels due to an injury or other medical conditions. It is a natural response of the body to stop excessive blood loss and initiate the healing process. Bleeding can occur both externally, where blood flows out of the body through a wound or opening in the skin, and internally, where blood escapes into body cavities or tissues. There are different types of bleeding, including:
- Capillary Bleeding: This is usually minor and involves small blood vessels near the skin's surface. It often results in oozing of blood from small cuts or scrapes.
- Venous Bleeding: Venous bleeding occurs when blood flows from a vein. It is characterized by a steady flow of dark red blood.
- Arterial Bleeding: This is the most severe type of bleeding and results from an injury to an artery. Arterial bleeding is characterized by spurts of bright red blood that coincide with the heartbeat.
- Internal Bleeding: Internal bleeding is not visible as it occurs inside the body. It can be caused by trauma, medical conditions, or diseases and is typically detected through symptoms like pain, swelling, or changes in vital signs.
Bleeding can range from minor and easily managed to severe and life-threatening. Proper first aid and medical attention are essential in managing bleeding, particularly when it is severe or does not stop on its own.
What is External Bleeding?
External bleeding is usually associated with open injury. There are many different types of wounds and open injuries that can break the continuity of the skin, such as abrasions, hematoma, lacerations, excoriation, incision, puncture wounds, and gunshot wounds. Although puncture wound doesn't bleed much, they carry a high risk of infection.
Once the bleeding occurs, our body begins a complex chain of events immediately. The brain, lungs, and heart will try to compensate for the blood loss to maintain the supply of oxygen-rich blood in the body. These represent the body attempting to maintain perfusion to the vital organs by constricting peripheral blood vessels . Therefore, first aid responders should be competent in dealing with major blood loss.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of External Bleeding?
Even a small injury can result in severe external bleeding, depending on where it is on the body. The presence of blood is an easy way to spot external bleeding. Common signs of external bleeding include:
- Visible wound
- Pain from the skin surface
- Loss of normal function at the site of injury
- Pale, cold, and clammy skin
- Fast heart rate
- Chest pain
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Loss of consciousness
How can a rescuer recognize a victim experiencing a traumatic arterial bleed?
Recognizing a traumatic arterial bleed is crucial, as it can be life-threatening due to the rapid loss of blood. Here are some key signs that can help a rescuer identify a victim experiencing a traumatic arterial bleed:
- Profuse and Rapid Bleeding: Arterial bleeding typically results in a copious amount of bright red blood spurting out of the wound in sync with the victim's heartbeat. The bleeding is often more severe and faster than venous or capillary bleeding.
- Pulsatile Bleeding: Arterial bleeding may have a pulsatile or rhythmic flow, coinciding with the victim's heart rate. This pulsing can be a distinctive indicator of arterial bleeding.
- Blood Color: Arterial blood is oxygen-rich and appears bright red. The color may be noticeably different from venous bleeding, which tends to be darker in hue.
- Difficulty Controlling Bleeding: Arterial bleeding is challenging to control with simple direct pressure alone. Even firm pressure may not be sufficient to stop the bleeding.
- Weakness and Confusion: Due to rapid blood loss, the victim may show signs of shock, such as weakness, confusion, dizziness, or fainting. They may also appear pale and have a rapid pulse.
- Cool and Clammy Skin: As blood loss progresses, the skin may become cool, clammy, and pale. This is a sign of inadequate blood circulation.
- Decreased Blood Pressure: In severe cases, arterial bleeding can lead to a significant drop in blood pressure, which can be life-threatening. The victim may exhibit signs of hypotension, including altered mental status.
What will you use to protect yourself from the blood if someone is bleeding?
Protect yourself by wearing protective gloves, such as latex gloves and covering any wounds on your hands. Then, use a pad such as a clean cloth, t-shirt, or clean bandage to apply continuous pressure to the wound. If you don't have anything absorbent, use your fingers.
When should a tourniquet be applied?
Tourniquets should be used when direct pressure alone cannot stop the bleeding or if direct pressure cannot be effectively applied for any reason. Heavy and uncontrolled bleeding can cause death within minutes, so it's necessary to act fast when dealing with a traumatic wound.
What are the pressure points to stop bleeding?
There are two major pressure points in the body. Suppose the bleeding is from the leg, press with the heel of one hand on the femoral artery in the groin, where the leg bends at the hip. If the bleeding is from the arm, squeeze the brachial artery located on the inside of the upper arm.