How to Treat Bleeding and Wounds

Pressure and elevation control most bleeds: gloves on, press on the wound, raise it above the heart, then dress it. Never pull out an embedded object. Severe blood loss can cause shock, so watch for it and call 999 early.

Reading the bleed

Artery: bright red, spraying in time with the heartbeat. The most urgent
Vein: darker red, gushing or pooling around the casualty
Capillary: a trickle, like a small cut on a finger

Treating a bleed

1
Gloves on, hands washed, consent gained.
Ask the casualty to press on the wound themselves and raise the limb above the heart while you get ready.
2
Expose and examine the wound.
Check whether anything is stuck in it before you dress it.
3
Clean it.
Fresh running water ideally, or an antiseptic wipe.
4
Cover it.
A plaster for a small cut, a dressing and bandage for anything bigger. Cover the whole pad so blood cannot find a way out and infection cannot find a way in, and check it is not too tight.
5
Seeping through? Add a second bandage on top.
If it seeps through the second as well, take both off and start again: the pressure is in the wrong place.

Embedded objects

Glass, a nail, anything stuck in the wound: leave it in. It did damage going in, but pulling it out can tear an artery or vein and make everything worse.

1
Build a bridge over it.
Place rolled bandages either side of the object, then bandage over the top of the rolls so the dressing never touches or moves the object.
2
Keep it protected and get them to hospital.
The object comes out in hospital, not at the scene.

Amputation

1
Make the scene safe.
Switch off any machinery involved.
2
Control the bleed.
Pressure, elevation, bandage. Treat for shock if they are dizzy or pale, and call 999.
3
Preserve the body part.
Wrap it in cling film, then fabric, then embed it in a bag of ice with the casualty's name on a label. It travels to hospital with them.

Nosebleeds

Sit them down, lean the head FORWARD, and pinch the soft part of the nose while they breathe through their mouth. After 10 minutes, release: a clot coming away is normal. Still bleeding? Pinch for another 10, then a final 10. At 30 minutes of bleeding, they need hospital, by ambulance if they feel unwell.

Minor wounds, bruises and when hospital is still needed

Minor cuts and grazes: clean, then plaster or bandage
Bruising: ice and elevation if swollen; still there after two weeks, see a GP
Rusty metal or soil in the wound and no tetanus jab? Get checked
A wound that may scar, or gape, may need gluing or stitches: hospital

Wear gloves for every bleed
Press hard and elevate above the heart
Watch for shock: pale, cold, clammy, light-headed

Don't

Do not remove anything embedded in a wound
Do not keep stacking bandages: two seeped-through means start again
Do not lean a nosebleed backwards

Common questions

How do you stop heavy bleeding?

Direct pressure on the wound, ideally through a sterile dressing, with the wound raised above the heart. Bandage firmly, add a second bandage if blood seeps through, and start again if it seeps through both. Call 999 for severe blood loss.

Should you pull glass out of a cut?

No. Leave any embedded object in place, pad either side of it, bandage over the bridge you have built, and get the casualty to hospital where it can be removed safely.

How long do you pinch a nosebleed for?

Ten minutes at a time, leaning forward, up to three times. If it is still bleeding at 30 minutes, the casualty needs hospital.

Go beyond reading

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First Aid Guru guides support learning and refreshing your knowledge. They are not a substitute for regulated, hands-on first aid training or for professional medical advice. In an emergency call 999 (UK) and follow the call handler's instructions.