When does severe bleeding occur?

Bleeding refers to blood loss inside/outside the body. With minor cuts or wounds, the bleeding stops when the blood starts to clot. But in cases where the wound is severe or deep, it may bleed profusely and may take really long time to clot. In such cases waiting for the blood to clot could be harmful and even life-threatening. The bleeding must be stopped as soon as possible.

Severe bleeding can occur even in cases of minor to medium cuts when the person is taking certain medicines like blood thinners which are generally given to heart patients. It is an anticoagulant that prevents or reduces coagulation of blood, thus prolonging the time taken for clotting.

What are the dangers if bleeding is left untreated?

If the wounded person loses a lot of blood then he may become unresponsive or develop a hypovolemic shock. A hypovolemic shock occurs when the body has lost 1/5^th of its blood thus making it difficult for the heart to pump enough blood to the rest of the body. It requires immediate medical attention failing which it could lead to organ failure and eventual death. Young children and older adults are most susceptible to this.

What you should do if a severe head injury occurs?

• It is important to first stop the bleeding by applying pressure on the wound. But, before you do that wash your hands with soap and water or wear a pair of clean gloves in order to protect yourself and the injured person from infections.
• If the wound is covered by any piece of clothing, remove it or cut open the clothes to expose the wound.
• Before applying pressure, remove any dirt from the surface of the wound. Examine the wound for any deeply embedded objects. DO NOT try to remove them as they may be acting as a plug to reduce bleeding. Apply pressure either side of the embedded object with a pad (such as a clean cloth) or fingers, if the sterile dressing is not available.

If there are no embedded objects in the wound, apply pressure directly on the wound.

• Call for emergency medical help
• In the meantime ask the injured person to lie down. Keep the legs at an elevated position (above the level of the heart), if possible. But if the leg is injured, do not raise it.
• Dress the wound, if possible and support the injured part.
• Monitor their level of response until medical help arrives.

While waiting for medical staff, ask the injured person if they are taking any medicines. Assure them that help is on the way and keep them calm.