Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with severe bleeding, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood is flowing fast from a wound and soaking through cloth or bandages. The person may look pale, weak, or confused.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112. Press hard on the wound. Do not stop. Add more cloth if needed.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood flowing or spurting continuously and not slowing with pressure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cloth or bandage becomes soaked within seconds or minutes.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Person looks very pale, feels cold, dizzy, or confused.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Blood on the ground in large pools — treat as life-threatening.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A major blood vessel may be cut. The body can lose enough blood in minutes to become life-threatening.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shock can develop quickly — pale skin, sweating, dizziness, or confusion mean the body is failing.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Most severe external bleeding can be slowed with firm, direct pressure while waiting for ambulance.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Make sure the scene is safe — move away from traffic, fire, or an attacker if possible.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shout for someone to call 112 or 108 while you start helping.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Put gloves on if available. If not, use cloth between your hand and the wound.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Expose the wound. Press firmly with the heel of your hand and a thick cloth directly on the bleeding site.
When and how to get professional help.
Any bleeding that does not stop with firm pressure, or any spurting blood, needs emergency care immediately.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Your job is to control bleeding and call for help. Do not probe wounds, remove embedded objects, or give food or drink.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112 or 108. Put the phone on speaker so you can keep pressure.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Severe bleeding. Person is pale/weak. I am holding pressure on the wound."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Give exact location, what caused the injury if known, and whether bleeding is slowing.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT remove soaked bandages — this tears clots and restarts bleeding.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give food, drink, or pain medicine unless emergency services tell you to.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT use a tourniquet unless direct pressure fails on a limb — tourniquets are a last resort.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT put your fingers inside a deep wound to find the source.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You should remove bandages to see if bleeding stopped
Other scenarios in the same family.
After crush release
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A person has just been released from a crush injury. They may look okay initially but can deteriorate rapidly.
Amputation
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A finger, toe, hand, foot, or larger part of a limb has been partially or completely severed in an accident.
Impaled object
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A knife, rod, glass shard, or other object is embedded in the body and must not be removed by civilians.
Chest wound
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — A penetrating or open wound to the chest wall. The person may have trouble breathing or bubbling blood at the wound.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Keep pressure steady. Do not peek to check — lifting pressure lets bleeding restart.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — If blood soaks through, place another cloth on top. Do not remove the first layer.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Lay the person down if they feel weak. Keep them warm with a blanket or jacket.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — All severe external bleeding needs emergency care — even if it seems to stop.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call immediately if the person faints, stops responding, or breathing becomes difficult.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Removing soaked cloth disrupts clots and makes bleeding worse. Add fresh layers on top.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Restarting heavy bleeding when the person is already weak.