Need help right now?
If someone needs immediate help with internal bleeding, use emergency mode.
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DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — After a fall, crash, or blow, the person has no major external wound but shows signs of shock or internal injury.
The essentials if you need to act right now.
Call 112. Lay them down. Keep warm. Watch breathing. No food or drink.
What might I see? Observable signs — no diagnosis required.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Recent fall, vehicle crash, sports blow, or assault with worsening pain or weakness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Bruising, rigid or swollen abdomen, pain between ribs and hip.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Pale sweaty skin, thirst, dizziness, fast breathing, or decreasing alertness.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Coughing or vomiting blood after trauma.
Optional deeper explanation — not required to act.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Bleeding inside the chest, abdomen, or pelvis can cause death without visible external blood.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Shock signs — pale cold skin, fast weak pulse, confusion — may be the only clue.
Check the scene before you approach.
Civilian-safe actions you can take.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Call 112. Describe mechanism of injury even if no visible wound.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Help the person lie flat. Bend knees slightly if belly pain.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Cover with a blanket to prevent heat loss.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Loosen tight clothing around neck and waist.
When and how to get professional help.
Suspected internal bleeding always needs emergency hospital evaluation.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — You cannot see or stop internal bleeding. Call for help and treat for shock while waiting.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Say: "Possible internal bleeding after [injury]. Person pale/weak/confused."
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Report pulse if you can count it — fast and weak is concerning.
Dangerous actions, when not to attempt rescue, and common myths.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT give water, tea, or pain medicine unless EMS instructs.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT assume they are fine because there is no blood on the outside.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do NOT massage or heat the abdomen.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — No blood visible means injury is minor
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Internal bleeding can be fatal with no external wound. Shock signs after trauma are an emergency.
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 — Monitor breathing. If they vomit, roll as one unit to side if safe.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Internal bleeding requires imaging, blood transfusion, and surgery — only hospitals can treat this.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Do not wait for bruising to appear — shock signs after trauma are enough reason to call 112.
DEVELOPMENT FIXTURE — Delaying ambulance for a person who is bleeding internally.