Heavy bleeding and shock – press, lie down, cover
When blood spurts or pours from a wound, it is life-threatening. For an adult, losing about one litre can already be dangerous. The good news: almost any bleeding from a wound stops if you press hard enough from the outside.
Stopping heavy bleeding
- Emergency call: 144 in Austria, 112 in Germany. Have someone else call so you can keep pressing.
- Lie down: Have the injured person lie down. If possible, raise the injured arm or leg.
- Press: Press firmly on the wound with a dressing, a clean cloth or a piece of clothing. If necessary, press the material into the wound.
- Keep pressing: until the bleeding stops or the ambulance team takes over. Stopping the bleeding comes before preventing infection.
- Pressure bandage: A pressure bandage can help on arms and legs. If you cannot apply it confidently, just keep pressing with your hand.
Recognising shock
Any heavy bleeding can lead to shock. Typical signs according to the German Red Cross:
- restlessness, anxiety, nervousness
- pale, cold, often sweaty skin
- feeling cold and shivering
- later apathy, up to unconsciousness
Helping with shock
- Lay the person down, raise the legs and cover them.
- Keep things calm, keep onlookers away, speak reassuringly.
- Stay with the person and keep checking consciousness and breathing.
- Unconscious but breathing normally: recovery position.
- Not breathing normally: start CPR at once.