Tuesday, September 4, 2012

How First Aid Can Help Bleeding Victims

A person may get wounded in an accident, which may start the bleeding. Bleeding can either be external or internal. Excessive bleeding can be very dangerous as it may cause unconsciousness and even death as a result. Therefore, it is essential that bleeding be controlled first thing after an injury occurs. A first aid course will teach you how to control bleeding and stabilize the patient. Once the bleeding is controlled there is lesser chance of an infection to occur. First aid is a good skill to learn as it may come in handy at any time.
There are five ways how first aid can help bleeding victims. They are:
• Internal bleeding is dangerous as you cannot see it on the outside. However first aid is helpful as it teaches you to understand the signs of internal bleeding. Blood appearing in the vomit is a sign of internal bleeding and the victim should immediately be taken to your healthcare facility.
• When an artery is injured and bleeding occurs, it becomes essential to stop it immediately as an artery is an important blood vessel delivering pure blood to the heart. First aid teaches you to control the bleeding quickly and prevent the victim going into shock.
• In case of an injury to the head, it is essential to bandage the wound in a way that it doesn't cause more harm. Knowing first aid is important when you try to help a victim with a head injury. You must know that an unconscious patient must not be moved unless absolutely necessary. First aid teaches you to be calm in such situations and respond quickly as time is an important factor when dealing with critical cases.
• When administering first aid, you must be aware of certain hygiene practices in order to avoid spread of infection. Using gloves, cleaning agents to clean blood and other body fluids, and applying a bandage on any cuts on your body can prevent the spread on infections during first aid administration.
• When the bleeding occurs due to damage to capillaries, there is a greater chance of infection. A first aid course will teach you techniques that will help prevent the victim contracting an infection.
Minor injuries can be treated with bandages but a serious injury may be very harmful. Bleeding of wounds may even lead to brain damage, shock, heart damage and damage to any other organs in the body. The larger the open wound, the greater the blood loss and higher the chances of the injury becoming fatal. Immediate treatment given to control bleeding may greatly improve the victim's chances of survival and reduce the risk of infection. When the bleeding is due to avulsion injuries to parts like toe, finger or ear, administering first aid and then shifting the victim to the nearest hospital can stabilize him. Therefore a victim with excessive bleeding can be saved with the right aid given to him at the right time. First aid may actually save his life.