🩸 When is Bleeding Severe?
- Blood is spurting out (arterial bleeding)
- Blood won't stop with normal pressure
- Blood is soaking through bandages
- Large amount of blood loss
- Person is becoming pale, cold, or confused
- Deep wound or wound with something stuck in it
🚨 What to Do — Stop the Bleeding
- Call 999 (or get someone else to while you apply pressure)
- Apply direct pressure — press firmly on the wound with a clean cloth, clothing, or your hand
- Keep pressing — don't lift to check, maintain constant pressure
- If possible, raise the injury — above the level of the heart
- If blood soaks through — add more material on top, don't remove the first layer
- Keep them warm and calm — cover with coat or blanket
Press Hard, Call Fast
Severe bleeding can be life-threatening. Apply pressure and get help immediately.
📞 Call 999✅ DO
- Press firmly and keep pressing
- Use any clean material available
- Lie them down if possible
- Raise injured limb if you can
- Keep them warm
- Reassure them and stay calm
❌ DON'T
- Don't remove dressings — add on top
- Don't apply a tourniquet unless trained
- Don't remove objects stuck in wounds
- Don't give food or drink
- Don't move them unnecessarily
⚠️ Object Stuck in the Wound?
- Don't remove it — it may be plugging the wound
- Apply pressure around the object, not on it
- Build up padding around the object
- Bandage around it to hold padding in place
- Keep it still and get emergency help
😰 Signs of Blood Loss (Shock)
Major blood loss can cause shock. Watch for:
- Pale, cold, clammy skin
- Fast, weak pulse
- Fast, shallow breathing
- Confusion or anxiety
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Becoming unresponsive
If you see these signs: Lie them down with legs raised (unless injury prevents this), keep them warm, and wait for ambulance.
🩹 What About Tourniquets?
Tourniquets can save lives but can also cause harm if used incorrectly.
- Only use if trained and direct pressure has failed
- Only for limb injuries where bleeding cannot be controlled
- Note the time it was applied
- The 999 operator may guide you
