How to Stop Bleeding and Treat a Flesh Wound
There's a dozen different ways to cut or otherwise injure yourself during the course of a day. So there's a good chance that you'll need to know how to stop a wound from bleeding at some point in the relatively near future. A bleeding wound can be frightening, especially if the bleeding won't stop right away. But follow these tips to stop bleeding and to avoid infection, swelling and other discomfort from a wound.
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Things You'll Need
- Clean paper towels or gauze pads
- Ice Packs
- Anti-bacterial soap
- Betadine
- Antibiotic ointment
- Rolled Gauze or Gauze Pads
- Tape
- A Phone to Dial 911 if the Injury is Severe
Instructions
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To stop a wound from bleeding, begin by applying firm pressure with a clean paper towel, gauze pads or other clean, absorbent material.
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Elevate the bleeding wound above the level of your heart. This may require sitting or laying down and putting pillows under a leg or lower part of your torso.
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If the bleeding still continues after a few minutes, get an ice pack or fill a zip-lock bag with ice cubes and a bit of water (double bag it). Apply the ice compress over the paper towel or gauze that's absorbing the wound's blood. The cold will help to constrict the blood vessels, slowing the bleeding. Continue to apply pressure to the wound and keep the wound elevated.
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The wound's bleeding should slow and even stop within about ten minutes. It can take 15 minutes or more for the bleeding to stop completely, so be patient. As long as the situation is improving, you're in good shape. If the wound is bleeding profusely or if the blood is emerging in spurts, this is a medical emergency. Dial 911.
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Once the bleeding has stopped, wash the wound with an anti-bacterial soap. Wash the wound with soap for two full minutes
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Flush the wound for an additional two full minutes to remove bacteria and soap. When dealing with an animal bite wound or puncture wound, flush the wound for five full minutes.
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Pat the wound dry with a clean paper towel or gauze pad. Avoid towels. Towels tend to harbor bacteria very effectively, so do not use a towel to dry the area around a wound.
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Pour Betadine (a no-sting surgical-grade antiseptic solution, available at most drug stores) over the wound and apply some Betadine around the wound (in a 1-inch diameter) with a sterile gauze pad to disinfect the flesh wound and injury site. Allow the Betadine to air dry.
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Apply a dab of antibiotic ointment or Neosporin to the wound to help prevent infection.
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Bandage the wound using a Band-Aid, gauze pad or rolled gauze. Avoid contacting the portion of sterile bandage that will come in direct contact with the wound.
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Apply cold compresses in the form of an ice pack compress or fill a sandwich bag with ice cubes and a bit of water (double bag it to avoid leaks). Apply the cold compresses for at least 20 minutes at a time. The cold compresses will reduce swelling around the wound and injury site. This will help to reduce the amount of pain associated with the wound, as much of the pain is the result of swelling.
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To help limit swelling, take an anti-inflammatory pain medication like Ibuprofen or Tylenol. Avoid Aspirin! Aspirin thins the blood, promoting bleeding and bruising (which is bleeding under the skin).
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Repeat steps 5 through 10 twice a day until the wound has healed. If the wound is severe, proceed to the hospital emergency room or physician's office immediately. During the healing process, look for signs of infection like redness, pus and discharge, and additional (and often worsening) pain and swelling.
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Tips & Warnings
For puncture wounds and animal bites, allow the wound to bleed unimpeded for a couple of minutes. The blood will flush small bits of debris and bacteria from inside the puncture wound or animal bite wound. Puncture wounds and animal bite wounds, like dog bites, are especially prone to infection.
Never take Aspirin or other blood thinners when you have a significant flesh wound. This will promote bleeding!
Look for signs of a bleeding emergency. If large amounts of blood is emerging in "spurts" or if the bleeding is profuse, dial 911 and seek immediate medical attention.
If you are prescribed a blood thinner, dial 911 if you sustain a serious flesh wound. Bleeding can be uncontrolled in people who are taking blood thinners, as this inhibits the blood's ability to clot properly.
Wounds must be cleaned and disinfected immediately after the injury occurs to limit risk of infection.
If a wound is large, deep or if a "flap" of skin has been created, stitches will be required to promote healing and limit scarring once the wound heals.
Resources
- Photo Credit Marcus Österberg Photo
