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Step 1
Before you do anything else, evaluate the wound. If the wound is serious, call 911 and have the victim lie down. If the wound doesn’t appear as serious, you may be able to treat it yourself.
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Step 2
Before you begin to treat the wound try to find gloves or something that will protect you from direct exposure to the victim’s blood.
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Step 3
To control the bleeding you need to apply direct pressure to the area that is bleeding. Find a cloth or piece of clothing (a bandage or something sterile would be better) and apply solid pressure to the wound.
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Step 4
Since blood has to fight the force of gravity, hold (if you can) the bleeding area above the heart. This will cause less blood to come out of the wound and help you control the bleeding.
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Step 5
If the bleeding stops after a few minutes, you can clean the wound and apply a bandage. If the wound has not stopped bleeding in 10 minutes you should continue to apply pressure and call an ambulance immediately—health professionals can more properly deal with the situation.
