Arterial Bleeding
Arterial bleeding is typically seen when there is wound in which an artery has been severed. With this type of bleeding the blood is usually bright red, sometimes even a yellowish color. This is due to its high degree of oxygen saturated red blood cells. It is also easiest to characterize this type of bleeding due to its tendency to spurt or squirt, rather than bleed in a steady flow. In most cases the spurting is in sequence with the victim's heartbeat. WARNING: Some of the videos and animation might be graphic in nature and not suitable for all viewers.
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In this video, the patient has a lower leg laceration with an artery that has been severed. The doctor or nurse ends up removing the bandages and gets quite the surprise. It is important to note that you should never remove a bandage from a wound without professional assistance. This could remove the forming clot, therefore continue the bleeding.
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Control of Arterial Bleeding
There are four basic steps to control bleeding and can be remembered through D.E.P.T.
2) Elevate: After direct pressure has been applied, it is important to elevate the injury above the heart. This will allow gravity to work to your advantage and help to slow the bleeding and assist with the direct pressure to get the bleeding to stop. If the injury is to a lower extremity, it may be necessary to have the patient lie down on thier back to allow for the proper elevation of the injury.
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3) Pressure Point: If direct pressure and elevation do not stop or even slow bleeding, it may become necessary to use an arterial pressure point to slow blood loss. The chart to the right shows several different pressure points on the body based on where the injury occurred. The pressure point chosen must be closest to the injury, but between the injury and the heart. This pressure must continue to be applied until proper medical attention can be given.
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4) Tourniquet: As a last resort, it may be necessary to utilize a tourniquet. These can be fashioned from just about anything. From cloth, to a belt, to an actual tourniquet. These work, when applied properly, to completely stop the blood flow to an extremity. As stated before, these should be used minimally and as a last resort as placing a tourniquet on typically will cause tissue damage to the effected extremity. This must only be done when the victim's life is in danger.
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