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Stopping Bleeding

Categories: FIRST AID TO THE INJURED
Military Handbooks: The Plattsburg Manual Advanced Training

If the blood is dark blue and the stream is continuous, a vein has been

punctured which, in itself, is not ordinarily dangerous. The bandaging

of such a wound will usually stop the flow of blood. Bandage firmly.

Remember all wounds bleed a little, but that, as a rule, this bleeding

will stop in a few minutes if the patient remains quiet.



If the blood is bright red and appears in spurts, an artery has been

punctured, and the flow of blood must be stopped or the patient will

bleed to death. To do this, apply a pressure to the artery at some point

between the wound and the heart. Press the artery against the bone. This

can usually be done for a short time with the fingers. However it will

usually he necessary to use an improvised tourniquet. Tie the bandage of

the first-aid packet around the limb so that the compress (pad) will

press the artery against the bone. Slip under the compress and over the

artery a small stone. Pass a stick under the bandage and turn the stick

around slowly until the slack is taken up and the bleeding stops. Then

tie the stick as shown in the illustration.



After the tourniquet has been in place for an hour, loosen it and if no

blood flows allow it to remain loose. If it again bleeds tighten it

quickly and loosen again at the end of an hour.



The following illustrations, show the usual places where tourniquets are

applied or where pressure can be applied to the arteries with the thumb:



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