First Aid for Bleeding: What You Need to Know

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While bumps and bruises are very normal daily risks, there may still be times when your child experiences a more severe injury which may involve an equally alarming result of bleeding. Though adults can wing an injury that may involve loss of blood up to 500ml, the same could not be expected of children. Hence, it is very important for us to know what we can do when injuries do happen.

When an injury to your chilled o severe also causes bleeding be sure to act quickly in seeking medical help since the magnitude of your child’s injury may not be manifest.
Also, make him or her lie down facing up, raise his or her legs by placing pillows under them. This is to prevent from the blood from not flowing to the brain that may cause the child to faint.
However, should there be signs of fracture, avoid moving him or her as much.
If what is injured is a limb, do try to rest that part of the body as much as possible by raising it or elevating it.
Loosen his clothing and remove the belt, if there is any.
Do not apply heat to the wound. What you can do instead is to cover him or her with a blanket.
In removing foreign matter or dirt from the wound or the injury be extremely careful, but don’t even try to remove something that is deeply imbedded in the skin for doing so might cause more harm than good.
When applying direct pressure to the wound to stop bleeding, be sure to use a clean cloth, place it on top of the wound, and with firmness press down. If blood soaks through the cloth, do not remove it. Instead, cover it with another layer of cloth.
If it is apparent that something is imbedded in the wound, do not apply direct pressure over the wound. This would of course simply push the matter deeper than it already is.
If, despite applying direct pressure, the bleeding is not reduced, redirect pressure to the artery that is supplying the blood to that limb by pressing the artery close to the bone under it. In applying pressure, it is best to do so in pressure points closest to the wound which are usually found in the upper arm or upper leg.
Consistently apply pressure until bleeding is gone or is reduced, after which place a clean dressing that has been soaked in antiseptic over the wound. If it gets soaked with blood, do not remove it merely instead add another layer.
Do not give the child something to drink or eat. If he or she is thirsty, apply water only to his lips.

If the injury is so severe and all these efforts fail at stopping the bleeding, use a tourniquet. Be sure to bind above the bleeding area. Remember that tourniquet is only to be used when all other efforts fail and not as a primary remedy. Also, when you apply the tourniquet, be sure to let the doctor know about it.

Once the bleeding has stopped, immobilize the injured area and don’t remove the bandages.