First Aid For Venous Bleeding

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

First aid for venous bleeding

Content:

• Signs of venous bleeding
• How to stop venous bleeding?

Signs of venous bleeding

First aid for bleeding should be included in the basic knowledge of every person. No one is safe from the fact that bleeding occurs in loved ones or a passer-by on the street. During the time an ambulance arrives, a person may lose a lot of blood, which will adversely affect his health, and if bleeding from deep veins, it is possible that the victim will die.

Venous bleeding can be of different localizations and the help differs in this case. Allocate bleeding from:

• Veins of the head and neck;
• Superficial veins of the extremities;
• Deep veins of the extremities.

The reasons for this condition are as follows:

• Injuries and cuts;
• Bleeding from varicose veins;
• Diseases of the blood system;
• Increased pressure and others.

In order to properly provide emergency care, it is necessary to distinguish venous bleeding from arterial or capillary bleeding.

Signs of venous bleeding are:

• Outflow of dark blood from the wound in a non-pulsating or weakly pulsating stream;
• Massive blood loss;
• Pallor, weakness, with great blood loss - loss of consciousness;
• Drop in blood pressure
• Tachycardia (increased heart rate)

In case of damage to the superficial veins of the hands and feet, unexpressed bleeding with dark blood is noted, which stops on its own after a few minutes. However, one should not hope for this and do not carry out first aid, since in this way minor damage to deep veins may appear. In addition, with high blood pressure, alcohol intoxication and blood diseases, the rate of blood clot formation slows down, and bleeding may increase.

It is also worth noting that deep veins are located on the inner side of the extremities, therefore, when localizing damage in this area, it is better to immediately assume their damage and take appropriate urgent measures.

How to stop venous bleeding?

For bleeding from superficial veins, rinse the wound with hydrogen peroxide and apply a tight bandage. For this, a sterile napkin is applied to the wound, a tight lump of cotton wool is applied to it and tightly bandaged in circular moves. After applying a tight bandage, you should definitely consult a doctor. If the dressing is significantly saturated with blood and the bleeding does not stop, then deep vein damage should be assumed and a tourniquet should be applied.

Bleeding from deep veins of the extremities, as well as veins of the neck and head, requires urgent action, since in a short period of time a person will lose a sufficiently large volume of blood. Decreased blood volume can lead to shock, acute kidney failure, and other life-threatening conditions.

If you suspect deep vein bleeding, you need to:

• Give the limb an elevated position;
• Apply a tourniquet;
• Apply an ice pack or a heating pad with cold water to the bleeding site;
• As soon as possible, deliver the victim to the clinic.

If the veins of the neck are damaged, there is a problem in clamping the bleeding vessel, because it is quite natural that a tourniquet cannot be used. If there is a possibility of developing this condition, the person should be taken to the hospital as soon as possible.

Emergency care includes the following activities:

• The bleeding vessel must be pinched with your fingers above and below the injury site, if possible pressing it to the bone base;
• Close the wound tightly with a tissue dipped in hydrogen peroxide, thereby preventing air from entering the bloodstream and the development of air embolism;
• Apply cold to the bleeding site;
• Urgently deliver the victim to the nearest hospital, where the vessel will be sutured.

For nosebleeds, a cotton swab moistened with hydrogen peroxide should be inserted into the nasal passage. Then press the wing of the nose to the bridge of the nose. To stop bleeding, do not throw your head back, especially if the victim is unconscious. This will cause blood to drain down the back of the throat and can enter the airways. To completely stop nosebleeds, apply a heating pad with cold water for 3 minutes on the bridge of the nose or the back of the head, then take a break for 3 minutes. Repeat until bleeding stops completely.

The imposition of a tourniquet for venous bleeding

The success of the measures and the restoration of the limb after the provision of medical assistance depends on the correct application of the tourniquet. The tourniquet can be applied for 1.5-2 hours in summer and for 1-1.5 hours in winter. In addition, every hour in summer and every half hour in winter, it should be weakened for several minutes, while pressing the damaged vein to the bone to prevent the restoration of bleeding.

The rules for applying a tourniquet for venous bleeding are as follows:

• Since venous blood flows from the distal parts of the limb to the proximal, the tourniquet is applied below the injury site as close to the wound as possible;
• Clothes or fabric lining should be applied to the skin so as not to injure soft tissues;
• With vigorous movements, the tourniquet is stretched and wrapped around the limb;
• The coils are located one after another, without pinching the skin between them;
• Each subsequent loop should go slightly into the previous one;
• After two or three turns, the tension of the bundle can be slightly loosened;
• Attach a note to the limb indicating the time of the tourniquet application or write the time on the patient's skin;
• The tourniquet itself should not be covered with clothing, it is necessary that it immediately catches the eye.

The correct application of a tourniquet in case of vein damage is determined by the absence of bleeding, but the preservation of pulsation in the arteries (radial or foot artery). The technique of providing emergency care for venous bleeding is quite simple. The main thing is not to get confused and do everything according to the algorithm. Emergency care largely determines the prognosis for the patient's recovery and life, so everyone should have these skills.

Author of the article: Alekseeva Maria Yurievna | Therapist

Education: From 2010 to 2016 Practitioner of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical-sanitary unit No. 21, city of elektrostal. Since 2016 she has been working in the diagnostic center No. 3.