Safety Tips: Bleeding Emergencies

Serious injuries don't always bleed heavily, and some relatively minor injuries can bleed profusely. Large scrapes and deep scratches can seem devastating when they really are not, but puncture wounds (which are often small and bleed very little) can be dangerous because of their high susceptibility to infection.

Wounds that damage only the surface layers of the skin can generally be treated at home. If the wound is very deep, you might be able to control the bleeding but might need stitches. Sometimes, the bleeding cannot be controlled, and emergency medical care is required immediately.

As a general rule, any deep penetrating wound anywhere on the torso should be considered a serious emergency, especially wounds to the abdomen, where many vital organs are located. People who take blood-thinning medication or who have bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia, may bleed excessively and quickly because their blood cannot clot properly, so even a minor wound can be dangerous.

In all traumatic injuries with blood loss, shock is the biggest concern. Shock is a life-threatening situation that occurs when there is inadequate blood flow through the body. Shock can happen for several reasons including heart problems, severe allergic reactions, dehydration, and blood loss. Remember that blood loss can be internal, which may be very difficult to detect.

Be alert for the following symptoms of shock:

• Anxiety, agitation or confusion
• Rapid and weak pulse
• Pale, cool, clammy skin or even profuse sweating
• Bluish lips and fingernails
• Very low blood pressure
• Shallow breathing
• Unconsciousness

Most common injuries will not lead to shock and can be handled with some basic first-aid skills, a good first-aid kit, and a level head.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue offers free Health Emergency Life Protection (HELP) interactive, two-hour life-saving workshops that teach participants how to recognize the most common life-threatening emergencies and begin medical care until more advanced care providers arrive.

Visit the HELP awareness course to learn more information, including bleeding emergency training.