Minor wounds can be treated by a first aider, but more serious wounds should be treated by medical professionals.

What is it?

The severity of bleeding depends on the location, size and depth of the wound causing it. If the bleeding's severe, it can be dramatic and distressing.

First aid aims

• Control bleeding
• Minimise shock
• Prevent infection
• Prevent cross-infection between the casualty and yourself and, if necessary, arrange for casualty to go to hospital

Actions

• Check whether there's an object embedded in the wound
• If there's nothing embedded, press on wound with your hand, ideally over a clean pad, and secure with a bandage
• Raise wound above level of casualty's heart
• If blood seeps through the bandage, put another one on top
• If blood comes through second bandage, remove both and apply a fresh one
• If there's an object embedded in the wound, firmly push together the edges of the wound to try to stem blood loss