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Blood delivers the oxygen your tissues require to survive. Because your cells can live for only a few minutes without oxygen, severe bleeding is potentially life threatening if not controlled in a timely manner. Major trauma commonly leads to severe external or internal bleeding. Diseases that disrupt your blood vessels can also cause internal bleeding. Regardless of the cause, severe bleeding is a medical emergency.
TYPES OF SEVERE BLEEDING
Your circulatory system is composed of two types of large blood vessels, arteries and veins. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your organs and tissues; the blood inside your arteries is under high-pressure. Veins carry oxygen-depleted blood back to the heart; veins are low-pressure blood vessels. Injury to a large artery or vein can cause severe bleeding. Blood loss occurs more rapidly with arterial bleeding because of the high pressure in these blood vessels. Injury or rupture of a large vein, however, can also be life-threatening if the bleeding is not stopped quickly.
CAUSES OF SEVERE BLEEDING
Trauma is common cause of severe external or internal bleeding. Knife and gun wounds and motor vehicle, pedestrian, bicycle and work-related accidents frequently cause penetrating injuries that sever major arteries and veins, leading to severe bleeding. In some cases, the trauma causes internal blood vessel rupture without a break in the skin. Diseases that cause erosion or weakening of the blood vessels can also lead to rupture and severe internal bleeding. Ulcers, tumors, aneurysms, blood-clotting disorders and ectopic pregnancy are among the many medical conditions that may cause internal bleeding.
FIRST AID
Anyone with severe bleeding requires emergency medical care; call 911. While you wait for help to arrive, you may be able to administer first aid to improve the victim's chance of survival. The 911 operator may be able to guide you until help arrives. Your goals in provideing first aid are to slow the bleeding and reduce blood loss.
It is best for a bleeding person to lie down. If possible, position the person's head slightly lower than the rest of the body or elevate the legs. This position helps maintain blood flow to the brain. Elevate the site of the bleeding above the heart, if possible. Do not remove any objects piercing the victim; the penetrating object may be clamping down on a blood vessel and removing it could accelerate the bleeding. Apply pressure directly on the wound with a clean bandage, cloth or piece of clothing. Maintain pressure until the bleeding stops or help arrives. If the bleeding does not slow significantly with direct pressure, apply a tourniquet above the wound to squeeze the arteries supplying blood to the injured area. Tie a piece of clothing above the wounded area and tighten it until the rate of bleeding slows. If possible, continue to apply pressure to the wound.
