Bleeding from an artery is the most dangerous injury, because in just a few minutes you can lose a huge amount of blood, which will lead to fatal outcome. In this regard, it is important to clearly know how to act in case of such bleeding. Most effective method Stopping blood loss in case of arterial injuries is considered to be the application of a tourniquet.

How to apply a tourniquet correctly? How long can it be left on the limb? What information must be provided to the ambulance crew when transporting to the hospital? How should the tourniquet be removed? You will learn all these points from this article.

The main distinguishing features of bleeding from an artery

Before taking any measures, it is important to make sure that this is arterial bleeding.

The fact is that the methods of stopping blood for each type of injury are different, and wrong reaction can only harm the victim.

Damage to the artery can be determined by the following signs:

bright blood;
pulsation from the cut;
deterioration of health;
decrease in temperature and pressure;
loss of consciousness.

If you are convinced that we're talking about exactly about arterial bleeding, it's time to start applying the tourniquet.

The procedure for applying a tourniquet for arterial injuries

So that all your first aid measures are brought to the victim full recovery, start acting quickly and carefully. It is important to consider the following factors:

body position;
protecting the limb before applying a tourniquet;
moderate pressure on the injured part of the body;
correct fixation.

Correct body position

It is necessary to understand that the pressure in the limbs directly depends on the position of the body in relation to the center line. When the body is in a vertical position, the maximum pressure is on the lower limbs, and the minimum on the head. In the lying position, the pressure throughout the body is equalized.

Before carrying out manipulations, help the victim take a position in which the injured limb will feel lowest pressure, which means that bleeding will stop as quickly as possible.

Before applying a tourniquet, the limb is slightly elevated.

Protecting soft tissues

You should never start applying a tourniquet to unprotected skin. Wrap the victim's limb in a cloth or bandage. Do not touch the damaged area. Stopping bleeding and all other manipulations must be carried out above the wound site.

Moderate pressure

The purpose of a tourniquet is to stop bleeding. It is important to feel how hard you are tightening the tourniquet. It should not be tightened too loosely, but it is also unacceptable to squeeze the tissue.

Correct fixation

Having straightened the tourniquet, wrap it around the injured limb and tighten. Depending on the type of tourniquet, its application is carried out differently.

It is very important not to forget to place a piece of paper under the tourniquet indicating the exact time the bandage will be applied. This is extremely necessary, because such a tight bandage can be left on the body for no more than two hours in the warm season. If the incident occurred during sub-zero temperature, the bandage should be removed after an hour. Otherwise, tissue necrosis may begin, which often leads to gangrenous lesions.

Where is the correct place to apply a tourniquet?

In order to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible, you need to have a good understanding of where to apply the tourniquet.

If an upper limb injury has been sustained, a tourniquet is applied to the area of the upper third of the shoulder. This helps the blood stop faster.

When wounded in the leg, the femoral area is conventionally divided into three equal parts, and a tight bandage is applied to the upper third.

What to do if the tourniquet is applied too tightly

In this case, you will have to repeat the application. However, in no case should you remove the first bandage without applying a new one a little higher on the limbs. If all manipulations were carried out correctly, the bleeding will soon stop, and the pulsation along the line of application of the tourniquet will stop.

If the bleeding has already stopped and it becomes necessary to remove the pressure bandage, it is important to do this correctly. Never remove the tourniquet abruptly. Since the blood clot that stops blood loss is very small, when sudden pressure it can fly out onto it, and the bleeding will resume. Release the pressure slowly so that the blood supply to the vessels is restored gradually.

When not to use a tourniquet

Stopping bleeding with a tourniquet may not be necessary if small vessels have been damaged. Even if we are talking about great artery, you can stop the bleeding with a tight bandage, after placing an unwound sterile bandage on the wound site.

Transport the victim to the nearest hospital department as soon as possible.

Rules for applying a tourniquet

Rules for applying a tourniquet:

1. Before applying a tourniquet, the limb should be elevated.

2. The tourniquet is applied proximal to the wound, as close to it as possible.

3. It is necessary to place fabric (clothing) under the tourniquet.

4. When applying a tourniquet, make 2-3 rounds, stretching it evenly, and the rounds should not lie on top of each other.

5. After applying the tourniquet, be sure to indicate exact time its imposition.

6. The part of the body where the tourniquet is applied must be accessible for inspection.

7. Victims with a tourniquet are transported and treated first.

8. The tourniquet must be removed gradually by loosening it, with preliminary anesthesia.

The criteria for a correctly applied tourniquet are:

· Stop bleeding.

Termination of peripheral pulsation.

Pale and cold limb.

It is extremely important that the tourniquet should not be kept for more than 2 hours on the lower extremities and 1.5 hours on the upper extremities. Otherwise, necrosis may develop on the limb due to prolonged ischemia.

If it is necessary to transport the victim for a long time, the tourniquet is released every hour for about 10-15 minutes, replacing this method with another temporary way stop bleeding ( finger pressing).

Rules for applying a tourniquet

Arterial bleeding is characterized by following signs: pulsation during hemorrhage and scarlet color of the blood. With venous bleeding, when the blood flows without pulsation and has dark color, application of a tourniquet is unacceptable! In this case, other methods of stopping bleeding are used - maximum bending of the limb, pressure bandage, tamponade, etc.

Arterial bleeding is dangerous due to rapid blood loss. A blood loss of more than 500 ml for an adult is already a serious threat to life, especially when the loss occurs simultaneously, as with arterial bleeding.

Most in an efficient way Stopping arterial bleeding when a limb is injured is the application of a tourniquet. When applying a tourniquet, several rules must be followed impeccably; failure to comply with them may lead to serious consequences, from amputation of a damaged limb to the death of the victim.

The tourniquet is used only to stop arterial bleeding and only on the extremities!

A tourniquet is applied at the upper border of the wound 5 cm higher.

Do not apply the tourniquet directly to the skin; be sure to place a cloth under the tourniquet. Otherwise it happens serious damage skin at the site where the tourniquet is applied.

The tourniquet must not be bandaged; the tourniquet must be visible.

Write down clearly and legibly on the victim’s body in two visible places, and do not remember or say, the time the tourniquet was applied. Inserting pieces of paper is highly undesirable - they get lost, get wet, etc. during transportation.

The tourniquet is applied to upper limbs up to 1.5 hours, on the lower ones up to 2 hours. In cold weather, the duration of application of the tourniquet is reduced by 30 minutes. When the time is up, remove the tourniquet for 15 seconds. Further application time is reduced by 2 times from the initial one. Compliance with this regime is strictly necessary. Longer application of a tourniquet threatens the development of gangrene and subsequent amputation of the limb.

When a tourniquet is applied, the patient experiences severe painful sensation. The victim will try to loosen the tourniquet - you need to be prepared for this.

Signs correct application tourniquet: there should be no pulsation below the wound! The fingers on the limbs turn white and become cold.

The persistence of pulsation below the point of application of the tourniquet, even if the bleeding has stopped, also threatens in the future negative consequences for the victim.

On the forearm and lower leg, applying a tourniquet may not be effective due to radius, therefore, in this case, if the first attempt is unsuccessful, a tourniquet can be applied in the lower third of the shoulder or in the lower third of the thigh.

When a tourniquet is applied, there is no stopping the bleeding as such, it is only delayed. Only professional doctors in a hospital setting can really stop arterial bleeding.

Therefore, after applying a tourniquet, urgent transportation of the victim to a medical facility is required.

Finger pressure of arteries during bleeding

Submitted by admin on Sun, 23/05/2010 - 10:36

Finger pressure on the artery is performed in all cases of head and neck injuries if the bleeding cannot be stopped with a pressure bandage. The convenience of digital pressure on the arteries lies in the speed of this method of temporarily stopping bleeding. The main disadvantage of this method is the fact that the person providing assistance cannot move away from the victim to provide assistance to other wounded people.

When the artery is pressed correctly, bleeding from it should stop.

Rice. 1. Finger pressure on the artery during bleeding.
1 - pressing of the radial and radial arteries when the palm is wounded;
2 - compression of the temporal artery;
3 - pressing of the external maxillary artery;
4 - pressing carotid artery;
5 - compression of the brachial artery.

When bleeding from the temporal artery, the latter is pressed with two or three fingers at the level auricle, in front of it at a distance of 1-2 cm.

In case of arterial bleeding from the lower half of the face, the external maxillary artery is pressed with the thumb at a point located between the chin and the angle lower jaw, somewhat closer to the latter.

In case of severe arterial bleeding from the upper half of the neck, the carotid artery is pressed. To do this, a person presses on the front surface of the wounded person’s neck with the thumb of his hand on the side of his larynx, clasping the side and back surface of his neck with the rest of his fingers.

If the person is behind the wounded person, then the carotid artery is pressed by pressing on the front surface of the neck on the side of the larynx with four fingers, while thumb wraps around the back of the victim's neck.

In order to stop arterial bleeding in high shoulder wounds, the axillary artery is pressed to the head humerus. To do this, place one hand on shoulder joint the victim and, holding the joint motionless, with four fingers of the other hand, press forcefully on the armpit of the wounded person along a line closer to the anterior border of the cavity (the line of the anterior border of hair growth armpit, according to N.I. Pirogov).

Rice. 2. Arteries and places where they are pressed during bleeding.
1 - temporal artery;
2 - external maxillary artery;
3 - carotid artery;
4 - subclavian artery;
5 - axillary artery;
6 - brachial artery;
7 - radial artery;
8 - ulnar artery;
9 - palmar artery;
10 - iliac artery;
11 - femoral artery;
12 - popliteal artery;
13 - anterior tibial artery;
14 - posterior tibial artery;
15 - artery of the foot.

For wounds of the shoulder, forearm and hand, digital pressure is applied to the brachial artery to stop arterial bleeding. To do this, a person, facing the wounded man, clasps his shoulder with his hand so that the thumb is located at the inner edge of the biceps brachii muscle. When pressing with the thumb in this position, the brachial artery will inevitably be pressed against the humerus. If the person providing assistance is behind the victim, then he places four fingers on the inner edge of the biceps brachii muscle, and wraps his thumb around the back and outer surface of the shoulder; in this case, the artery is pressed using the pressure of four fingers.

Fig.3. Pressure points of the most important arteries.
1 - temporal;
2 - occipital;
3 - mandibular;
4 - right common carotid;
5 - left common carotid;
6 - subclavian;
7 - axillary;
8 - shoulder;
9 - radial;
10 - ulna;
11 - femoral;
12 - posterior tibial;
13 - artery of the dorsum of the foot.

For arterial bleeding from blood vessels lower limb finger pressing femoral artery produced in the groin area to the pelvic bones. For this purpose, the sanitary assistant must press thumbs both hands on the groin area of the victim, somewhat closer to the inner edge, where the pulsation of the femoral artery is clearly palpable.

Pressing the femoral artery requires considerable force, so it is recommended to also do it with four fingers of one hand folded together while pressing on them with the other hand.

When it comes to emergency medical care, unfortunately, it can happen to anyone. That is why everyone must know the rules for applying a tourniquet; the life of the victim completely depends on it. There are few nuances in saving lives, but they affect favorable outcome situations.

Bleeding care options

A short-term stop of external bleeding helps to gain time before the intervention of doctors and professional medical care. Temporary stopping techniques include: applying a tourniquet, pressing the artery with a finger, applying pressure bandages. A tourniquet is the most reliable way to stop bleeding of the extremities. Overlay Rules arterial tourniquet imply serious attitude to the procedure.

In case of arterial bleeding, a tourniquet is needed only in case of damage to a large artery; in all other cases, this emergency measure is not necessary (you can get by with bandaging or bandaging the wound).

Stages of applying a tourniquet

When providing first aid for major arterial bleeding on the extremities, it is necessary to strictly follow the rules for applying a tourniquet. In the absence of a specialized device (a self-tightening strip with holes for fixation), you can use improvised means (a belt, a bandage folded in several layers, a rubber tube or rope).

The rules for applying a tourniquet are an algorithm of sequential actions:

On a bare limb (from 5 to 7 cm above top edge wounds) apply a bandage or wrap in a terry towel, eliminating irregularities or bumps.
Above the bleeding area, wrap the limb with a tourniquet several times and secure it (if the tourniquet is applied tightly enough, the bleeding stops).
The time for applying a tourniquet is determined by the season: in winter it should not exceed 90 minutes, in summer - two hours.

In cold weather injured limb should be isolated as much as possible from low temperatures. After providing assistance, the tourniquet should be loosened for 5-10 minutes, and the wound should be pressed firmly with your hand through the bandage. The tourniquet should be loosened an hour after it is applied, and then every hour thereafter.

Errors when applying a tourniquet

When applying a tourniquet, you need to avoid common mistakes:

The tourniquet is not tightened tightly enough, while the victim continues to lose blood; a symptom of a weak tourniquet is a cyanotic coloration of the skin.
The tourniquet is applied too tightly, which can lead to paralysis of the limbs and damage to the nerve trunks.
Applying a tourniquet to bare skin leads to injury to the skin without stopping the bleeding.
Exceeding the permissible application time.

Prohibited areas when applying a tourniquet:

lower third of the thigh;
middle third of the shoulder;
upper third of the leg.

Features of applying a tourniquet, control

The rules for applying a tourniquet during bleeding imply constant monitoring of the pulse and attaching a mandatory note under it with the data of the person who provided assistance and information about the time and date of application of the tourniquet. Such information is needed in order to know the time when it is necessary to loosen the tourniquet in order to provide nutrition to the tissues located below. In the absence of oxygen access, tissues gradually begin to die, which is why it is so important not to miss the time, after which weakening is simply necessary. The tourniquet must not be bandaged or covered with clothing; it must be conspicuous.
A tourniquet should be used only in extreme cases, when large main vessels are damaged.

Important points when applying a tourniquet:

if there is bleeding from the arm, it is advisable to apply a tourniquet in the upper third of the shoulder;
if a leg is injured, a tourniquet is applied in the middle of the limb.

Application of a tourniquet is also provided for amputation of limbs. In this case, to drain the blood, the limb is raised for a while, and a tourniquet is applied over the operation site.

Rules for applying a hemostatic tourniquet for venous bleeding

For this procedure you will need three tourniquets.

First, you need to sit the victim down for 10-15 minutes, which will reduce blood flow to the heart; most of the blood remains in the lower extremities.
Apply tourniquets (if possible simultaneously) to three limbs: on the thigh, on the arm (on the middle third) and 15 cm below the inguinal fold. It is necessary to place napkins under the tourniquets.
Insert into free hand medicinal solution(intravenously).
Measure the arterial pulse below the tourniquet.
Convert special attention on the color of the skin below the places where the tourniquets are applied (the skin should not be pale).
After completing the procedure, remove the tourniquets one by one if there are no necessary ones. medicines to reduce the volume of circulating blood.

It is very important to establish trusting contact with the victim before the procedure. His panicky state may have consequences. The victim must understand what will be provided to him the right help, any confrontation with him can seriously interfere.

Bleeding is a severe traumatic injury. Among all its types, arterial is considered the most dangerous. After all, untimely or incorrectly provided first aid for arterial bleeding can result in serious consequences for the patient. unpleasant consequences, including death.

There is an opinion that knowledge, as well as practical skills in providing first aid, should only be possessed by medical workers, because this is their direct responsibility. In fact, it is the duty of every person to know and be able to apply basic medical skills in practice. After all, one day it may help save a human life.

In case of arterial bleeding, first aid should be provided immediately. After all, blood is lost at a very high speed, and there is practically no time for thought. In such a situation, a clear algorithm of actions helps, which needs to be worked out until it becomes automatic.

Distinctive signs of arterial bleeding

The classification of bleeding implies its division into three main types:

arterial,
venous,
capillary.

With extensive traumatic injuries mixed bleeding may occur, for example, venous and arterial. In addition, any bleeding, relative to where the blood flows, is divided into internal (in the body cavity) and external (in external environment). First aid for internal bleeding, as well as its diagnosis itself, is carried out exclusively by medical staff. External bleeding is easier to diagnose and can be treated by anyone.

Arterial bleeding occurs due to damage to the arterial trunks - the vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the cavities of the heart to all tissues of the body. Venous-type bleeding develops when the integrity of the veins that collect blood saturated with carbon dioxide and carry it to the heart is disrupted. Capillary bleeding occurs due to trauma to capillaries - small vessels that are directly involved in tissue gas exchange.

With arterial bleeding, the color of the flowing blood is bright red or scarlet, in contrast to venous bleeding, in which the blood is dark red and comes out slowly. In the case of arterial damage, blood is released rapidly, in a gushing stream. At the same time, the blood stream pulsates, each portion of it comes out synchronously with the pulse and heartbeat. This is explained high pressure in arterial vessels that come directly from the heart.

In case of arterial bleeding, if help is not provided in time, the phenomena of hemorrhagic shock quickly increase - pathological condition due to significant blood loss. It has the following symptoms:

drop in blood pressure;
increased heart rate;
pallor and marbling of the skin;
cyanosis of the extremities;
respiratory disorders;
decreased diuresis;
severe weakness;
dizziness;
cold extremities;
loss of consciousness.

Attention! How faster man loses blood, the more pronounced the symptoms of shock are, since the body does not have time to compensate for the blood loss.

First aid

Most important role V emergency care When bleeding is of arterial origin, the time factor plays a role: for maximum effectiveness, it should be provided no later than 2-3 minutes from the moment of injury. If it concerns the main arterial trunks, then bleeding from them must be stopped no later than 1-2 minutes after the injury. Otherwise, the chances of a successful outcome will decrease every second with every milliliter of blood lost.

Important! No matter how critical the conditions, before helping others, protect yourself first - wear rubber gloves from travel first aid kit, and in their absence, minimize contact with blood using available items (for example, cellophane).

The algorithm for stopping any arterial bleeding is as follows:

Assessing the type of bleeding.
Finger pressure on an artery that is damaged.
Applying a tourniquet, applying maximum limb flexion or a pressure bandage.
Overlay aseptic dressing on the wound.

This sequence of actions may vary slightly depending on the characteristics of the damaged anatomical area.

Methods to stop bleeding can be temporary or permanent. Temporary arrest of arterial bleeding is used at the stage of first premedical and medical care. The final stage is carried out in a hospital and is part of the hospital stage of care. It is worth noting that in some cases, temporary stop measures are enough to completely stop the bleeding.

Finger pressing

This technique should be used as a starting one when assisting a wounded person. The basic principles of digital compression depend on the anatomical region in which the artery injury occurred. General rule states that the vessel must be pressed above the site of injury. But if bleeding occurs in the neck or head area, then the vessels are compressed downward from the wound. This is explained by the fact that the arteries in this area go upward from the heart.

Attention! When using any methods to stop bleeding, you need to lift the affected limb upward to reduce blood flow to it.

Damaged arterial vessels must be pressed against bony prominences, since they can slip out, and then the bleeding will resume.

To better remember the method, you can use the 3D mnemonic rule:

“Press.”
"Ten".
"Ten".

It means that you need to press the artery by pressing with ten fingers of both hands for 10 minutes, after which it is recommended to check whether the bleeding has stopped. If it is stopped, and this happens if it is not the main line that is damaged arterial vessel, then you can limit yourself to applying a pressure aseptic bandage to the wound.

Because blood pressure in the arteries is very high, you will have to make a lot of effort to press the vessel and stop the bleeding. Finger pressure is a method of temporarily stopping bleeding, therefore, while one person is pressing the artery, the second should already be looking for a tourniquet and dressing material. There should be no time wasted taking off clothes or freeing limbs. At the same time, one of the eyewitnesses should immediately call ambulance to provide first aid and transport the victim to a hospital.

The biggest disadvantages of the finger pressing technique are:

significant pain for the injured person;
physical fatigue of the person providing emergency assistance.

Speed of execution is considered the most important advantage of temporarily stopping external arterial bleeding using finger pressure.

Maximum fixed limb flexion

In some cases you can use maximum flexion limbs as a method of temporarily stopping bleeding from an artery. It should be performed after making sure that the victim does not have a fracture of the injured limb.

In the place where the limb bends (popliteal, ulnar and groin area) a thick cushion should be placed to compress the damaged artery at maximum flexion

After inserting the roller, the bent arm or leg is fixed to the patient’s body. Such actions are aimed at temporarily stopping bleeding, and if they are ineffective, one should prepare to apply an arterial tourniquet. The same technique even with correct execution has questionable effectiveness.

Applying a tourniquet for arterial bleeding

Stopping bleeding from an artery by applying a tourniquet is a temporary method of stopping bleeding. The task of everyone who helps the victim is to correctly perform the technique of applying a tourniquet and ensure the delivery of the wounded person to a medical facility.

A tourniquet should be applied only in case of severe arterial bleeding. In all other cases, you should try to stop the bleeding with digital compression or a pressure bandage. Pressure bandage done in case of arterial bleeding from the whole cushion sterile bandage, which is tightly fixed to the wound surface.

If the rules for applying a tourniquet are violated, sad consequences may occur: necrosis, gangrene, damage to nerve trunks

This is especially true for the shoulder region, because the radial nerve is located superficially there. A tourniquet is applied to the middle third of the shoulder only as a last resort. It is better to choose a place higher or lower. One of the available means can be used as a tourniquet: a wide rope, a belt or a scarf.

Attention! A homemade tourniquet should not be too thin, as this can cause tissue necrosis.

So how to apply a tourniquet during arterial bleeding so as not to harm the patient in the future? Having remembered a few basic rules, you can avoid a lot of mistakes.

The algorithm for applying a tourniquet is as follows:

Select a place to apply the tourniquet. It is located above the site of damage, but as close as possible to it (the optimal distance is 2-3 cm). We should not forget about injuries to the neck and head - there a tourniquet is used below the wound. If the femoral artery is damaged, it is compressed at the level of the middle third of the thigh, and if there is bleeding from the arm, it is compressed in the upper or lower third of the shoulder.
Wrap the selected area with cloth, gauze or bandage.
The limb should be in an elevated position.
The tourniquet is stretched and made several turns around the limb. In this case, its first turn is made with greater, and all subsequent turns with less effort. If large arterial trunks are damaged, for example, the femoral artery, it makes sense to apply two tourniquets - one higher, the other lower.
Its ends are tied into a knot or secured with a special chain or hook.
The correct application of the tourniquet is checked: pulsation of the injured artery below the injury is not palpable, and bleeding from the wound stops.
The exact time of application of the tourniquet is recorded. This can be done on a piece of paper, which is inserted under the tourniquet itself, directly on the patient’s body near the site of injury, or on clothing.
An aseptic bandage is applied to the wound.

In case of injuries to the carotid artery, the tourniquet is applied below the injury, but it should not compress the artery of the same name on the other side. To do this, a tight roller is applied on the side of the injury, and a tourniquet is fixed on the opposite side through the patient’s raised arm and an attached flat board.

Correct application of a tourniquet according to Mikulicz for injury to the carotid artery

The tourniquet should not be applied too tightly, since applying the tourniquet correctly means applying minimal pressure to stop the bleeding. In this case, the blood supply should be carried out through deep arteries and veins, and in no case should it stop completely.

If the tourniquet is applied too tightly, it can lead to necrosis of the limb, followed by amputation.

The time factor is also important here. Maximum time The application of the tourniquet varies depending on the ambient temperature:

in summer - for 1 hour;
in winter - for 30 minutes.

If a longer time interval is required to transport the victim to the nearest hospital, the tourniquet is temporarily removed, switching to 10 minutes of finger pressure. Then you need to apply a tourniquet again according to the rules described above.

In the absence of a special tourniquet, you can use an improvised twist tourniquet. To form it, you need to take a wide ribbon, scarf or piece of fabric and wrap it around the limb above the wound site. The fabric is then tied using a double knot. A small stick is inserted into the gap between the resulting nodes and twisted with rotational movements until the bleeding stops.

Do not use rope or wire for a twist cord.

The stick is fixed with a rope above the place where the tourniquet is applied to the limb, also with double knots. A note is placed under the tourniquet indicating the exact time of application of the twist.

Thus, due to the direct threat to life that occurs with arterial bleeding, you need to act very quickly. The briefly described first aid rules will help you not to panic, and extreme situation save someone's life.

In case of emergency, especially in the presence of arterial bleeding, you must act quickly and decisively. When minutes are counting, it is important not to get confused, but to remember the methods of stopping bleeding and competently provide first aid. Perhaps you will be the one who saves a person’s life.

Arterial bleeding: signs and differences

There are three types of bleeding: arterial, venous and capillary. Bleeding can also be divided into external and internal, but further we will talk about external bleeding, since internal bleeding can only be eliminated in a hospital setting. Arterial bleeding occurs when arteries are damaged - vessels through which oxygen-rich blood flows from the heart to organs and tissues. Venous bleeding occurs when the integrity of the veins, the vessels through which blood enriched with carbon dioxide flows from organs and tissues to the heart, is damaged. - in case of damage small vessels through which gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide occurs.

Arterial blood is rich in oxygen, it has a rich scarlet-red color, unlike venous blood, which is darker, closer to burgundy color. With venous bleeding, blood slowly flows out of the damaged vein. The pressure in the arteries is much higher than in the veins, this is due to contractions of the left ventricle, which pumps blood throughout the body, so if the artery is damaged, the blood is released very quickly, in a characteristic pulsating stream. Such bleeding is life-threatening.

The risk of developing massive bleeding is assessed, among other things, by determining PCT in a blood test:

First Aid Basics

Basic rules are defined anatomical features person. Since blood flows through the arteries from the heart, it is advisable to press the artery above the site of damage. However, this rule does not apply to wounds in the neck and head; in this case, pressure is applied below the area of injury. It is necessary to press the artery to the bone, since the arteries are very elastic and can easily slip away from you in soft tissues, without having any “support” under it. If the arteries of the extremities are damaged, they can be elevated.

Try to roughly determine the amount of blood loss; in the future, these data will help doctors in treatment.

The table indicates pressure points for bleeding from specific arteries.

Artery	Pressure point
Temporal artery	Temporal bone
External maxillary artery	Lower jaw
Carotid artery	7th cervical vertebra
Subclavian artery	Inner surface of the clavicle
Axillary artery	Head of humerus
Brachial artery	Humerus, inner surface, under the biceps
Ulnar artery	Ulna, along the anterior surface of the forearm, from the little finger side
Radial artery	Radius bone, along the anterior surface of the forearm, from the thumb side
Femoral artery	Femur
Popliteal artery	Tibia, along the back of the leg
Posterior tibial artery	Tibia, by inner surface shins
Arteries of the dorsum of the foot	Tarsal bones of the foot, along the anterior surface

Ways to stop arterial bleeding

All methods of stopping bleeding can be divided into two groups: temporary and final. Temporary stoppage of bleeding is carried out at the pre-medical stage of medical care. The final stop is carried out in the hospital. This division applies mainly to heavy bleeding, since the weak can be finally stopped at the pre-medical stage.

Before providing first aid, remember to protect yourself! If possible, wear gloves (included in your first aid kit) or try to have as little contact with the victim’s blood as possible.

Finger pressing

It is carried out according to the 3D rule: press ten to ten. This means pressing the artery with both hands (10 fingers) against the bone for 10 minutes. This time will be enough to stop minor bleeding. However, with heavy blood loss, finger pressure is not a reliable measure.

Application of a tourniquet

This method is most effective for extensive arterial bleeding. The car first aid kit contains a special tourniquet to stop bleeding. But it can also be made from improvised means - it could be a belt, a scarf, a tie.

Remember - the wider the tourniquet, the better. Do not use thin ropes or wires, this may lead to tissue necrosis!

The tourniquet should not be applied directly to the skin; secure it over clothing or first bandage the damaged area with cloth. It is necessary to check the pulsation of the artery below the application site. If the pulsation on the side of the tourniquet is weak or not detected at all, then the tourniquet is applied correctly and effectively.

In case of severe blood loss, a blood transfusion is indicated for the victim:

An important point is the time of application of the tourniquet. IN summer time The tourniquet can be applied for 1 hour, in winter - for 30 minutes. During this time, the underlying tissues will be able to be supplied with blood from deep-lying arteries and venous blood remaining after applying the tourniquet, without undergoing necrosis. Once the tourniquet is applied, take a piece of paper and write the exact time on it. Remember that in extreme conditions, the sheet may get lost, rubbed, dirty, and the information will become inaccessible. To be completely sure, you can write the time directly on the victim’s body, his clothing or other available means. After the specified period, the tourniquet should be removed for 10 minutes so that the tissues are saturated with oxygen, then the tourniquet is applied according to the same scheme.

There are certain features in applying a tourniquet to the area of the carotid artery - the tourniquet should not impede blood flow from the opposite side. To do this, a cotton-gauze roller is applied to the site of damage over the clothing, after which a tourniquet is applied, which, on the other hand, is pulled through the victim’s raised hand and thrown behind the head, or through a splint (this can be a found piece of wood or any other rigid stick).

Fixed limb flexion

Currently this method stopping bleeding is ineffective, since in living conditions a person’s limbs are already in a bent state, and no disturbances in blood flow occur.

It is also considered a mistake to apply cold or ice, since the rate of blood clotting increases with high temperatures, therefore it is more advisable to use warm compresses.

Video: first aid for bleeding from an artery

Timely and correct first aid is at least half the success. In the event of an emergency, it is very important not to get confused and remember these basic bleeding control skills.