A tourniquet is a device for stopping blood. It is a rubber band 125 cm long. Its width is 2.5 cm, thickness is 3-4 cm. One end of the tape is equipped with a hook, the other with a metal chain. This simple device is in the first aid kit of every car for a reason. Sometimes his absence can be fatal. A person as a result of a large loss of blood can die without waiting for medical help.
How to properly apply a tourniquet?
When applying a tourniquet, first put rubber gloves on your hands. Then the limb affected by the injury is lifted and examined. The tourniquet is applied not on the naked body, but on top of the fabric lining. It can be a person's clothes, a towel, a bandage, cotton wool. A medical tourniquet applied in this way will not cross or injure the skin.
Histhe end must be taken in one hand, and the middle in the other. Then stretch harder, and only after that circle around the arms or legs. With each subsequent turn of the winding, the bundle stretches less. The loose ends are knotted or secured with a hook and chain. A note must be placed under any one turn of the tape, indicating the time of its imposition.
A tourniquet should not be left on for more than two hours, otherwise paralysis or necrosis of the arm or leg may occur. Every hour in the warm season and half an hour in winter, the tourniquet relaxes for a few minutes (at this time, the vessel is pressed with fingers), the application of the tourniquet for bleeding is done in the same way as for the first time, only a little higher.
If the bleeding does not stop, then the tourniquet is applied incorrectly. Their veins could have been accidentally pulled. This will lead to the fact that the pressure in the vessels will begin to rise and bleeding will increase. With an excessively tightened tourniquet, muscles, nerves, and tissues can be damaged, which leads to paralysis of the limbs. The victim with a tourniquet is transported to a medical facility in the first place.
The tourniquet can be applied using a plywood splint. It is placed on the opposite side of the damaged vessel. This method has a beneficial effect. If the upper third of the thigh or shoulder is injured, a medical tourniquet is applied as a figure-eight during bleeding.
A tourniquet is applied to the damaged vessels of the neck using a plank of wood or a tire in the form of a ladder. These devices are placed on the opposite side of the wound. Due to the tire will notcompress the trachea and carotid artery. If there is no tire at hand, you need to put your hand on the back of your head, it will play its role. A tourniquet can be replaced with a twist, using improvised material for this: handkerchiefs, scarves, belts, ties.
Application
A hemostatic tourniquet, if necessary, is applied to the thigh, lower leg, shoulder, forearm and other parts of the body. If the place of its application is the limbs, choose a place so that it is higher than the wound, but closer to it. This is necessary so that the part of the limb left without blood circulation is as short as possible.
When applying a tourniquet, remember that it must not be applied:
- On the area of the upper third of the shoulder (it is possible to injure the radial nerve) and the lower third of the thigh (tissue is injured when the femoral artery is clamped).
- There are no muscles in the lower third of the forearm and lower leg, and if a tourniquet is applied to these places, skin necrosis may begin to develop. These areas of the body are shaped like cones, so the tourniquet can slip off when the victim is moved. Easier, more comfortable and more secure to apply the tape on the shoulder or thigh.
Arterial bleeding. First aid before the doctor arrives
Loss of blood through the artery is often the cause of death of the victim, so it must be stopped quickly. In the body of an adult, the volume of blood is 4-5 liters. If the victim loses one-third of this volume, he may die.
First thing to doto do, when helping with arterial bleeding, is to squeeze the artery so that blood does not enter the wounded area and does not flow out. To determine the place where it is located, you need to feel the pulse. Where he is, there is an artery. Confidently press this place with your fingers, but 2-3 centimeters above the wound.
If the victim needs to be transported, the application of a tourniquet for arterial bleeding is mandatory. Only this must be done correctly, as described above in the article. But if, as a result of a traffic accident, a person has lost his leg, and blood flows from the wound, the application of an arterial tourniquet must be done so that it is 5 centimeters higher than the damaged area, and not 2-3. Under no circumstances should it be weakened. Not everyone has a tourniquet handy. It can be replaced with a twist. But in no case should you use narrow ropes, cords made of inelastic material.
When the victim is given first aid, you need to remember that when a tourniquet is applied, the blood supply to all departments that are below it is stopped. You need to know that the movement of blood through the arteries is carried out from the heart to all peripheral departments.
Internal bleeding
Blood loss due to damage to internal organs is very life-threatening, as its determination is often delayed for some time.
- Abdominal bleeding occurs when a strong blow has been de alt, as a result of which the spleen and liver are torn. At the same time, the victimexperiences severe abdominal pain, shock and may pass out.
- Esophageal bleeding occurs as a result of rupture of veins, as some liver diseases cause them to dilate.
- Gastrointestinal bleeding occurs due to an ulcer, tumor, or injury to the stomach. The defining feature is the vomit of dark red or clotted blood. In this case, the victim must be provided with peace and a semi-sitting position with legs bent at the knees. A compress should be put on the peritoneal area and not allowed to eat or drink. The victim urgently needs to be hospitalized, where he will undergo an operation.
- Bleeding in the chest cavity is due to a strong blow or trauma to the chest. The accumulated blood begins to put pressure on the lungs, as a result of which their normal functioning is disrupted. Breathing becomes difficult, choking may occur. The victim urgently needs to be transported to the hospital, and before the doctor arrives, put an ice compress on his chest, provide him with a half-sitting position with bent legs.
Venous bleeding. First Aid
If, upon examination of the victim, it turned out that the damage to the vein is insignificant, it is enough to press the vessel with your finger below the damaged area, since this blood moves from bottom to top, and not vice versa. If this is not enough, a pressure bandage should be applied to the site of injury to stop the blood flowing from the vein. This is the first aid.
But before the skin around the injury site is treated with iodine, the wound is closed with sterilewith a bandage, and from above, along the location of the bones, a sealing roller is applied. Now the site of the injury must be tightly bandaged, and the injured limb should be given an elevated position. The pressure bandage is properly applied if the bleeding stops and there are no blood stains on it.
In the case when such assistance is not enough to stop the bleeding, venous tourniquets are applied, only below, and not above, the site of the lesion of the vessel. You just need to know that the flow of venous blood occurs in the opposite direction, that is, towards the heart.
Bleeding
When the integrity of the walls of blood vessels is broken, blood flows out of them. This is called bleeding. Its danger lies in the fact that the amount of blood that circulates in the vessels decreases. This leads to a deterioration in cardiac activity and insufficient supply of oxygen to human organs.
With prolonged blood loss, anemia begins to develop. This is especially dangerous for children and the elderly. Their bodies can't handle the rapidly declining blood volume. So there are three types of bleeding. It depends on which vessel they are located in.
- Arterial. It can be easily identified: scarlet blood gushing from an artery.
- Venous. Dark-colored blood flows from an injured vessel.
- Capillary. This is a mild type of bleeding, in which small blood vessels are damaged.
- Parenchytamous. It occurs when non-hollow internal organs of a person, such as the spleen, liver, kidneys, are damaged. Such bleeding ismixed. It is associated with a rupture of some organ. Without surgery, it is impossible to completely stop parenchymal bleeding. But, when providing first aid to the victim, ice should be put on the site of the alleged damage.
Bleeding happens:
- Outdoor.
- Internal. In this case, the blood from the affected vessel is poured into the tissue of some organ.
Signs to identify bleeding
The most important sign is the blood flowing from the vessel. But with internal bleeding, you can not notice it. Therefore, there are other signs:
- Skin and mucous membranes become pale.
- Dizziness, thirst appears.
- Blood pressure drops.
- Weak pulse and tachycardia.
- The man is losing consciousness. This occurs when there is rapid and severe blood loss.
Arterial and venous bleeding in wounds. First aid
A wound is an injury in which the integrity of the skin, tissues, membranes is violated, and which is accompanied by pain and blood loss. When injured, pain is caused by damaged receptors and nerve trunks, and bleeding is directly related to the nature and number of damaged vessels. That is why, first of all, the depth of the wound is established and it is determined from which vessel the blood flows: veins or arteries. It is especially necessary to act quickly if the wounds are very deep and puncture, and large blood vessels are affected when injured.
First aid for injuries before the ambulance arrives is usually done by people nearby. A tourniquet is applied to stop the bleeding.
In a hospital, first aid for arterial and venous bleeding is carried out surgically. At the site of damage to the vessel, its walls are sutured.
First aid for injuries to the head, chest, neck, abdomen and other areas of the body is carried out by applying a pressure bandage. Sterile gauze is placed on the wound and bandaged.
It should be noted: it is not necessary to apply cold when bleeding from a vein or artery, since this does not make any sense. These large vessels do not constrict when exposed to cold temperatures.
Natural openings on the human body. Bleeding of them
There is a loss of blood as it flows out of the nose. This can be with a strong blow or as a result of a traumatic brain injury. To stop the bleeding of the victim, you need to lay on his back, slightly raise his head. Ice should be placed on the bridge of the nose, neck, heart area. Do not blow your nose or blow your nose during this time.
If a person's ear canal is injured or the skull is fractured, the ear may bleed. In this case, a sterile gauze bandage is applied to him, and the victim is laid on the opposite side and his head is raised. It is strictly forbidden to wash the ear.
How to stopbleeding with bent limbs?
- If a wound has formed in the area of \u200b\u200bthe hand or forearm and blood flows out of it, you need to put a roller of gauze, bandage or soft tissue in the elbow bend and bend your arm. To fix it in this position, the forearm should be tied to the shoulder. The bleeding will stop.
- To stop it from the artery of the forearm, the roller is placed under the armpit, the arm is bent at the elbow, placed on the chest and bandaged.
- For axillary bleeding, bend the arms, pull back and tie the elbows. This position allows the subclavian artery to press the clavicle against the rib. This technique cannot be used if a person has a fracture of the bone tissue of the limbs.
Car first aid kit. Her equipment
Many people think that this kit is needed only to pass the inspection. But this is far from true. No one knows what the situation may be along the route of the car. Perhaps your humane attitude towards another person, knowledge of the rules for providing first aid to the victim and the necessary set of a motorist will save someone's life.
At present, the first-aid kit of the automobile is produced according to new standards. It consists of: an apparatus with which you can make artificial ventilation of the lungs, bandages, a hemostatic tourniquet, rubber gloves and scissors. Disinfectants and all medicines are excluded from the first-aid kit. It does not contain analgin, aspirin, activated charcoal, validol, nitroglycerin, and even iodine withgreen.
The car first-aid kit has become much poorer. What caused it to change? First of all, the European practice of providing first aid before the arrival of doctors. They believe that most drivers in Russia do not know how to use the necessary drugs. Therefore, for them, calling a doctor and stopping the blood loss of the victims will become the main task.
