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| EMERGENCY ASSESSMENT |
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| HEMORRHAGE AND BLEEDING Hemorrhage and bleeding, is the escape of blood in any amount from a blood vessel located anywhere in the body. The two terms are used somewhat interchangeably but generally, if the flow of blood is profuse or rather dangerous it is spoken of as a hemorrhage. According to the kind of blood vessel involved, bleeding is classified as arterial, venous and capillary. Arterial Bleeding This is by far the most serious form of bleeding because an artery holds the largest amount of blood and the pressure is more immediate. The arterial blood is bright-red and flows in forceful spurts caused by the heart beat. If, however, the severed artery lies deep in the wound, the flow is checked by the injured tissues and the blood comes to the surface with less force. Venous Bleeding The blood from the veins is dark red, sometimes nearly black, and flows slowly from the wound since the veins are not under the great internal pressure than the arteries are. This bleeding is not so serious and is more easily controlled unless a large vein has been ruptured. Capillary Bleeding This blood is a color about midway between the color of arterial blood and that of venous blood and slowly drips or oozes from the injured site. A the capillaries are very small vessels and contain little blood, this bleeding is rarely serious unless a large area is affected. According to it's location or site, bleeding is characterized as external and internal. External bleeding The source of the flow is visible or may be rather accurately located. The bleeding is from or directly to the surface of the body and is always due to an injury produced by an external agent. Internal Bleeding The source is in a closed cavity or in hollow structure that communicates with the exterior through a natural organ. the blood may or may not reach the surface. The bleeding may be due to an internal agent, such as a disease, or to an external agent that causes a rupture of the part Subdivided into two types: concealed and visible CONCEALED-the bleeding occurs in organs which do not communicate with the exterior of the body, such as the liver and spleen. The blood remains concealed from sight and may or may not be absorbed by the tissues. VISIBLE-the bleeding occurs in organs which do communicate with the exterior of the body, such as the lungs and stomach. the blood is expelled such as by coughing and vomitting and becomes visible. |
| Hemorrhage and Bleeding |
The Effects of Bleeding Physical weakness Weak and rapid pulse Air hunger Slow and shallow respiration Nausea Lessening of the body heat and energy Thirst Mental Disturbance Pale, cold and clammy skin Fall of the Arterial Pressure State of Shock Diminution of the Hemoglobin Unconsciousness and oxygen content Excessive reduction of oxygen and death Treatment of External Bleeding(Treatment for internal bleeding due to disease varies with the several diseases causing the bleeding) This includes the application of pressure, elevation of a part, the promotion of clotting, and the use of the dressings, bandages and medication. Pressure The keynote of the treatment for external hemorrhage is pressure. There are two kind of pressure: Direct and Indirect Direct pressure is applied directly at the site of the bleeding, or on the wound itself. It may be exerted with the hand or fingers (digital pressure) or by means of a firm bandage. Use direct pressure when the bleeding is slight. Indirect pressure is applied at some distance from the wound but between it and the heart. The pressure is exerted at a particular point (the pressure point) of the main artery supplying the part with blood. It is at this point that artery lies near the surface and so close to a bone that the blood supply can be easily stopped by pressing the artery against the bone. Pressure maybe produced by the fingers and hand or by a tourniquet. Though intended for arterial bleeding, indirect pressure may also be used for controlling venous bleeding. It is then exerted on that artery from which the affected vein springs, or on the vein itself at a convenient place between the origin of the vein and the wound. Unlike arteries, veins do not have definitely located pressure points. In both kinds of bleeding, indirect pressure seekes to prevent the blood from reaching the place where the rupture has opened an exit for it. Use indirect pressure in a profuse bleeding that is not readily controlled by direct pressure, and in a bleeding that recurs whenever a pressure is lessened. The advantages if indirect pressure are: It effectively checks at once the flow of blood. The wound itself need not be touched by the fingers or hand. The great disadvantage of indirect pressure is that it can, as a rule, be applied only at the pressure points. |