There are three kinds of wounds, all of which open the door for an infection to enter the body. Cuts, abrasions, and punctures all represent a break in the protective barrier of skin the keeps infections out. Any wound is considered a dirty wound and can be dangerous if you have not had a tetanus shot in the last five years or have not finished your primary series. If you are cut severely enough to go to an emergency room, the doctor will ask when your last tetanus shot occurred and will give you one if it has been more than five years.

Venous Cuts Are Harder To Treat

Shallow cuts rarely do permanent damage. These are cuts that are only in the fatty tissue beneath the skin and are easily treated. Most of these minor cuts do not bleed too much and the bleeding is easily stopped. Dark red blood indicates that the cut is deeper and has reached a vein. Blood flow in much steadier and harder to stop. Pressure on the wound will stop a vein from bleeding by allowing the body\’s natural clotting ability to take hold.

Arterial Bleeding spurts Bright Red

Any cut that reaches the arterial level will spurt bright red blood with each beat of the heart. This is the most serious type of cut and the blood is perfuse and very difficult to get under control. An arterial bleed can cause a person to go into shock from blood loss rather quickly. When someone has an arterial cut and sees the blood spurting from their body, they tend to get panicky, which speeds up the heart rate and causes the blood to spurt even more.

If you find a person with a deep cut or laceration that is bleeding profusely and you cannot control the bleeding, follow these steps to get help quickly.

– Call for emergency services.

– Have the person lie down and elevate their legs and the site of the cut above their heart if possible.

– Cover the person with a blanket and keep them as warm as possible to help prevent shock.

– Remove dirt and debris from the wound if it can be easily cleaned.

– Never remove impaled objects as you can do more damage and cause more bleeding.

– If possible, use your HIPAA Compliance Training in blood borne pathogens and protect yourself. Improvise if necessary to protect hands and any open wound you may have to avoid contagion transfer.

– Do not apply pressure to a bone or protruding object. If it is only a cut or gash, apply direct pressure.

– If a cloth or bandage becomes soaked, do not remove it but apply a clean dry cloth over the top of it and apply direct pressure. If the blood does not stop and emergency services has not arrives within 15 minutes, you will need to apply firm pressure to a pressure point at a point above the bleed. Find the closest pressure point to the wound between the wound and the heart. There are pressure points inside the upper arms and thighs in the groin area.

Do Your Best For Massive Injuries

Massive blood flow can be lethal in just a matter of a few minutes. Remember that you can only do so much in situations where there are massive injuries that are overwhelming the injured person. Do the best that you can, using pressure points and direct pressure. Only apply a tourniquet if it is absolutely necessary to do so and even then, try to get the person\’s permission in writing if that is possible. Make sure someone else hears the injured party give you permission, if they are conscious.

Author Bio: For more information please visit our CPR Recertification website.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: blood borne pathogens ,HIPAA Compliance Training ,abrasions,Cuts