Severe Bleeding Control

Steps to stop major external hemorrhage, the leading preventable cause of trauma death

Step by Step

Call emergency services immediately for severe, spurting, or pooling bleeding, and protect yourself with gloves if available. Apply firm direct pressure to the wound with a sterile dressing or clean cloth, or your hand if nothing else is available. If blood soaks through, do not remove the dressing; press harder and add more on top. If a life threatening limb bleed does not stop with pressure, a tourniquet, ideally a purpose made one, can be applied 5 to 8 cm above the wound, not over a joint, and tightened until bleeding stops; note the time it was applied. Emergency call handlers can guide this. Deep wounds can be packed with gauze by those trained to do so. Help the person lie down and keep them warm to reduce the risk of shock.