Severe bleeding

Call 999.Press firmly and directly on the wound with your hand.

Dressing.Put a dressing directly on the wound, ideally a haemostatic dressing if you have one, then press firmly. With some wounds you may need to pack the dressing into the wound.

Pressure dressing.Once the bleeding is under control, apply a pressure dressing.

Tourniquet.If bleeding from an arm or leg is life-threatening and pressure isn't controlling it, apply a tourniquet as soon as possible.

Using a tourniquet

Place it around the injured limb, 5–7 cm above the injury, but not over a joint.
Tighten it until the bleeding slows and stops.
Write down the time you put it on.
Do not release it. Only a healthcare professional should do that.
Sometimes a second tourniquet is needed, above the first, to control the bleeding.
Only use equipment you have been trained to use.

An amputated part

Deal with any severe bleeding first. Then:

Find the part as quickly as possible. Keep it cold, but don't let it freeze.
Wrap it in a sterile dressing, or a clean cloth moistened with saline or water.
Put it in a clean, watertight bag or container. Put that inside another bag containing ice or ice water. Don't let ice touch the part directly.
Label it with the person's name and the time it was stored.
Send it with the person to the same hospital, as quickly as possible.

Protect yourself

Wear protective gloves if you have them.

What is life-threatening bleeding?

Bleeding is life-threatening if blood is pumping from the wound, if pressure doesn't stop or slow it, or if it soaks quickly through one bandage after another.
If severe bleeding isn't controlled quickly, the person can lose a lot of blood, become unresponsive and go into shock.
Your priority is to stop the bleeding.

What to tell the ambulance

The call handler will guide you. Tell them where you are and that someone is bleeding heavily.