Bleeding Symptoms Pale, cool, clammy skin. Fast heart rate. Low blood pressure. Light-headedness.

Put pressure directly on an outer wound with a sterile bandage, clean cloth, or even a piece of clothing. If nothing else is available, use your hand. Direct pressure is best for external bleeding, except for an eye injury. Maintain pressure until the bleeding stops.

A wide variety of disease cause bleeding. Some of the most common are leukemia, lung cancer, acute bronchitis, and liver disease. Medications, such as blood thinners may also cause bleeding. Menstruation is another cause of bleeding, but this type of bleeding is a natural process in women.

The most commonly accepted and utilized methods of hemorrhage control are direct pressure, elevation and the use of pressure points. All three should be used in order to attempt to control bleeding.

Severe bleeding: First aid

1. Remove any clothing or debris on the wound.
2. Stop the bleeding.
3. Help the injured person lie down.
4. Don’t remove the gauze or bandage.
5. Tourniquets: A tourniquet is effective in controlling life-threatening bleeding from a limb.
6. Immobilize the injured body part as much as possible.

Applying ice to a wound will constrict the blood vessels, allowing a clot to form more quickly and stop the bleeding. The best way to do this is to wrap ice in a clean, dry cloth and place it on the wound.

Common pressure points: Arm between shoulder and elbow – brachial artery. Groin area along bikini line – femoral artery. Behind the knee – popliteal artery.

At this point, your heart isn’t able to pump sufficient amounts of blood through your body. You reach exsanguination when you lose 40 percent of your body’s blood or fluid supply. This condition can be fatal if the bleeding isn’t stopped and treated quickly.

Most people, however, will be reasonably recovered by two weeks and functionally recovered by three to four weeks, if the body has an adequate store and ongoing source of the required ingredients—protein and iron—to replace the lost hemoglobin.

Foods such as lean red meat, poultry, fish, leafy green vegetables, brown rice, lentils and beans can all boost your haemoglobin. Vitamin C helps with iron absorption, so to get the most from the food you eat, drink a glass of vitamin C-rich fruit juice with your meal.

Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:

1. You pass clots of blood and soak through your usual pads or tampons every hour for 2 or more hours.
2. You are dizzy or lightheaded, or you feel like you may faint.

However, women who have menorrhagia usually bleed for more than 7 days and lose twice as much blood. If you have bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days per period, or is so heavy that you have to change your pad or tampon nearly every hour, you need to talk with your doctor.