*Catastrophic Bleeding*
Catastrophic bleeding - C-ABC
If a casualty is losing blood so quickly that they are likely to die in minutes if nothing is done to stop it, you need to prioritise this above everything else.
Once the bleeding is under control you will be able to go back to your primary survey and check Airway, Breathing and Circulation (ABC).
When direct pressure is not sufficient to stem the bleeding, wound packing and tourniquets can be used.
Trauma kits are becoming more popular in public and work spaces. They contain haemostsatic dressings and tourniquets for dealing with major bleeds. However, you can improvise with other equipment if a trauma kit is not available.
You should attend practical training to learn how to use these correctly.
Checking for bleeding
Being able to see blood is an obvious sign that someone is bleeding but you may not always be able to see this at first sight.
- Is the location dark? Use the torch on your phone to check for bleeding
- Is the casualty wearing thick clothing? You may need to feel under it and check your hands for signs of bleeding
- Has blood soaked into the ground or soil?
For catastrophic bleeding remember:
