Bleeding Walk Through (this won't be lame!)

Okay after my EPIC fail walk through that had little flow what so ever I have decided to try my hand at it again by request. I shall do my best, behold! This is a walk through on how to handle arteriole and venous bleeds.


Check this out for the first few steps in the tutorial.
http://ramblingsofanursingstudent.blogspot.ca/2013/01/basic-steps-before-i-post-any-tutorials.html

These steps takes place during the ABCs or step 3 in the link above.

1) AVPU

The patient is currently Alert, meaning he consciously knows where he is and what is happening to him. This proves him to be mentally sane and means that he is unlikely to cause any intentional harm to himself and others.

2) Cervical Spinal Injury Consideration

It seems that he has not endangered his spine.

3) General Appearance of the Patient

He seems pale and in distress with rapid panicked breathing.

4) ABCs

Airway is fine since there is no obstruction

Breathing is compromised as he is taking inefficient rapid breaths, in addition his skin looks pale which suggests that he is going into shock or having hypoxia (which is basically shock). We give him non-rebreather mask (NRB) hooked up to an oxygen tank and feed him 10 to 15 L/Second of oxygen to combat shock.

Circulation is compromised as he is suffering a deep gash on his arm resulting in huge amounts of blood loss. Place some dressings on the wound and ask the patient to hold it there for you applying pressure onto the wound. Later wrap it in a bandage (in any way you can, though there is a proper way to do it) directly on TOP of the wound as much as possible. If there is bleeding through the bandage, add another layer of dressing and bandages on top of the previous wraps. Never remove a dressing or bandage once applied.

5) Now call for an ambulance. If you are working with a partner than this step should be done after the General Appearance of the Patient.

6) Take vitals and monitor the patient. Retake vitals periodically to make sure that your patient is getting better or worse as time goes by waiting for the ambulance. Save your vitals in a report and hand it off to the ambulance team.

7) Take history if you have time.

Finished!