To Stop Bleeding.

Otago Witness, Issue 2674, 14 June 1905, Page 68

To Stop Bleeding.

It often happens in«cases of accident that the danger to life is greatly increased by, if not solely dependent upon, the loss of blood, the injury itself beinjr a comparatively trivial affair. Whether light or serious, the wound can wait — indeed, in most cases must wait — for the arrival of the physician, but the bleeding waits for nothing— it must be arrested speedily, and if it is not stopped by some one on the spot, of if it does not cease spontaneously, the coming of the physician may be useless, for the wounds of a dead man need no bindins?. In classes of instruction in first aid lr< the wounded, this point is always insisted i upen, and rightly: but, unfortunately, how j bleeding from a eat or torn artery can be quickly and certainly arrested is not always clearly enough explained. The pupils study diagrams depicting the course and direction of the large arleric. and round black or red discs are placed at the points where pressure can be effectively applied to shut off the flow of blood from the parts lower down on the limb ; the application of a tourniquet is taught,, and sometimes even the mode of tying an artery (which is surgeon's work, and not to be attempted by any member of a first-aid class) is elaborately explained: but sometimes the lee-, turor forgets to say that the most copious bleeding can always be arrested temporarily, and often permanently, by simple pressure made directly on the ' bleeding I point. If you can put your finger (literally) ! on the source of the hemorrhage and keep i it there, your wounded companion will not bleed to death, at least not while under your care.

One must make sure, in doing this, that the finger is really making pressure on the bleeding point, which may be deep down at the bottom of the ■wound ; but the continuanoe pf the bleeding will soon prove

that the finger, or the cloth pad, or the rounded stick, or whatever is used to make pressure with is not pressing on the right; spot. Care must be taken not to soil the wound with dirty fingers or a dirty rag. If the time and opportunity permit, tli9 finger should first be washed or at least wiped with a clean cloth, and if a cloth pad is usod the outc~ layers at least must be free from visible dirt.

In almost any company some one may" be found wl.o has a chan handkerchief in. the pocket. Ons which has not been unfolded is best, for this can then be folded inside out, and made up into a clean pad of any desired shape.