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Life threatStep 1 of 8

Severe Bleeding

Spurting, pooling, or soaked-through blood loss. Stop it in seconds.

How you know

  • Blood spurting or pouring, not oozing
  • Clothing or ground soaked in blood
  • Pale, cold, clammy skin; fast weak pulse
  • Amputation or crushed limb
1

Protect yourself.

Gloves if you have them. Plastic bag if you don't.

Never

  • Never remove a soaked dressing to look
  • Never use a thin cord or wire as a tourniquet

Evacuate now if

  • Bleeding will not stop after 5 minutes of hard pressure
  • Tourniquet applied — always an emergency evacuation
  • Confusion, gray skin, or fainting