Stop the bleeding

[1 old 0311]

I friend of mine works in a bar. She just told me a story of what happened on Thursday:
Her, and her boyfriend were asleep. Their dogs started the 'something is wrong, AND close bark.' He kept a .22 semi-automatic on the nightstand, not my first choice, but that is what he had. He reached for it, and it hit the floor, discharging. The round hit him in the right arm, passing through, but hitting a artery.
She had enough composure to get a towel, put direct pressure on it, and call 911. The medics said he would have bleed to death if she didn't slow the bleeding.
Most of us know how to treat a wound, but does your spouse/girlfriend? It could save your life, it did his.

 

[ashtxsniper]

Its a good idea to keep a little quickclot around just in case pressure wont do the trick.

 

[doc2rn]

yup I keep a 32oz Quickclot on standby, in case pressure and elevation dont work.

 

[Fish828]

don't forget about tourniquets also for severe bleeding.

 

[Picard]

Good think he didn't have a .45. It discharged from a drop? For a home defense gun, I would keep the chamber empty. It keeps stuff like this from happening.

 

[Sans Authoritas]

Doc, 32oz? Was that a typo, because, well, 4 ounces is enough to stop a femoral artery bleed. Wait a minute . . . have you discovered some special properties of a certain Nestle product, a discovery which you've been holding out on us, hmmmm? ; )

-Sans Authoritas

 

[Treo]

Might be more than one person wounded Sans.

 

[un_lucky]

Quik-clot is no sub for good old first aid. Pressure and elavation will stop most bleeding. I have never needed a tourniquet in my 11 years as a EMT.

 

[SMLE]

Basic first aid knowledge and a basic first aid kit are "must haves" that too many people DON'T have.

 

[Billy_H]

My wifes a nurse and has taken many of the same first aid/first responder courses I've had.

 

[hso]

married to a med professional and we've taken a combat med course together

 

[Noxx]

Fortunately my wife works in a hospital and keeps current on CPR / First Aid. I keep mine up as well because of my work environment, and in fact in paid off last week when a co-worker had a seizure. There's not much substitute for knowing what to do when it needs to be done.

 

[brighamr]

Not gun related, but when I cut off half of my right thumb working with glass, my wife had sense enough to wrap it tightly with a towel before driving me to ER. By the time we got there, the entire towel was soaked and dripping; BUT better that than nothing.

Since that little incident, we've had a thorough 1st aid course administered by her dad (ER doc). Always a good think to know, wether your hiking in back country or have an accident at home.

 

[m38shooter]

Good think he didn't have a .45.

Gauze, anti-bacterial ointment, and plastic medical tape wrapped tight around it. I had the displeasure of my first and last "learning experience" (ND resulting in self-injury) being a .45 through the thigh.

The most important step in the treatment is the same as the most important step for self-defense: keep your cool. Freaking out and raising your blood pressure will make you bleed faster.

 

[WayneConrad]

I've been laughed at for this before, but, here goes... go ahead and laugh. I can take it. If it's wrong or dangerous, though, I want to know.

A maxipad and an ace bandage used to apply direct pressure. You can make a pressure bandage to keep bleeding contained until help arrives or you can get yourself to help. As part of a backpack, these things have multiple uses, always a plus in every space-and-weight challenged backpack. At home, they have the advantage of working well when you are alone, with nobody to apply the pressure for you. The ace bandage also won't tire or let up the pressure when you move.

 

[Cyclimus]

Wow, this is all great stuff. I worked as a stadium medic and we carried tampons and maxipads for obvious and less-than-obvious reasons (tampons are great for GSWs and Maxipads are great compression bandages).

My wife worked in a hospital and was pre-med. She knows enough to keep me or anyone else alive should it be necessary until the professionals arrive. And regarding the tourniquet, never used one myself, although that's why I always wear a belt... you never really know. The worst I've had to treat is a traumatic back injury, possible vertebae fracture and severe head trauma (someone decided to go down a flight of stairs backwards and head first), but thankfully she only separated her shoulder.

 

[Samuel Adams]

don't forget about tourniquets also for severe bleeding.

Having spent 10 years as a paramedic, this is a bad procedure. Even with an amputation, we were taught that direct pressure and elevation would work. BTW, my wife was a Basic EMT. Neither of us are certified any longer but we both remember most of what we had to do.

 

[Len S]

Wayne,
I have been a paramedic for 15 years and your set up along with plastic wrap, aluminum foil, and tape are what I carry to the range and in the cargo pocket of my hunting pants.

Len

 

[SMLE]

When I took my Basic EMT class in 2004, and my Intermediate class in 2005, tourniquets were considered a "last resort" for bleeding. But with new data coming out of the sand box, the latest edition of PHTLS has brought them back and moved them up in the algorithm for severe bleeding.

 

[P95loser]

Wait a minute . . . have you discovered some special properties of a certain Nestle product, a discovery which you've been holding out on us, hmmmm? ; )

What exactly does that statement mean? Does Nestle Chocolate Powder stop bleeding or something?

 

[Lupinus]

don't forget about tourniquets also for severe bleeding.

I can tell you right now if I ever shoot myself in the arm and someone tries wrapping me up in a tourniquet I am going to beat the bloody hell out of them with the good arm. Short of blood flying across the living room or something.

Tourniquets are an ABSOLUTE last resort to any injury. The only time one should be used is when you have to make a decision between loosing the limb and loosing the patient.

Apply direct pressure, as hard as needed to stop the flow, and elevate as far above the heart as possible.

Yes, the maxi pad trick works like a champ btw.

 

[Sans Authoritas]

treo wrote:

Might be more than one person wounded Sans.

True, but Z-Medica doesn't make a 32 oz. QuikClot pack. He spoke in the singular.

-Sans Authoritas

 

[Lupinus]

What exactly does that statement mean? Does Nestle Chocolate Powder stop bleeding or something?

Nah it just makes sure you a more tasty option for the vampires.

 

[Sans Authoritas]

Sans Authoritas

Wait a minute . . . have you discovered some special properties of a certain Nestle product, a discovery which you've been holding out on us, hmmmm? ; )

P95loser wrote:

What exactly does that statement mean? Does Nestle Chocolate Powder stop bleeding or something?

I don't know. That's why I was jestingly asking Doc. Because Nestle is the only company that makes a Quik anything in anything near 32 oz. : )

-Sans Authoritas

 

[Cosmoline]

Another reason I like long guns for home defense. It's much harder to cover yourself with one in a 3 AM sweep.

I have a pretty good first aid kit. Having a nurse as a SO would be much better. Nurses and related sub-MD professionals are worth their weight in gold during a crisis. They do 99% of the real life saving work. If you have to choose on a desert island, eat the doctor, keep the nurse.