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How to Stop Bleeding - Travel Medical Insurance

Although with international health insurance comprehensive medical coverage is provided, there are some situations where fast, on-the-spot treatment can save lives. This article is designed to give you advice for treating bleeding before assistance from medical professionals arrives.

External Bleeding
With external bleeding, the central focus is to restrict the flow of blood to the injury, usually through pressure and elevation.

Cuts, Scratches and Scrapes
Mild to moderate abrasions and cuts will generally stop bleeding if washed and dressed firmly. If the cut or abrasion was caused by metal, a tetanus booster shot may be necessary.

Severe Bleeding
Apply firm, constant pressure to the wound with a clean dressing, for up to twenty minutes. If there is a foreign body or object in the wound, do not remove it, but apply pressure alongside the wound.

If you are sure there are no fractures or dislocation of joints, elevating the injury and supporting it while maintaining pressure, should help to decrease the flow of blood.

,Apply indirect pressure if bleeding continues. It may be possible to further reduce bleeding in an extremity my applying pressure to the artery, although this may be dangerous for those not trained in first aid).

Cover and/or dress the wound
After ensuring that medical assistance is on the way. If there are any severed parts, such as a finger, wrap them and place them in a bag and if possible place it in ice (but do not place the body part directly in contact with ice). Ensure that the severed part is transported with the injured person.

Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding can be difficult to detect or identify, but it should always be considered a dangerous situation and medical attention should be sought immediately. If internal bleeding is present, it can present itself either visibly or concealed.

Visible Internal Bleeding
If internal bleeding can be seen, this is what it may look like and what it may mean:

• Bleeding in the lungs may produce frothy, bright red blood that is coughed up by the injured party.
• Bleeding in the stomach may produce what looks like dark "coffee grounds", or red blood in the vomit.
• Bowel or intestinal bleeding may show as loose, dark, foul smelling stools.
• Anal or vaginal bleeding may produce red blood, mixed with mucous from the orifice.

Concealed Internal Bleeding
Concealed Bleeding is not something that will be readily apparent to people who are not trained medical professionals. However, looking at the mechanism of injury may give you a good idea of the possibility of concealed internal bleeding. Injuries involving large amounts of blunt force, especially to the head or torso, may be potential indicators of internal bleeding

Look at the part of the body which may have been injured which may provide clues such as b, although in some cases signs and symptoms may only become apparent until a while after the incident. The above information may give you hints about whether or not internal bleeding is present. If you are unsure whether internal bleeding may be a factor, err on the side of caution and contact emergency medical services, afterwards contact your international health insurance provider or broker to give them enough time to organize billing and payment for your treatment.

Signs and symptoms of internal bleeding may include:

• Shallow, rapid breathing.
• Pale, cool or clammy skin.
• Thirst.
• Abdominal tenderness, especially upon palpation and/or guarding of the abdomen.
• Pain/discomfort.
• Nausea/vomiting.

If there has been an accident and you have doubts or are unsure about whether an injury or illness is a serious case, please contact a medical professional as soon as possible..

At Global Health Insurance we work with many or the world’s leading international health insurance and travel medical insurance plans. We can help you find a plan that can not only cover the costs or your treatment, but will also cover you for emergency medical transportation and evacuation in cases of serious emergencies. Contact our consultants to obtain a range of free quotations for international health insurance comprehensive plans.

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