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First aid

Severe Bleeding: How to Stop Life-Threatening Blood Loss

Control severe bleeding: call for help, apply firm direct pressure, pack deep wounds and use a tourniquet on limbs when pressure fails.

Emergency? Call 112 now. Dispatchers will guide you through these steps on the phone.

A person can lose a fatal amount of blood in a few minutes. Bystanders are always first on scene, so knowing how to control bleeding is as important as CPR.

Life-threatening bleeding looks like: blood spurting or pulsing, blood pooling on the ground, clothing soaked through, a wound that won't stop with normal pressure, or an amputation.

Steps

  1. Stay safe and call. Make sure the scene is safe, call your emergency number and wear gloves if available.
  2. Find the source. Expose the wound — remove or cut clothing to see where the blood is coming from.
  3. Apply firm, direct pressure with both hands on a clean cloth or dressing. Press hard and keep pressing. If blood soaks through, add more material on top — don't lift the first layer.
  4. Pack deep wounds. For a deep wound in the neck, armpit or groin, pack gauze or clean cloth tightly into the wound and keep pressing.
  5. Use a tourniquet for limbs if pressure doesn't stop the bleeding. Place it 5–7 cm (2–3 in) above the wound, not on a joint, and tighten until bleeding stops. Note the time it was applied. It will hurt — that is expected.
  6. Keep them warm and still until help arrives, and watch for signs of shock: pale, cold, clammy skin, fast breathing, confusion.

Nosebleeds

Sit up, lean forward (not back), and pinch the soft part of the nose for 10–15 minutes without letting go. Seek care if it lasts more than 20–30 minutes, follows a head injury, or the person takes blood thinners.

A compact bleeding-control kit (gloves, haemostatic or plain gauze, pressure bandage, commercial tourniquet) is worth adding to home, car and workplace kits. Ask us about bulk trauma kits for your organisation.

Watch: Bleeding control: 4 simple steps

Bleeding control: 4 simple steps

Video hosted on YouTube by its original publisher; embedded for education.

Last reviewed October 22, 2026 against current public guidance from national resuscitation councils and Red Cross / Red Crescent first-aid manuals. General education only — not a substitute for certified training or professional medical advice. Medical disclaimer · Suggest a correction