EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2131 | Bleeding Emergencies
The lessons covered are
- Lesson 1: Circulatory System & Types Of Hemorrhage
- Lesson 2: External Hemorrhage Control And Management
- Lesson 3: Internal Hemorrhage Recognition And Management
- Lesson 4: Shock (Hypoperfusion)
Excerpt from EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2131 | Bleeding Emergencies
When direct pressure alone fails to control severe bleeding, particularly in deep penetrating wounds or junctional areas like the groin or axilla, wound packing becomes a critical intervention. These areas often involve large blood vessels, making hemorrhage control challenging. Begin by using your gloved fingers to tightly pack sterile gauze directly into the wound cavity. Identify the specific bleeding point, if visible, and direct your packing efforts there. The goal is to fill the wound void completely, applying direct pressure to the bleeding vessels from within.
Continue packing until the wound is completely full and firm to the touch. Once packed, apply sustained direct pressure over the packed wound for a minimum of three minutes. This combination of internal packing and external pressure aims to tamponade the bleeding vessels, effectively stopping the hemorrhage. Common errors include loosely packing the wound, which fails to apply adequate internal pressure, or insufficient external pressure after packing, allowing bleeding to continue. A properly packed wound should feel firm and tight under your applied pressure, indicating effective compression of the bleeding vessels. In prehospital care, this technique is essential for stabilizing patients with severe, life-threatening hemorrhage, buying crucial time for surgical intervention. Effective wound packing can be the difference between life and death in these critical situations, directly influencing patient survival.
Core Concepts & Takeaways
- Explain the structure and function of the circulatory system and differentiate between arterial, venous, and capillary hemorrhage.
- Demonstrate appropriate techniques for controlling external hemorrhage, including direct pressure, wound packing, pressure points, tourniquets, and hemostatic agents.
- Identify signs, symptoms, and common sites of internal hemorrhage and implement appropriate assessment and management strategies.
- Recognize the stages and types of shock, with emphasis on hypovolemic shock, and utilize appropriate positioning, temperature management, and transport considerations.
- Apply age-specific assessment findings and intervention modifications when managing hemorrhage and shock in pediatric, geriatric, and other special patient populations.
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Important Notes:
To get credit for this course, you must watch all the lessons in their entirety, the course review, and pass the quiz at the end with a score of 75% or better.
This Chapter falls under the Primary Assessment section of the NREMT Test
Course Curriculum
EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2131 | Bleeding Emergencies
-
Lesson 0 – Chapter Introduction
01:41 -
Lesson 1 – Circulatory System & Types of Hemorrhage
13:47 -
Lesson 2 – External Hemorrhage Control And Management
11:44 -
Lesson 3 – Internal Hemorrhage Recognition And Management
12:56 -
Lesson 4 – Shock (Hypoperfusion)
20:51 -
Lesson 5 – Chapter Review
03:04 -
EMS Care EMT Chapter 24-MCIT-F3-2131 | Bleeding Emergencies | QUIZ
