Four-wheelers understand that injuries can occur while on the trails. Most are minor – scrapes, bruises, burns from a hot pan, maybe an occasional bee sting – but occasionally someone is hurt badly. If that injury entails bleeding, knowing what to do can make a big difference in the outcome.
Hands-on instruction is available through many resources. Even so, this review will provide you a solid foundation.
Difference between arteries and veins
In simplest terms, arteries carry oxygenated blood from the lungs then pumped by the heart to the periphery of the body and organs. Veins return blood to the heart. Along the way the blood, now laden with carbon dioxide, passes back into the lungs, where the CO2 is expelled. A wound to an artery is more serious because the blood is under tremendous pressure due to the contractions of the heart. When an artery is severed and exposed, the blood will be pulsing or squirting in time with the person’s heartbeat. A venous bleed is non-pulsating and demonstrates a more constant, slower flow.
An adult has about 10 pints of blood in their system. A loss of 40% of that volume can be life threatening. With an arterial wound, a person can bleed out in as little as two minutes.
For our purposes, we’ll focus on injuries to the limbs. Some injuries to the abdomen can be treated with the steps outlined below.
How to stop the bleeding
The first step is to determine the location of the bleed, then how severe the injury is. A telltale sign would be a pool of blood, clothing that is soaked in blood, or blood squirting or pulsing from the body. That’s an indication of a severe injury to an artery. A tourniquet is probably in order if the bleeding originates in a limb.
If you don’t see any blood despite the trauma, do a blood sweep. For your protection, it’s always best to wear nitrile or vinyl gloves. Run a hand over each body sections but under the clothing. Regularly pull your hand out and check your gloved hand for blood. You may need to remove or cut away clothing to inspect thoroughly.
Well-aimed direct pressure is the best solution for most bleeding that is not arterial. Place a bandage or gauze directly over the wound and apply direct pressure. Hold for several minutes. A vein will typically clot in four to six minutes, but it might take 15 minutes. If blood soaks through, place another pad on it. Don’t remove the first pad.
If that doesn’t stop the bleeding – and it’s a deep wound—try packing. Literally pack the wound with as much gauze as it’ll hold. Then apply a pad to hold pressure on the wound.
If it is an extremity with an arterial bleed or such a traumatic venous bleed from one or more large veins, you only have 30 seconds to try direct pressure. If direct pressure is not working, turn to the tourniquet.
How to apply a tourniquet
If you’re unable to stop the bleeding with gauze or bandages, a tourniquet is in order. (Remember that a tourniquet is applied to an arm or leg. It won’t work on the torso.) Wrap the tourniquet above the wound; the higher up the better. Avoid placing the tourniquet on joints or over buttons, jewelry and such. It can be placed over clothing, however.
All tourniquets function the same way. A stick or rod twists the strap to constrict the blood flow. Tighten until the bleeding stops. Lock the stick or rod according to instructions. If possible, record on the tourniquet the time applied. Monitor the victim for volume shock and keeping him or her warm and protected from the weather.
Make sure someone calls for help. This is a serious situation, and the person must get immediate medical attention.
If a tourniquet isn’t available, fashion one out of a wide piece of cloth and a stick. Avoid 550 cord, rope, and similar material. They are too narrow and will damage tissue. Most pants belts are too stiff to work well.
Don’t worry about the limb. It’s not likely to suffer severe consequences in the relatively short time the tourniquet is on. Loosening the tourniquet will simply allow the blood to flow freely again out of the wound.
Even if the person loses that limb, you saved a life in the process.
Familiarize yourself with the tourniquet before going off-road
Tourniquets come in a variety of styles. I like the CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet). It’s rugged and easy to use. That comes in handy if the user is also the injured party.
After purchasing, remove the tourniquet from its packaging. Feed the main section through the buckle to form a loop. Now the tourniquet is ready. This is what makes it easy to use one-handed, and it saves time. Practice with the tourniquet so you’re ready to use it if necessary. And practice one handed on your own arm.
Store the tourniquet in a plastic baggie or other accessible container. You don’t want to waste precious time tearing through packaging during an emergency.
Alternatives for standard bandages and gauzes
QuickClot® is a gauze bandage that’s impregnated with chemicals to promote clotting. Early versions of the product caused thermal damage to tissue, along with microemboli formation. Later versions may be better. Follow the instructions carefully if you choose to use this product.
You may hear of the Israeli Bandage, too. A quick review suggests it is a good product. Keep in mind that it is a bandage, not a tourniquet. It is designed to provide increased direct pressure on a wound, not cut off the blood supply.
Time is of the essence when someone is suffering blood loss. Merely applying pressure on the wound with a gauze pad often will suffice. More serious trauma may require the use of a tourniquet. Those are readily available and easy to use. Review the important steps of dealing with a bleeding wound so you can handle that situation confidently should you encounter it.
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Did you miss the previous articles?
2024
- 2024-09-14 What It Means To Tread Lightly While Four-Wheeling
- 2024-08-08 ANNOUNCEMENT: Prepare Now For Wildfire Evacuation
- 2024-07-06 Pack Naloxone – You May Save A Life
- 2024-06-10 Know When to Say When While Four-Wheeling
- 2024-05-23 We Get Questions
- 2024-04-25 Synthetic Rope For Winching
- 2024-03-11 AI Can’t Replace Hands-On Training For Four-Wheeling
- 2024-02-14 Every Off-Road Trip Needs A Leftie!
- 2024-01-13 How To Drive Safely On Gravel Roads
Some Upcoming Events (click on the link for details)
We are still in the process of posting our 2025 dates to our web site.
Send me an email. I might be able to tell you when we plan a future event or training prior to it being on the web site.
If you are interested in Death Valley, the Rubicon trip and a trip to Utah in May 2025, prior to the first of the year send me an email.I can let you know the date and put you on a tentantive list.
October 2024
October 12, 2024 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
October 13, 2024 Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
October 12-13, 2024 Getting Started Two Day Package – LA Area
October 18, 2024 Death Valley Adventure
October 26, 2024 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – SD Area
October 27, 2024 Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – SD Area
October 26-27, 2024 Getting Started Two Day Package – SD Area
November 2024
November 2, 2024 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
November 3, 2024 Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
November 2-3, 2024 Getting Started Two Day Package – LA Area
November 4, 2024 SEMA Trade Show
November 09, 2024 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – SD Area
November 10, 2024 Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – SD Area
November 09-10, 2024 Getting Started Two Day Package – SD Area
November 30, 2024 Turkey Day Club Run
December 2024
December 7, 2024 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
December 8, 2024 Day 2 Getting Started Off-Road Driving – LA Area
December 7-8, 2024 Getting Started Two Day Package – LA Area
December 29, 2024 New Year’s Eve Club Run
73 KI6FHA
I hope to see you on the trails!
Tom Severin, President Badlands Off Road Adventures, Inc.
4-Wheel Drive School
310-613-5473
www.4x4training.com
Make it Fun. Keep it Safe.
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