Pressure and elevation: the two techniques worth knowing
No equipment, no cost, and they control most bleeding you will ever meet.
Before any dressing goes on, these two do the heavy lifting. Both are simple and both are usually done half-heartedly.
Direct pressure
Firm, flat, continuous pressure directly over the wound with a clean pad. Ten minutes without lifting to check. If blood soaks through, add a pad on top rather than removing the first — removing it strips the clot.
Elevation
Raising the injured part above the level of the heart reduces the pressure driving blood out of the wound. Combined with direct pressure it is markedly more effective than either alone.
What not to do
- Do not apply a tourniquet for routine bleeding. They are for catastrophic limb bleeding only, and applied by someone trained.
- Do not press on an embedded object. Press either side of it.
- Do not keep checking. Every check restarts the clock.
Then dress it
Only once bleeding is controlled does a dressing make sense. Applying one over active bleeding just soaks it.
See a pharmacist, GP or urgent care if a wound will not stop bleeding after ten minutes of firm pressure, is deep or gaping, was caused by something dirty or rusty, contains anything you cannot flush out, or shows spreading redness, heat, swelling, pus or a fever. Get help urgently for animal or human bites, wounds over a joint, and any wound in someone with diabetes or poor circulation.
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FitMedix products are CE-marked medical devices intended for the care of minor wounds. This site does not provide medical advice — seek professional help for deep, dirty or non-healing wounds, or if signs of infection appear. Always read the instructions on the pack.