Before continuing, see the note on the use of this Guide.

Generalities:

Hemorrhage or bleeding is the loss of blood due to the rupture of a blood vessel, vein or artery (the most dangerous). Hemorrhages are classified as:

• External. for trauma: cuts, fractures ...
  
• Internal. in any tissue or organ
  
• Externalized. It comes out of some natural hole in the body.
  

When the loss of blood is profuse or severe, it can put the person's life at risk, so it must be treated immediately with first aid while the medical staff attends. This occurs regularly due to accidents or attacks with weapons.

First Aids

As a first, put pressure on the wound (to avoid infecting it use a sterile gauze, or failing that, a clean cloth). You can also lift the limb or part of the body that has suffered the wound (above the level of the heart). Even practice both techniques simultaneously. In most cases this will decrease or stop the bleeding. Platelets will be responsible for forming a clot that will stop blood flow, unless the person has a disease or condition that affects the normal circulation of the blood or the wound because of its size does not allow the blood to clot.

A tourniquet will be applied only in extreme cases when the person's life is really in imminent danger, since by stopping the circulation there is a risk that the tissues suffer from necrosis.

Hemorrhagic shock:

Also called hypovolemic shock: it occurs when the body loses more than 20% of the blood volume. The heart is unable to pump enough blood to the tissues and the organs and cells begin to suffer from lack of oxygen. It presents with symptoms such as:

• Anxiety, confusion, altered mental state
  
• Hypotension and weak pulse
  
• Cold skin
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Distracted look
  

If a medical intervention is not done to control the bleeding or a blood transfusion is performed, the person can die within minutes.

Internal bleeding:

Internal hemorrhages are often more difficult to detect. They can be detected by feeling every part of the body, looking for possible injuries and inflammations. It can also be done through bioenergetics. Medical studies and treatment are necessary. According to studies, which may be X-rays, the type of medical intervention that should be performed such as emergency surgery will be determined.

Hematomas are lower risk types of bleeding that do not regularly require medical intervention.

Embolism or stroke is also a type of internal bleeding that affects the brain.

Internal bleeding may also occur due to diseases that weaken the walls of blood vessels such as some types of cancer, diabetes or other chronic degenerative diseases; or by the rupture of some aneurysm.

External bleeding:

Are those that occur through a natural hole in the body such as the mouth (bloody vomit or bleeding gums), eyes, ears, breasts, vagina, urethra or rectum. Hemorrhages of the digestive tract in most cases are caused by chronic degenerative diseases of the digestive system. In all cases anemia (iron deficiency in the blood) may occur.