- When to apply
- How to apply
- For snake bites
- Risks
- Takeaway
Share on Pinterest
A pressure bandage (also called a pressure dressing) is a bandage that’s designed to apply pressure to a particular area of the body.
Typically, a pressure bandage has no adhesive and is applied over a wound that’s been covered with an absorbent layer. The absorbent layer may or may not be held in place with an adhesive.
Pressure bandages are used to control bleeding and encourage blood clotting without constricting normal blood circulation. They help:
- minimize swelling
- protect the wound from contamination
- protect the injured area from additional trauma
- prevent heat and fluid loss
Keep reading to learn when and how to apply a pressure bandage as well as precautions.
Doctors often use pressure bandages following surgical procedures. They’re also used by emergency medical responders.
Initial wound treatment
If you or someone you’re with has a deep wound that’s profusely bleeding, you may need to apply a pressure bandage. But first, here are the initial steps you should follow:
- Call for emergency medical help to come to you, or decide how to get the wounded person to emergency medical help.
- If necessary, expose the entire wound by removing any clothing around it. You may have to cut the clothing away. If any clothing is stuck to the wound, work around it.
- Don’t try to wash the wound or remove any objects that have been impaled.
- Apply a dressing over the wound. If you don’t have a first aid kit with sterile, nonstick gauze, use the cleanest, most absorbent cloth you have.
- Fold a 3-foot length of cloth into a ribbon about 4 inches wide and tightly but gently wrap it around the limb, then tie it off with a secure but easily adjustable knot. The knot should be over the nonaffected part of the limb, not over the wound.
- Look for signs that you’ve tied the bandage too tightly. For example, if the injured limb is turning blue or becoming cool, slightly loosen the bandage.
- Elevate the wound above the injured person’s heart. If broken bones are involved, you’ll need to splint the limb before elevating it.
- Use your hand to apply manual pressure to the wound for 5 to 10 minutes.
At this point, the wound should be more stable. However, if you see blood soaking through the bandage or dripping out from underneath it, you need to apply a more effective pressure bandage to prevent excessive blood loss.
Excessive blood loss can result in:
- a drop in blood pressure
- a drop in blood volume
- heart rate or rhythm abnormalities
- a low oxygen saturation
- unconsciousness
- death
If elevation, gauze, and manual pressure haven’t adequately stopped the bleeding, here are your next steps:
- If the injured person’s wound is stabilized and they’re fully awake, have them drink liquids to help replace blood volume.
- Use strips of cloth, cut from clothing if necessary, to make a pressure bandage.
- Wad up some strips and put them over the wound.
- Wrap a longer piece of cloth around the limb and the wad of strips and tie the ends together. You want the pressure to be enough to stop the bleeding, but not so tight as to act as a tourniquet (completely cut off the blood supply to the area). As a tightness test, you should be able to fit your finger under the knot.
- As an alternative to the steps above, if available, you can also use an elastic pressure bandage, like an ACE wrap, placed over gauze and an underlying absorptive bandage pad.
- Check the injured person’s toes and fingers further beyond the pressure bandage to make sure the bandage isn’t too tight. If they’re not warm and pink, loosen the bandages.
- Check often to make sure bleeding has stopped.
- If you see signs of decreased circulation in the limb (pale or blue, cool, numb), loosen the bandage.
You can also use a pressure bandage to treat venomous snake bites.
According to Queensland Children’s Hospital, applying firm pressure over the blood vessels at the site of the poisonous snake bite can slow the venom from progressing into the bloodstream.
If the pressure bandage is tied too tightly around an extremity, the pressure bandage becomes a tourniquet.
A tourniquet cuts off the blood supply from the arteries. Once that blood supply has been cut off, the tissues separated from oxygen-rich blood flow — such as the nerves, blood vessels, and muscles — can be permanently damaged and result in loss of the limb.
If you’ve applied a pressure bandage, continually check around it to make sure you haven’t tied it too tightly or swelling hasn’t made it too tight, but try to maintain a proper amount of pressure.
For some wounds, a pressure bandage may be used to help control bleeding and better allow the blood to clot over a wound.
It’s important, however, for a pressure bandage not to be too tight, as you don’t want it to halt blood flow from the arteries.
You can also use pressure bandages in the treatment of venomous snake bites to help stop the venom from getting into the bloodstream.
Last medically reviewed on February 28, 2020
Regardless of how severe a cut or laceration is, all bleeding can be controlled. With that said, some wounds can cause profuse bleeding, and it is only with the proper first aid interventions that the bleeding can be stopped.
Preparation and awareness are key to treating any wound properly. This starts with having a fully stocked first aid kit close at hand wherever you are. It is equally important to recognize when bleeding requires emergency care.
People don't always know if a wound is serious enough to warrant a call to 911. Or, they may be reluctant to make the call because of a lack of insurance. If in doubt, though, it is always best to err on the side of caution and make the call.
As a general rule, you need to call 911 or rush the injured party to the nearest emergency room if:
- The wound is deep enough to reveal the underlying dermis or fatty subcutaneous layer.
- The bleeding can't be stopped with 10 minutes of firm, steady pressure.
- The injured party is showing signs of shock.
Even if you are able to stop the bleeding, don't assume that medical care is no longer needed. The wound may still require stitches to heal properly. Certain wounds require vaccination to reduce the risk of tetanus or rabies. Lacerations or puncture wounds on the joints and other vulnerable parts of the body can cause permanent nerve, ligament, or tendon damage if not treated appropriately.
It is therefore important to seek immediate medical care if:
- A wound is gaping, and you can't press the edges together with gentle pressure.
- There is a deep laceration or puncture wound on a joint.
- The wound has been contaminated with a very dirty or rusty object.
- The wound was caused by a human or animal bite.
- The wound is on or around the genitals.
Even if the bleeding is stopped, it should almost invariably be seen by a healthcare provider if the wound is deep or there was profuse, spurting blood. The same applies if there was a significant loss of blood, which could lead to a potentially life-threatening condition known as hypovolemic shock.
Call 911 if the injured party experiences signs of shock, including:
You should also seek care if the wound becomes infected. See a healthcare provider immediately if the injured party experiences a high fever, chills, nausea or vomiting, and a rapidly expanding area of hot, swollen, and tender skin. These could be signs of a potentially deadly infection known as cellulitis.
While you can certainly purchase a fully stocked first aid kit online and in most drugstores, you can put one together on your own. If you do decide to make your own kit (for the house, car, office, etc.), the American Red Cross suggests that you include the following:
- Two 5 x 9-inch absorbent compress dressings
- Five 4 x 4-inch sterile gauze pads
- Five 3 x 3-inch sterile gauze pads
- Two triangular bandages
- Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
- A roll of adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
- Five antibiotic ointment packets
- Five antiseptic wipes
- Hydrocortisone ointment
- One roller bandage (4 inches wide)
- Tweezers
1
The first step in controlling a bleeding wound is to plug the hole. Blood needs to clot in order to stop the bleeding and start the healing process. Just like ice won't form on the rapids of a river, blood will not coagulate when it's flowing.
The best way to stop it is to:
- Put pressure directly on the wound.
- If you have some type of gauze, use it. Gauze pads hold the blood on the wound and help the components of the blood to stick together, promoting clotting.
- If you don't have gauze, terrycloth towels work almost as well.
If the gauze or towel soaks through with blood, add another layer. Never take off the gauze. Peeling blood-soaked gauze off a wound removes vital clotting agents and encourages bleeding to resume.
Once bleeding is controlled, take steps to treat the victim for shock.
2
Gravity makes blood flow down easier than it flows up. If you hold one hand above your head and the other at your side, the lower hand will be red while the higher one is pale.
Step two to control bleeding uses this principle.
- Elevate the wound above the heart to slow the flow of blood.
- As the blood slows, it becomes easier to stop it with direct pressure.
- Remember, the wound must be above the heart and you must keep direct pressure on it.
4
When should you use a tourniquet? The simple answer: almost never.
Tourniquets severely restrict or occlude blood flow to the arm or leg to which they are applied. Using a tourniquet to stop bleeding has the potential to damage the entire arm or leg. People lose limbs from the use of tourniquets.
If a tourniquet doesn't cause a loss of function in the extremity, then it probably wasn't applied correctly.
Applying a tourniquet is a desperate move—only for dire emergencies where the choice between life and limb must be made.
To use a tourniquet:
- Wrap a cravat (nonstretchy material like terry cloth or linen) around an extremity and tighten it with a windlass stuck through the bandage (see photo).
- Tighten until the wound stops bleeding. If there's any bleeding at the wound after placing a tourniquet, then the tourniquet must be tightened.
- It's important to note the time a tourniquet was applied and write it down somewhere handy.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
How do I stop a nosebleed?
To treat a nosebleed, sit down and firmly press the soft part of your nose just above the nostrils for 10 minutes or more. Instead of tilting your head back, lean forward and breathe through your mouth. This will allow the blood to drain into the nose, speeding coagulation, rather than letting it run freely down the back of your throat.
-
How do I stop heavy menstrual bleeding with clots?
In addition to using tampons and doubling up pads, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil (ibuprofen) may help reduce bleeding. If you are prone to frequent heavy flows, your healthcare provider may prescribe an oral contraceptive that can correct the hormonal imbalances that promote bleeding. There is also a drug called Lysteda (tranexamic acid) that can be taken during menstruation to reduce the flow.
-
How do I stop bleeding gums?
Bleeding gums can be treated by rinsing your mouth with water and gently pressing a moistened gauze against the gums until the bleeding stops. Afterward, rinse with salt water or an antiseptic mouthwash to reduce bacteria and inflammation. If the bleeding is significant, you can hold an ice pack against the gums (but for no longer than 10 minutes to avoid frostbite).
-
How do I stop a cut from bleeding?
Smaller cuts are treated similarly to larger wounds. Place pressure on the cut with a clean tissue. When the bleeding stops, place the cut under cold running water to remove any debris. Gently apply antiseptic cream, and cover with an adhesive bandage. -
What home remedies can stop bleeding?
There are many different home remedies that people turn to stop bleeding, some of which work better than others. Some of the more common include: