Internal bleeding can be potentially life-threatening because you are unable to determine at the very beginning. Heavy internal bleeding can happen in the abdominal cavity, the digestive tract, the chest cavity and tissues surrounding a broken bone. Excessive internal bleeding is not apparent though the organ affected can cause pain to the victim. Eventually, the bleeding becomes apparent with symptoms such as vomiting or coughing blood or bleeding from the nose, ears or rectum, shock instigated by weakness, thirst and skin appearance.
First Aid for Internal Bleeding
Following are the first aid and safety tips for internal bleeding:
- Call emergency services immediately
- Make the person lie still with legs elevated
- Keep the victim warm
- Reassure the victim
- Monitor the airway and breathing
- If the victim is unconscious be prepared to manually press the chest to pump blood into the heart (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
- If unconscious make the victim lie still with legs elevated and bent at the knees
- Treat all external injuries
- Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink
Internal bleeding can occur in any part of the body such as the stomach, spleen or liver which have a rich blood supply. In most of the cases, the symptoms are hard to identify and internal bleeding starts days after an accident had happened. Though less serious internal bleeding can be treated with cold compression, severe internal bleeding should not be ruled out.