Knowing exactly what to do if someone has been stabbed can make the difference between surviving or dying.
Here, collecting advice from the NHS, British Red Cross and First Aid For Life, MailOnline tells you what to do…
Knowing exactly what to do if someone has been stabbed can make the difference between surviving or dying. Here, collecting advice from the NHS, British Red Cross and First Aid For Life, MailOnline tells you what to do… Call 999 and keep pressure on the wound until an ambulance arrives, says the NHS. If you can’t call yourself, let someone else do it, it adds
The NHS emphasizes that you should follow four simple steps, starting with making sure the area is safe. ‘Consider your own safety,’ reads a leaflet from NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
First Aid for Life, a training provider, added: ‘Before rushing to help the victim, it is important to remember that it is a crime scene.
“Take a moment to make sure the area is safe and that you are not putting yourself in danger.”
After checking that you can approach the victim safely, apply pressure to the wound with ‘whatever is available’, says the NHS.
This will act as a ‘plug’ to prevent blood from escaping, causing a clot to form and stopping, or at least slowing, the bleeding.
Call 999 and keep pressure on the wound until an ambulance arrives, the NHS says. If you can’t call yourself, let someone else do it, it adds.
The British Red Cross follows the advice and adds that if there is an object in the wound, you should not remove it.
“This can make bleeding much worse,” it says. “Put pressure around it.”
First Aid for Life says anything stuck in the wound is “likely to slow bleeding,” adding, “Keep in mind that most perpetrators do not leave the weapon in the victim.”
If the victim is bleeding heavily, he/she may bleed through and soak the object you are using to maintain pressure.
In this case, the NHS recommends removing the soaked garment – possibly a jacket or other item of clothing – and replacing it with a new one.
You should also not wash the wound, as this can cause it to bleed more.
Soapy water is only suitable for small cuts to remove dirt and animal bites if they are not bleeding heavily, the NHS says.
Some people may worry about getting an infection or infecting the person they are helping, but the NHS says that as long as you don’t have a cut yourself it’s unlikely to be a problem.
However, if you want to protect yourself, a plastic bag or gloves can act as a barrier.
If there is not enough blood flowing through the body, the victim may look pale, feel cold and become dizzy, the Red Cross warns.
This is a physical response to an injury called shock.
Unlike the emotional reaction where you feel shocked, this can prove to be life-threatening, making it important to act quickly.
If you suspect someone is going into shock as a result of the stab wound, you should first apply pressure to the wound and call 999, if you haven’t already done so, the NHS says.
Then lay them down and lift their feet higher than the rest of their body. Advice from the NHS says that ‘this keeps their legs higher than their heart, which helps increase blood flow to their brain and heart.’
The Red Cross also advises to continue to reassure them and wrap them in coats and blankets to keep them warm.
