How to Treat Bleeding
There are different kinds of bleeding, from a minor scrape to the most dangerous type, arterial bleeding. In either case, your goal is to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. According to the Mayo Clinic, after washing your hands and putting on gloves (if available; a clean plastic bag could suffice), you should:
Have the person lie down and cover him or her with a blanket. Elevate the site of bleeding.
Remove any obvious dirt or debris from the wound, but leave any large or deeply embedded objects.
Apply continuous pressure with a clean cloth or bandage for at least 20 minutes without looking to see if the bleeding has stopped.
Add more gauze if you need to.
If the bleeding doesn't stop, apply pressure to the artery: "Pressure points of the arm are on the inside of the arm just above the elbow and just below the armpit. Pressure points of the leg are just behind the knee and in the groin. Squeeze the main artery in these areas against the bone. Keep your fingers flat. With your other hand, continue to exert pressure on the wound itself."
Leave the bandages in place and immobilize the injured body part once the bleeding has stopped.
