--- title: "Saving Lives 101: Essential Life-Saving Techniques for Severe Bleeding" description: Death from the loss of blood that occurs due to a traumatic injury can occur in less than 5 minutes. When disaster strikes, you don't need to be a health professional to save a life. In fact, your ability to perform this life-saving technique during the first few minutes before an emergency first-responder arrives on the scene could be what makes the difference! --- [Skip to content](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/gshss-blog/2023/11/30/saving-lives-101-essential-life-saving-technique-for-severe-bleeding#main-content) [![Golden State Health and Safety Solutions logo – CPR, AED, First Aid & OSHA Training in California](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GSHSS%20Logo.png?width=1080&height=1080&name=GSHSS%20Logo.png)Homepage](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/home) - [Training & Consultation](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/services) - [CPR, AED & First Aid Training](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/group-cpr-first-aid-training-golden-state-health-safety-solution) - [Workplace Safety Courses](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/workplace-safety-training) - [Cal/OSHA Consulting](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/california-osha-training) - [First Aid Kit Installation & Maintenance](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/first-aid-kit-installation-maintenance) - [Government Agencies](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/government-agencies) - [AED365 Program](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/aed365-program-management) - [Blog](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/gshss-blog) - [About](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/aboutgshss) - [Instructor Courses & Opportunities](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/instructor-courses-and-opportunities) - [Instructor Login](https://www.enrollware.com/admin/class-list.aspx) - [Contact Us](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/contact-us) - [RideSafe Training](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/ridesafe-cpr-first-aid-training-for-equine-professionals) [Save on supplies! 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Use code boNv6fKra6 here](https://www.aed.com/) Emergency Response Training First Aid Training CPR Training # Saving Lives 101: Essential Life-Saving Techniques for Severe Bleeding ![Patrick Dickinson](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Patrick%20Dickinson%20CEO.jpeg?width=48&height=48&name=Patrick%20Dickinson%20CEO.jpeg) Patrick Dickinson November 30, 2023  Death from the loss of blood that occurs due to a traumatic injury can occur in less than 5 minutes.  When disaster strikes, you don’t need to be a health professional to save a life. In fact,  your ability to perform these life-saving techniques during the first few minutes before an emergency first responder arrives on the scene could be what makes the difference! ### 3 main types of bleeding can occur: - Arterial Bleed – you will see bright red blood spurting out from the wound - Venous Bleed – you will see dark red blood oozing out from the wound - Capillary Bleed – blood trickles or gathers slowly and usually clots on its own ### Life-saving techniques to control bleeding: The goal is to help the body’s clotting mechanisms clot off and stop the bleeding. The first thing you will do to attempt to control the bleeding is **apply direct pressure using a 4×4 gauze pad and then tightly wrap it with a Kerlex roller bandage**. (*Any basic first-aid kit will contain the materials needed to perform this first technique, but if you don’t have a first aid kit available, any cloth will do! You can also purchase a **Premium Plus Bleed Control Kit *****[HERE](https://golden-state-health-and-safety-solutions.square.site/product/Premium-Plus-Bleed-Control-Kit-Without-Quikclot/84?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=true)***.*) You may be tempted to lift the bandage to check and see if the bleeding has stopped – DON’T DO THAT! L**eave the bandage on until the victim can get medical attention.** If the bleeding seeps through the gauze, add more 4×4 squares on top of the soaked bandage and wrap them over again. ![man tying person's arm to stop bleeding after being hit by car](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/tourniquet.png?width=1024&height=1024&name=tourniquet.png) ### In the case of severe bleeding that won't stop... An additional life-saving technique that you can employ is the use of a tourniquet.  Position the tourniquet above the area that is bleeding on the extremity and twist the windlass several times, then tuck it underneath the clamp. There is also a place to write the time that the tourniquet was put in place. Watch the **[video](https://youtu.be/jdBNgYb9gHA)** above for a demonstration of both of these life-saving techniques to control severe bleeding and help save a life.   #### Because Every Second Counts ## EMPOWERING PREPAREDNESS Equip Yourself to Protect Others with [Our Life-Saving Equipment](https://golden-state-health-and-safety-solutions.square.site/) ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com%2Fgshss-blog%2F2023%2F11%2F30%2Fsaving-lives-101-essential-life-saving-technique-for-severe-bleeding](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com%2Fgshss-blog%2F2023%2F11%2F30%2Fsaving-lives-101-essential-life-saving-technique-for-severe-bleeding) ## Keep reading ### [![](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Modern%20Office%20Conference%20Room%20with%20Safety%20Training%20Focus.png?width=1536&height=1024&name=Modern%20Office%20Conference%20Room%20with%20Safety%20Training%20Focus.png) OSHA Training Financial risks of OSHA non-compliance Avoiding OSHA fines and penalties Cal/OSHA Compliance Consulting California: One Vendor Solution](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/gshss-blog/calosha-compliance-consulting-california-one-vendor-solution) ### [![](https://storage.googleapis.com/content-assistant-images-persistent/1d70b1c4-af61-45b1-a5b5-a3fc84bfb111.webp) Workplace Safety Training OSHA Training Financial risks of OSHA non-compliance New Hire Safety Training California: Cal/OSHA Requirements](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/gshss-blog/new-hire-safety-training-california-calosha-requirements) ![Golden State Health and Safety Solutions logo](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/4.png?width=360&height=360&name=4.png) **Training that saves lives.** *Spanish-speaking instructors available.* [Contact us today](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/contact-us) - [Our Services](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/services) - [Cal/OSHA Consulting](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/california-osha-training) - [Government Agencies](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/government-agencies) - [Shop CPR & First Aid Supplies](https://golden-state-health-and-safety-solutions.square.site/) - [CPR, AED & First Aid Courses](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/group-cpr-first-aid-training-golden-state-health-safety-solution) - [Workplace Safety Training](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/workplace-safety-training) - [AED365 Program Management](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/aed365-program-management) - [About Us](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/aboutgshss) - [Subscribe to Newsletter](https://share-na2.hsforms.com/1LC2CThXQT4W6J_XOCDCm4g40uvqk) - [Instructor Courses & Opportunities](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/instructor-courses-and-opportunities) - [RideSafe for Barns](https://www.goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com/ridesafe-cpr-first-aid-training-for-equine-professionals) **CONTACT US** - **Call us directly:** [(707) 514-0546](tel:7075140546) - **Email us:** [patrick@goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com](mailto:patrick@goldenstatehealthandsafetysolutions.com) - **Business hours: ** Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM PST - Early morning, evening, and weekend training available by arrangement **THIS WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A MEDICAL SERVICE.  IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, GO TO A HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM OR DIAL 911 IMMEDIATELY.** --- Privacy Policy · Legal · © 2025 Golden State CPR LLC. 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