Types of Bleeding and How to Give Them First Aid

Bleeding is one of the most critical signs of injury, and knowing how to respond quickly and correctly saves lives. Whether it’s a scraped knee or a life-threatening wound, the severity and source of the bleeding determine the appropriate first aid response.

There are several types of bleeding: arterial, venous, capillary, internal, and external, each with distinct characteristics and treatment methods. Some forms are controlled with simple pressure, while others require immediate medical attention to prevent shock or death. The ability to recognize and manage each type of bleeding is a vital skill for everyone, not just healthcare professionals.

This guide provides a clear overview of the different types of bleeding, how to identify them, and the essential steps for treatment, empowering you to act with confidence in emergencies.

Types of Bleeding Based on the Source of Bleeding

Bleeding is classified into three types based on the source of the damaged blood vessel: arterial, venous, and capillary. Each type has distinct characteristics in terms of blood color, flow pattern, and severity. We can recognize these differences easily to provide the appropriate first-aid response.

1. Arterial Bleeding

Arterial bleeding happens when an artery is damaged. Arteries, located deep within the muscle, carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body parts at high pressure. During arterial bleeding, high pressure within the artery causes a person to lose a lot of blood in a short time.

Loss of blood in a huge amount causes a lack of oxygen to the brain and other important parts of the body, and a delay in treatment can lead to death. That’s why it’s very important to get help right away, you should call emergency services immediately and try to stop the arterial bleeding as soon as possible until help arrives.

How to Identify Arterial Bleeding?

Several key signs identify arterial bleeding:

1. Arterial bleeding is bright red and spurts with the rhythm of the heartbeat.
2. Quick blood flow in large amounts, which is hard to stop, indicates the signs of arterial bleeding, making it a dangerous type of bleeding.
3. Blood flow from deep cuts or injuries, especially to larger arteries like the femoral, carotid, or brachial arteries, indicates arterial bleeding.
4. Arterial bleeding results in signs of shock such as pale skin, rapid breathing, and dizziness.

How Do You Give First Aid for Arterial Bleeding?

1. Put pressure on the wound using a clean cloth to help slow the blood flow. Do not lift or peek under the dressing once applied. After the blood stops, cover the wound with sterile gauze and secure it with a bandage.
2. If the bleeding is from an arm or leg, raise the limb above the level of the heart.
3. If all attempts to stop the bleeding fail, apply a tourniquet above the wound. This should only be done as a last resort, as it causes damage to the limb. Tighten until the bleeding stops, and note the time the tourniquet was applied.
4. Keep an eye on the person for any signs of shock, such as pale or cool skin, dizziness, or rapid breathing. Lay the person flat, elevate their legs slightly, and continue to apply pressure to the wound.
5. If trained, administer IV fluids to maintain blood pressure and oxygen to support breathing until medical help arrives.

2. Venous Bleeding

Venous bleeding happens when a vein is cut or injured. Veins, located closer to the skin, carry blood back to the heart from different parts of the body. Venous bleeding is usually not as dangerous as bleeding from an artery. But if a big vein gets cut, a person still loses a lot of blood. While venous bleeding is less common, it still occurs in various situations, particularly with trauma or surgery. The severity of venous bleeding depends on the size and location of the vein; larger veins or injuries near vital organs lead to life-threatening blood loss.

If you identify someone having venous bleeding, you should call emergency services (911), give first aid, and wait until medical help arrives.

How Do You Identify Venous Bleeding?

The following signs recognize venous bleeding:

1. Venous bleeding is dark red or maroon due to the presence of less oxygen and flows steadily without spurting or pulsing.
2. Venous blood is under lower pressure compared to arterial blood, so the bleeding is less forceful and slower, but a continuous flow of blood can lead to significant blood loss.
3. Venous bleeding often occurs from injuries to superficial veins in areas like the arms and legs.
4. If the bleeding is severe and not controlled, signs of shock (like rapid pulse, cold/clammy skin, dizziness, or fainting) occur due to blood loss.

How Do You Give First Aid for Venous Bleeding?

1. Press the wound firmly with a clean cloth to stop the blood flow. Please don’t lift the dressing to check; keep it in place. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, wrap a pressure bandage around the wound. Tourniquets are not recommended unless bleeding is life-threatening.
2. If the bleeding is from an arm or leg, raise the limb above the heart. This helps slow the bleeding by reducing blood flow to the area.
3. Keep an eye on the person for signs of shock, like pale skin, rapid breathing, or dizziness. If you see these signs, lie the person flat and raise their legs slightly to help blood flow.
4. Give fluids if you know how to give the person IV fluids to help keep their blood pressure steady.
5. Keep checking the person’s breathing and pulse. Be ready to perform CPR if necessary.

3. Capillary Bleeding

Capillary bleeding occurs when the smallest blood vessels in the body, called capillaries, are damaged. These vessels are located just under the surface of the skin and are responsible for exchanging oxygen, nutrients, and waste between the blood and body tissues.

Small cuts, scrapes, or abrasions are usually the cause of capillary bleeding. Examples include paper cuts, small puncture wounds, or grazes. This type of bleeding is the most common and is generally not serious. Although capillary bleeding rarely leads to major blood loss, it should still be treated appropriately to prevent infection.

How to Identify Capillary Bleeding?

Here’s how to recognize it:

1. Capillary bleeding is bright red because it’s oxygenated, and the bleeding is much less intense.
2. Capillary bleeding oozes slowly from the wound, and it doesn’t shoot out or flow rapidly. Bleeding is not forceful and stops on its own or with minimal pressure.
3. Capillary bleeding is generally not serious and rarely leads to significant blood loss.
4. The bleeding tends to be limited to the area of the injury and doesn’t spread over a large area.

How Do You Give First Aid for Capillary Bleeding?

1. First, wash the wound with clean water to remove dirt and debris. Use mild soap if needed.
2. Use a clean cloth, gauze, or bandage to press on the wound gently. This will help stop the bleeding.
3. If the wound is on an arm or leg, elevate the wound area above the heart to reduce blood flow and help stop the bleeding.
4. After applying pressure and the bleeding stops, cover the wound with a bandage or clean dressing to protect it and keep it clean. Make sure the bandage is not too tight.
5. Most capillary bleeding will stop within a few minutes. Keep an eye on the wound to ensure the bleeding has stopped. If it continues or the wound looks deep, seek medical help.

Types of Bleeding Based on the Location

Bleeding is also grouped based on where it occurs in the body, either externally or internally, and this affects how it is noticed and treated. Bleeding on the outside of the body and bleeding inside the body show different signs and lead to different problems.

Knowing where the bleeding is coming from helps doctors respond quickly and provide the right treatment to prevent serious health risks.

1. Internal Bleeding

Internal bleeding is when blood leaks from vessels inside the body. It’s harder to detect than external bleeding because it’s not visible. Severity depends on the location, the amount of blood lost, and how quickly it happens. Major blood loss or bleeding near vital organs can cause shock, organ failure, or death. Bleeding in the brain can lead to stroke and brain damage.

Doctors use scans and blood tests to find the source. Quick action is critical. If you suspect internal bleeding, call 911, give basic first aid, and stay with the person until help arrives.

How Do We Identify Internal Bleeding?

Here are some of the signs that indicate internal bleeding:

Visible Signs	Invisible Signs
Deep purple or bluish bruises, especially in areas not injured, can suggest blood is leaking under the skin.	Intracranial Bleeding leads to symptoms such as weakness on one side of the body, headache, and changes in mental status.
Bleeding from the ears or nose can be a sign of a serious head injury, especially after a fall or trauma.	Pleural Cavity Bleeding can cause symptoms that include chest pain, shortness of breath, and dizziness.
Coughing up frothy, pink, or red-tinged sputum can signal bleeding in the lungs or airways.	Abdominal Bleeding can give signs like low blood pressure, abdominal pain, and fainting.
Blood in the waste product, like urine and stool, indicates internal bleeding.	Gastrointestinal Tract Bleeding leads to symptoms like stomach cramps, black, tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, bright red vomit, feeling faint, and shortness of breath.

How Do You Give First Aid for Internal Bleeding?

1. Movement worsens bleeding. Help the person lie down and stay as calm and still as possible.
2. If there’s no suspected injury to the head, neck, back, or legs, lay them flat on their back to support circulation. Use a blanket to cover the person to prevent heat loss.
3. If safe to do so, raise the person’s legs about 12 inches to improve blood flow to the heart and brain, especially if they show signs of shock.
4. Avoid giving anything by mouth, as surgery might be required, and eating or drinking could complicate treatment.
5. If the person becomes unresponsive and is not breathing, begin CPR immediately if you’re trained to do so.

2. External Bleeding

When blood comes out of the body due to injuries or damage to the blood vessels, it is called external bleeding. This type of bleeding is easy to see because blood flows out of a wound, such as from cuts, scrapes, punctures, broken bones, or after surgery. Depending on the injury, the blood flows slowly or spurts out quickly. If the bleeding is severe, it leads to hypovolemic shock, which is when the body loses too much blood and can’t get enough oxygen to the organs.

If the bleeding is severe, call for emergency help immediately, provide first aid, and wait for medical help.

How Do You Give First Aid for External Bleeding?

1. Use a clean cloth to press directly on the wound. This helps slow or stop the bleeding. Do not remove the cloth to check the wound.
2. If possible, and there’s no fracture, raise the bleeding hand above the level of the heart.
3. Once bleeding slows, wrap a sterile bandage around the wound firmly to maintain pressure, but not so tightly.
4. If the bleeding is life-threatening and doesn’t stop with pressure, apply a tourniquet above the wound. Note the time it was applied and inform emergency personnel.
5. Movement worsens the bleeding. Keep them lying down and as still as possible.
6. If something is stuck in the wound (like glass or metal), do not pull it out. Apply pressure around the object and stabilize it with dressings.
7. Even if the bleeding stops, deep or dirty wounds need stitches or antibiotics to prevent infection.

When To Seek Medical Help?

You should get medical help if bleeding doesn’t stop after pressing on the wound for 10-15 minutes. If the blood is spurting out or pulsing, it could mean a serious artery is bleeding, which is an emergency. Wounds that are deep, wide, or more than half an inch long need stitches. Bleeding from the mouth, nose, ears, or bottom could mean something is wrong inside the body and should be checked by a doctor.

If the person feels dizzy, weak, confused, has pale or cold skin, or faints, it is a sign that they are going into shock and need help right away. If something like glass or metal is stuck in the wound, don’t try to pull it out. Go to the hospital. Bleeding that happens after surgery or a medical procedure should always be looked at by a doctor. If the wound becomes red, swollen, warm, or has pus, it could be infected. Also, anyone who takes blood thinners or has a bleeding disorder should see a doctor, even for small wounds, since they bleed more than usual.

Conclusion

Bleeding, whether minor or life-threatening, demands immediate and informed action. By understanding the types of bleeding, you can quickly recognize the severity of a wound and respond with the correct first aid steps. Simple actions like applying pressure, elevating a limb, or recognizing signs of shock can make the difference between recovery and a medical emergency. While some bleeding can be managed at home, others require urgent medical attention.

One of the best ways to be prepared is through formal training. Learning how to control bleeding can help you save a life at home, at work, or in public. The Stop the Bleed program teaches you essential techniques like applying pressure, bandaging wounds, and using tourniquets effectively. These are critical skills anyone can learn and apply in high-stress situations. Join the Stop the Bleed course by Heart Start CPR and gain the confidence to take action in an emergency.