by VK Freelance

Created on: July 06, 2009

Gunshot wounds are unpredictable in that you can't see the damage that's been done inside the person, all you see is the entry/exit wound, not the organs that could be hemorrhaging inside. The gun shot can cause a very small puncture would but serious tissue damage, or heavy external bleeding yet it missed all the vital organs.

There are several factors that determine how serious this injury can be: they type of gun, the trajectory of the bullet, location of the injury and size of the bullet. When faced with a situation where someone has been shot, your first thought has to be safety.

1. Safety: Before you go to help, you have to consider is it safe to do so, there is no point rushing in and getting yourself shot, this will only make the situation worse, and cause further problems for the ambulance. So remember - is it safe? Is the gunman still in sight? It sounds selfish, but a first aider with a gunshot wound is not much use to anyone. Practice personal safety.

2. Call the ambulance: Clearly this is of utmost importance to the victim, the sooner they are with fully qualified medical personnel, the more likely it is they will survive. Tell the ambulance that the victim has been shot .

3. Do not move them: You have no idea what damage has been done, so unless the victim is in further danger, do not move them, at all, leave them where they are.

4. Locate the wound: Where is the wound?

5. Is the victim conscious?: See if the victim responds to you, are they unconscious? If they can speak, are they complaining of being unable to move their legs? Treat them as is they may have a neck or spinal injury.

6. Is the victim breathing?: Check for a pulse, and check for breathing, if there is no pulse, you may need to perform CPR.

7. Control the bleeding: The bleeding might be serious, and consequently could cause major complications, so try and apply pressure using a piece of gauze to the wound, do not lift it, as this will prevent clotting. If at all possible lift the affected are above the heart to slow the bleeding, unless the bleeding is above the chest. Apply pressure to pressure points to stem the blood flow - between the shoulder and elbow for the arm, in the groin for the legs and behind the knee for lower legs.

8. Tourniquet: A tourniquet should almost never be used, only in a serious emergency, where you know the ambulance is unlikely to get to you for many hours and the bleeding is serious, or if you cannot get help. A tourniquet will almost certainly cause limb damage, but if you have no choice, wrap something around the pressure point and tighten it with something until the bleeding stops.

9. Cover the wound to prevent further injury or complications.

10. If the victim is unconscious and at risk of choking on blood, then carefully put them in the recover position, but only if you have to, as there may be injuries to the person's neck or spine.

11. Never give them anything to eat or drink.

12. When the ambulance arrives, tell them what you have done.

These simple steps, along with a good first aid kit at home, can save someone's life, but they are no substitute for proper first aid training.

Learn more about this author, VK Freelance.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.