Obviously in the situation of a severe wound the ideal response would be to immediately call 911. Assuming you are in a hectic situation where you somehow cannot call for help, the first thing you need to do is stay calm. Maintain control of yourself. then move quickly to help the victim.

The fist thing you need to do is lie them on their back. If you can you need to elevate their legs so that they are above head level. This will keep blood flowing to the brain, which is important so that the victim does not lose consciousness. If they lose or have lost consciousness check their vital signs immediately.

If they are pierced with an object or have something embedded in them it is vital to not touch it. Do not cajole or try to remove it as this could cause serious complications. Work around it.

If at all possible you need to exert pressure on the wound. Use your shirt or any cloth available. Only use your bare hand as a last option. You are going to need to hold the pressure for at least thirty minutes. Do not let up even if the bleeding seems to have stopped. If the wound is on one of the extremities you can apply pressure by winding a band of cloth tightly around it.

You need to keep the injured body part as motionless as possible after the bleeding has stopped. Keep it tightly bound. With this task secured, leave the other person behind and run to get help.

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