Life-threatening external haemorrhage in trauma: recognition and control
Find and stop catastrophic external bleeding first: direct pressure, wound packing, haemostatic dressings and tourniquets, then the hospital steps that keep the patient alive.
50 min Author: Dr Godfred Takyi, MBChB, FGCS(EM) Reviewed by: Dr Godfred Takyi, MBChB, FGCS(EM) Updated 2026-10-17By the end of this module you should be able to
- Explain why catastrophic haemorrhage comes before the airway in the injured patient (xABCDE).
- Apply the escalating approach to bleeding control: direct pressure, packing and haemostatic dressings, tourniquets.
- Apply, check and document a limb tourniquet correctly, and know when to add a second one.
- Control junctional, neck and scalp bleeding where a tourniquet cannot be used.
- Start damage-control resuscitation in the ED: early blood, tranexamic acid within 3 hours and prevention of the lethal triad.
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The full reading, the quiz (10 questions, pass above 60%) and the certificate are part of an EdgeMed CPD plan.
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