How long does it take for a bleeding cut to stop when tightly compressed?

  • Thread starter Evo
  • Start date
  • Tags
    Cut
In summary: Evo.In summary, if the cut is not too deep and the person washes it out well, they can seal it and bandage it shut and it should last overnight. If the cut is deeper, or if the person is taking meds that inhibit clotting, then they may need stitches.
  • #1
Evo
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
24,017
3,337
How long should it take to stop bleeding after you have it tightly compressed? It's not bleeding as long as I keep it closed and keep pressure on it, but the second I remove the pressure, it bleeds like crazy.

This is me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxIBk1a3qdQ&feature=related
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Then keep the pressure on it...
 
  • #3
But generally mine stops bleeding after a couple of minutes with pressure on it, then I put a band-aid on it for good measure.
 
  • #4
It's been an hour.
 
  • #5
Not good, better get first aid, Evo
 
  • #6
I would definitely go and grab the first aid kit. Out of curiosity, just how deep did you cut it that it has been bleeding for an hour? Because if you cut it completely off, I'd definitely advise a bit more than just first aid...:P
 
  • #7
It's not a long cut, but it's deep, so if I had one of those butterfly things they use instead of stitches, that would work. I need to stock up on first aid supplies. If I had one of those and a rubber finger, I think it would be ok.

If the car I am driving wasn't a stick, I might go to the drug store, but of course it's my right hand.

The Evo Child used up all of my bandages last time she was here because her new shoes were rubbing her feet.
 
  • #8
What is it with the PF all of a sudden. Between you Evo and the golden retriever in the Medical Sciences forum, there's been a lot of bleeding going on this afternoon.

Are you taking any meds (OTC or prescription) that inhibit clotting? Are you on the baby-aspirin-a-day regimen? (If any of these questions are too personal for the open forum, PM me).

How deep and long is the cut? How did you wash it out? What bandaging materials do you have on hand?

If you washed it out well, and can seal it and bandage it shut, I'd leave it like that overnight. It might require stitches, though.
 
  • #9
berkeman said:
What is it with the PF all of a sudden. Between you Evo and the golden retriever in the Medical Sciences forum, there's been a lot of bleeding going on this afternoon.

Are you taking any meds (OTC or prescription) that inhibit clotting? Are you on the baby-aspirin-a-day regimen? (If any of these questions are too personal for the open forum, PM me).

How deep and long is the cut? How did you wash it out? What bandaging materials do you have on hand?

If you washed it out well, and can seal it and bandage it shut, I'd leave it like that overnight. It might require stitches, though.
I just saw the dog tongue cut, poor thing.

Funny you should mention it Berkeman, I'vd had a lot of blood work' done recently and evey time they take blood, when they stop, they ask me if I am on blood thinners because I keep bleeding. I'm not on any that I know of and no aspirin.

I'm using a paper towel.
 
  • #10
Okay, so I see the issue may be not enough bandaging stuff to make a good seal. Maybe knock on some neighbor doors? If you knocked on mine, I have plenty of EMT stuff handy...
 
  • #11
berkeman said:
Okay, so I see the issue may be not enough bandaging stuff to make a good seal. Maybe knock on some neighbor doors? If you knocked on mine, I have plenty of EMT stuff handy...
Yep, I'm out of everything.
 
  • #12
Maybe try this as an improvised butterfly. Take a big bandaid (you do have that at least, I hope), and cut off one side of the tape (leaving behind the center bandage and the other side of tape. Use that tape piece as a butterfly, applying it directly over the cut. Then apply other bandages and dressing around that. The tape should keep the cut closed. Use direct pressure and elevation, and stay that way for an hour (sorry). After that you should be sealed up enough to last until you can get better dressings. I wouldn't remove the original one for a day or two, if that's practical. And be gentle when you do remove it, pulling from the edge nearest one end of the cut, and pulling the tape off parallel to the cut.
 
  • #13
Evo said:
Yep, I'm out of everything.

Well, you're going to need *something*! Can you call somebody to bring you some stuff, or else the neighbor knock thing?

EDIT -- Looks like the golden retriever is okay now.
 
  • #14
Oh, I found the little portable first aid kit that I bought the Evo Child for her purse. It has a couple of bandaids in it. I'll keep holding the paper towel on it for awhile longer then try a bandaid.

Nice to have an online EMT here. :-)
 
  • #15
Evo said:
Nice to have an online EMT here. :-)

Expanding to doggie EMT, apparently :rofl:
 
  • #16
Stop trying to kill yourself.
 
  • #17
Kurdt said:
Stop trying to kill yourself.
:rofl: Well the first bandaid attempt failed miserably, soaked through with blood. Paper towel has been re-applied.
 
  • #18
berkeman said:
Expanding to doggie EMT, apparently :rofl:
I'm impressed with your doggie skills. Lucky I live almost within walking distance of an after hours animal emergency room. I've spent thousands of dollars there rescuing stray animals.
 
  • #19
Depends on how bad you cut it, Evo - when I put that drill through my thumb, it bled continuously for a few days (when not tightly wrapped), then off and on for the rest of the week.
 
  • #20
Evo said:
:rofl: Well the first bandaid attempt failed miserably, soaked through with blood. Paper towel has been re-applied.

I'm assuming that you've been elevating well this whole time (right?). Have you had some first aid instruction where pressure points were covered? Although, you pretty much need a 2nd person to be able to do direct pressure and the brachial pressure point at the same time. Plus you need to know how and when to moderate the pressure point, so that you don't starve the rest of your arm too much while the thumb wound clots.

Try this -- wrap your fingers around the base of your thumb and squeeze a bit to slow the flow of blood into the thumb, at the same time you squeeze the cut closed with your thumb and forefinger. Keep that elevated for 10 minutes, then ease off just a bit on the pressure and wait another 10 minutes, then see if you can close off the cut with the piece of tape I described cutting from a bandaid. Then apply another bandage over it, and dress with tape. Keep it elevated as best as you can.
 
  • #21
I have to bail for the night, Evo. If it doesn't clot up in the next hour or so, you should at least call a friend with some first aid experience who can bring over more bandages and dressing material. Or head to the ER for a couple of stitches and some clot-magic stuff.
 
  • #22
Good thing this didn't happen during the PF upgrade.
 
  • #23
Have you tried duct tape yet? That'll hold together anything. But if it's deep enough that it's still bleeding profusely enough to soak through band-aids or paper towels after an hour or two, it's probably time to find an ER or urgent care place that can toss in a couple stitches. A little bleeding if you mess with it would be normal, but to have it covered and still bleeding enough to soak through dressings sounds like it needs some medical attention.

(And for the record, when I first saw the thread title and Evo as the thread starter, for a moment I thought it read, "After you cut OFF your thumb." :rolleyes:
 
  • #24
berkeman said:
I'm assuming that you've been elevating well this whole time (right?). Have you had some first aid instruction where pressure points were covered? Although, you pretty much need a 2nd person to be able to do direct pressure and the brachial pressure point at the same time. Plus you need to know how and when to moderate the pressure point, so that you don't starve the rest of your arm too much while the thumb wound clots.another bandage over it, and dress with tape. Keep it elevated as best as you can.
:cry:

Moonbear said:
Have you tried duct tape yet? That'll hold together anything. But if it's deep enough that it's still bleeding profusely enough to soak through band-aids or paper towels after an hour or two, it's probably time to find an ER or urgent care place that can toss in a couple stitches. A little bleeding if you mess with it would be normal, but to have it covered and still bleeding enough to soak through dressings sounds like it needs some medical attention.

(And for the record, when I first saw the thread title and Evo as the thread starter, for a moment I thought it read, "After you cut OFF your thumb." :rolleyes:
I have no duct tape. :frown:

I may have to concede defeat on this one, although my cheapskate employer changed medical plans and what was a $40 ER copay is now a $125 copay. :grumpy:

MB, have you seen Greg's announcement that he's doing a MAJOR upgrade tomorrow or Tuesday? I mean MAJOR.

RUT RO, the BIG storm is hitting, I'm SOL now.
 
  • #25
Evo, go get it looked at by a professional. If it hasn't quit bleeding on its own with pressure and whatnot by now, it probably needs stitches. Get help. 'kay? :smile:
 
  • #26
My squash plants just got squashed. :cry:

I do believe this will need stitches. CRUD.

And my squash! :cry:
 
  • #27
Evo said:
My squash plants just got squashed. :cry:

I do believe this will need stitches. CRUD.

And my squash! :cry:

What squashed your squash?

Sorry to hear you may need stitches! If you still think you might be able to get by with just first aid but you're out of bandages, don't hesitate to call the fire department / medics. You've already paid for them through your taxes, and they're very qualified to bandage a cut - and of course they will recognize if you need stitches.

Besides, sometimes they're cute :!) .
 
  • #28
If you have any kind of tape, e.g. Scotch tape, that should work. I sliced my left thumb open on some sheet metal one time. I just wrapped it firmly, and kept it elevated. I don't think I went to the emergency room. I did put some ice on it.

If the blood is not clotting, the perhaps one is low on vitamin-K.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/vitaminK/
 
  • #29
lisab said:
What squashed your squash?
I'm too upset to even talk about it. :cry: I will assess the damage tomorrow. I was in such a hurry to get them inside away from the winds and hail and with blood running down my arm, I failed to make sure they were steady. :cry:

I have managed to finally stop the bleeding. I have a bandaid wrapped tightly enough around my thumb to stop it.

But my squash plants...:cry:
 
  • #30
Any history of hemophilia in the family?
 
  • #31
binzing said:
Any history of hemophilia in the family?
Nope.
 
  • #32
Evo said:
I'm too upset to even talk about it. :cry: I will assess the damage tomorrow. I was in such a hurry to get them inside away from the winds and hail and with blood running down my arm, I failed to make sure they were steady. :cry:

I have managed to finally stop the bleeding. I have a bandaid wrapped tightly enough around my thumb to stop it.

But my squash plants...:cry:

Sorry to hear about your squashed squash plants, but glad you finally got your thumb to stop bleeding. With wind and hail, I can see why you were reluctant to run out to get more bandages.

On the other hand, how could you not have duct tape around? turbo's never going to let you move into his shack (or was it under his bridge? now I can't remember) if you don't have the sense to keep around a healthy supply of duct tape!

In the future, any sort of tape will work around a paper towel, or even rubber bands will hold the towel in place long enough to drive to a store for proper bandages. You better pick up supplies to restock your first aid kit on your way home from work tomorrow. You're too accident-prone not to have a fully stocked first aid kit. :rolleyes:
 
  • #33
I can't believe I don't have duct tape either.

I need to go out and get fully stocked.
 
  • #34
Evo... Rambo... Evo... Rambo...

Rhymes.

I am thinking needle and thread. :wink:
 
  • #35
Evo said:
It's been an hour.

how did you cut your thumb exactly? (the seriousness of the cut would determine what measures need to be taken => this may be a little late since I see the thread is 3 pgs long but :rolleyes:)

I remember that I once had to open a tuna can and it was one of those ones with crackers and whilst peeling off the lid I just pushed my pinky into the lid. (correct that, I dug my pinky into the lid)

and you could take some (not too much) vitamin K OR eat veggies that have it until your cut heals ^___^
http://www.answers.com/topic/vitamin-k?cat=health
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

B How long does it take to reach harmful CO2 levels in a room?
    • Classical Physics
Replies
11
Views
2K
How much pressure in PSI was needed in the Ancient World to cut stones?
    • General Engineering
Replies
8
Views
2K
What are some common Hollywood medical faux pas?
    • General Discussion
3
Replies
77
Views
8K
I Exploring the Physics of a Straw & Water: A Detailed Analysis
    • Classical Physics
Replies
12
Views
2K
Predicting Remaining Pressure in Compressed Gas Cylinder
    • Mechanical Engineering
Replies
3
Views
936
I Entropy Real? End of Time? - Veritasium Video
    • Other Physics Topics
Replies
14
Views
3K
How can I calculate flow rate for leaking pressure vessel during maintenance?
    • Mechanical Engineering
Replies
4
Views
2K
How Fast Will You Return to Dining After Getting Vaxed?
    • General Discussion
Replies
6
Views
717
I Filling a rigid tire from a pressure regulated compressed air line
    • Mechanics
2
Replies
68
Views
3K
Solving a Ball Thrown off a Cliff: How Long Does it Take?
    • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
4
Views
976

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top