Bleeding from the Scalp
What is bleeding from the Scalp?
Head wounds bleed very freely because the scalp
has a very good blood supply and the skin and
the tissue under the skin are stretched. This
causes head wounds to pull open, making the
bleeding worse. The person with First Aid
knowledge needs to remember that an injury to
the head may also have caused damage to the
skull. Anyone with a serious head wound or who
has lost consciousness due to head injury needs to
be seen by a doctor.
Your aims:
Control bleeding.
Your actions
As always, assess D R A B, respond as needed, and treat any more urgent injuries
If possible try to replace any loose pieces of skin.
Apply direct pressure with the palm of your hand, using a sterile or clean pad. Do not use your fingers
as this might put pressure on an underlying fracture.
Keep the pressure on for up to ten minutes.
Remember to keep checking the casualty’s vital signs and writing down (or remembering) what you found and what you did, so that you can report this to any health worker who takes over from you
