First Aid for Bleeding

by
posted on May 1, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
qa_ah2015_fs.jpg (35)

Q: My friend and I often hunt in remote locations. What should we know, as far as first aid is concerned, about stopping bleeding?

A: Accidents happen in the field; that is just a fact of life. There are certain things you should know in the unfortunate event that you or your hunting partner gets cut, and you are suddenly tasked with stopping bleeding.

Severe Bleeding: Cover the wound with a pad and press hard. Stop the bleeding with a bandage. If the pad becomes soaked, do not remove it. Put another pad on top of the first and continue pressure. Get medical help as quickly as possible.

Arterial Bleeding From Arm: Control it by squeezing the artery with the flat of your fingers against the upper arm bone at a pressure point.

Arterial Bleeding from Leg: Control it by pressing the artery with the heel of your hand against the pelvic bone.

We also recommend taking a first-aid course from a certified instructor before your next hunt. The above information is good knowledge to have, but it does not take the place of professional medical advice or training.

Latest

Ledeworlds Biggest
Ledeworlds Biggest

World’s Largest Gathering of Outdoor Enthusiasts Begins Saturday

More than 200,000 hunters, shooters, anglers, RVers and virtually every other flavor of outdoor enthusiast will attend NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS). It opens Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., and is the place to be if you want to see your favorite pursuit’s latest and greatest, book a trip and more.

Year-Round Gear Care

Every fall season I hear one or two horror stories involving equipment failures in the field. All too often these stories include personal injuries. Let's take a few minutes to help you avoid such costly circumstances.

New for 2026: Mossberg Maverick Semi-Automatic Shotgun

Mossberg has introduced its Maverick SA Semi-Auto line of shotguns, engineered to be multi-season workhorses, chambered for both 2.75-inch and 3-inch shotshells and featuring a 6-shot capacity.

First Look: Blocker Outdoors Finisher Chest Pack Pro

The Blocker Outdoors Finisher Chest Pack Pro is the kind of gear that takes the basic tenets of turkey hunting into consideration, while attempting to minimize the burden of a cumbersome full-size vest. This makes it a a straightforward alternative to a full-size turkey vest for run-and-gun hunters who want to balance loadout with freedom of movement.

The Value of Post Season Scouting in the Snow

Although for most of the country deer season is over, there are some important aspects of deer hunting to be understood, particularly when it snows during the winter months. In my part of the country, we don’t often get a good blanket of snow until the deer season closes. However, when it does snow, I make a point to get outdoors and visit each of my hunting areas to learn when the learning is best.

Tuo Introduces New Camouflage Pattern: Ryse

Tuo launched its proprietary Verse camo pattern in 2024. While the supplemental light tans and sharp lines render effectiveness in wooded environments as well, Tuo wanted to offer a second exclusive pattern for whitetail hunters. It has done so with Ryse.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.