Every week, St John Ambulance’s James Atkin brings you his simple, but life saving, first aid tips – this week: bleeding.

Any injury to the surface of the skin will not only allow blood and other fluids out, but it will also allow germs to enter the body. So, if a wound is minor, the aim of the first aider is to prevent infection.

To treat any bleed, the first thing you need to do is wash and dry your own hands, cover any cuts and put on disposable gloves (if you have some to hand). An open wound is at risk of becoming infected, so good hygiene is important to prevent cross infection between yourself and the casualty.

When treating a minor bleed, start by cleaning the patient’s wound if its dirty using running water and pat dry with a sterile dressing or clean lint-free material. Then cover the cut temporarily while you clean the surrounding skin with soap and water, pat dry, then cover the cut completely with a sterile dressing or plaster. If possible, raise the affected area above the level of the heart to stem the flow of blood.

Dealing with a severe bleed can be much more daunting, and in this case the role of the first aider is to stop the bleeding and to minimise the risk of the patient going into shock and losing consciousness.

Firstly, remove or cut the patient’s clothing as necessary to expose the wound. Apply direct pressure over the wound with a sterile dressing or clean, lint-free material to stop blood escaping. If there is an object in the wound, apply pressure either side of the object, don’t remove it.

Raise and support the part of the body that’s injured so that it’s above the heart. This will reduce the flow of blood to the wound and help stop the bleeding. To treat them for shock, lay the patient down with their head low and their legs raised and supported.

Bandage the pad or dressing firmly without restricting circulation, and if blood seeps through the dressing, apply a second one over the top. If bleeding continues to seep through, remove and reapply the bandage, maintaining pressure on the wound.

Call 999/112 for emergency help and monitor the patient’s vital signs, response, breathing and pulse until help arrives.

Want to know more? Find out about first aid courses near you by calling 0121 237 3879, emailing west-mids-training@sja.org.uk or visiting our website www.sja.org.uk. If you are interested in volunteering, you’ll find the latest vacancies on our website or by calling our regional headquarters on 0121 236 6660. They can also advise on your nearest Badger and Cadet units.