Learn first aid for a baby or child who is bleeding heavily
1. Put pressure on the wound with whatever is available to stop or slow down the flow of blood.
You are acting as a "plug" to stop the blood escaping. The pressure you apply will help the blood clot and stop the bleeding.
2. Call 999 as soon as possible.
If you can't call 999, get someone else to do it.
3. Keep pressure on the wound until help arrives.
Watch how to help a baby or child who is bleeding heavily (1 minute)
Common questions about first aid for a baby or child who is bleeding heavily
What do I do if the bleeding soaks through the item I've used to press on the wound?
What should I do if there is an embedded object in the wound?
Should I wash the wound?
The baby or child looks pale, feels cold and is sweating. What does this mean?
Should I worry about infection or catching something from their blood?
How do I help a baby or child who has a nosebleed?
What do I do if the bleeding soaks through the item I've used to press on the wound?
Remove the item and replace with a fresh one, make sure that firm pressure is applied to the wound.
Call 999 as soon as possible. If you can’t call 999, get someone else to do it.
What should I do if there is an embedded object in the wound?
Do not remove it – it's helping plug the hole and stop the blood flow. Instead, apply pressure around the object.
Removing the object from the wound can make the bleeding much worse.
Should I wash the wound?
Don't wash a wound that is bleeding heavily. You may make it bleed more.
For minor cuts and grazes, you can wash the wound to remove any dirt. You should also wash animal bites with soapy water if they are not bleeding heavily.
The baby or child looks pale, feels cold and is sweating. What does this mean?
This means there isn’t enough blood flowing through the body. This physical response to an injury or illness is called shock. It is different to the emotional response to an incident where you may feel "shocked".
If you suspect a baby or child is going into shock:
- continue to apply pressure to the wound to stop the blood coming out
- call 999 if you haven’t already done so
- cradle or lie them down and lift their feet higher than the rest of their body. This keeps their legs higher than their heart, which helps increase blood flow to their brain and heart
- comfort them and wrap them in coats or a blanket to keep them warm.
Should I worry about infection or catching something from their blood?
No, if you don’t have a cut on yourself, you are very unlikely to get an infection or infect them. If you are worried about infection, you can use a plastic bag or plastic gloves as a barrier, or you could get them to use their own hand to put pressure on the wound.
How do I help a child who has a nosebleed?
Find out how to help a child who has a nosebleed.
Email us if you have any other questions about first aid for a baby or child who is bleeding heavily.
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