All emergency guidescritical Call 999 where appropriate
Emergency
Catastrophic Bleeding
Life-threatening haemorrhage — stabbing, glass, arterial. Stop the bleed within seconds.
Recognise
- Spurting or heavy pooling blood
- Pale, cold, clammy skin
- Rapid breathing, drowsiness
Immediate actions — CABC
- SCENE SAFE? Move to hard cover if attacker present.
- SHOUT for another staff member to dial 999 — say 'catastrophic bleed'.
- APPLY firm direct pressure with gloved hands, clothing or trauma dressing.
- PACK deep wounds with sterile gauze or clean cloth — keep pressure on.
- TOURNIQUET for limb bleeds above wound, 5–7 cm from injury — tighten until bleeding stops. Mark time.
- Keep casualty warm, talking, still. Reassure.
Junctional (neck, armpit, groin)
- Direct pressure only — do NOT tourniquet
- Pack wound with gauze and maintain pressure
What NOT to do
- Don't remove impaled objects — pack around them
- Don't release pressure to look
- Don't loosen tourniquet
Call 999
- Immediately. Request police AND ambulance if weapons involved.
GuardAssist provides operational decision support. It does not replace formal training, employer procedures, assignment instructions or professional judgement. In a life-threatening emergency, dial 999.