Wound Packing
Required Materials:
- Disposable gloves (if possible)
- Sterile gauze roll or hemostatic gauze (e.g., QuickClot, Celox – preferred if available)
- Pressure dressing materials (optional, for securing the packed wound afterward)
Instructions: How to Perform Wound Packing Correctly
1. Ensure personal protection:
- Wear disposable gloves to protect yourself from blood exposure.
- Calm the injured person and briefly explain what you are going to do.
2. Expose the wound and locate the bleeding:
- Identify the wound and remove or cut away clothing or any obstruction.
- Assess whether the wound is deep and actively bleeding.
3. Apply immediate pressure:
- Use your hand to apply direct pressure to the wound to slow bleeding before starting packing.
4. Insert the gauze into the wound (packing):
- Begin packing the gauze tightly and deeply into the wound cavity.
- Fill the entire wound cavity – as deep and as completely as possible.
- Use a continuous strip of gauze, layering it firmly, piece by piece, until the cavity is completely filled.
5. Apply firm, sustained pressure:
- Once the wound is fully packed, apply firm pressure for at least 3 minutes with your hand or a solid object.
- This step is crucial to stop the bleeding.
6. Apply a pressure dressing (optional):
- If available, apply a tight pressure dressing over the packed wound to maintain pressure until help arrives.
Only for deep, heavily bleeding wounds, e.g., in the groin, armpit, or neck.