There are three main types of bleeding: arterial, venous, and capillary. Arterial bleeding is the most severe as blood spurts from damaged arteries in time with heartbeats. Venous bleeding is also serious as veins carry a high blood volume, though blood flows consistently rather than spurting. Capillary bleeding is the least serious as blood trickles from capillaries before stopping. First aid treatments involve applying direct pressure with dressings or bandages to control bleeding from arteries, veins, or capillaries.

1. Types of Bleeding

2. What is bleeding
 Bleeding (also known as
hemorrhaging) often occurs
after an injury. Additionally, it
can be the result of a disease.
Bleeding occurs when blood
vessels become damaged.
Bleeding injuries can happen
on the outside of the body
(external bleeding) or inside the
body (internal bleeding)

3. 3 Types of Bleeding
ARTERIAL BLEEDING Venous bleeding Capillary bleedin

4. Arterial bleeding
 This is usually the most severe. Blood may ‘spurt’
from a damaged artery in rhythm with the victim’s
heartbeat. This is because the blood is under
direct pressure from the heart’s pumping action.
Arterial bleeding is an emergency and typically
results in the most blood volume lost out of the 3
types of bleeding.
 Healthy arterial blood is often a bright red color,
due to its high oxygen content.

5. Venous bleeding
 This can also be serious, as the veins also carry a
high volume of blood. Unlike arterial bleeding, blood
will not usually ‘spurt’ from a damaged vein. Instead,
blood will flow out consistently. This is because the
veins are not under direct pressure from the heart’s
action. Despite this, venous injuries can still result in
rapid blood loss.
 Since venous blood doesn’t have as much oxygen,
it has a dark red appearance.

6. Capillary bleeding
 This type of bleeding occurs in all wounds. It is the least
serious of the 3 types of bleeding, since it is the easiest to
control and results in the least blood loss. Blood ‘trickles’ out
of capillaries for a short while before the bleeding stops.

7. First Aid For Arterial Bleeding
 The wound will be pulsating, and it will likely take several dressing pads to control the
bleeding. If the victim is conscious and can assist, this will help.
 Ask the victim to maintain pressure over the dressing pad or cloth. The blood will
probably soak through, so apply a second pad on top of the first, rather than removing
it. Continue to apply firm, direct pressure over the wound.

8. First Aid For Arterial Bleeding

9. First Aid For Venous Bleeding
 Cover the wound as long as no impaled objects are protruding from it. Ideally, a sterile pad or
bandage would work best, but use whatever you have available, so long as it's clean.
 Apply direct and constant pressure to the wound. If the victim is conscious and can assist, this
will help.
 Apply new dressing pads or bandages as needed, if blood begins to soak through the one(s)
already applied.

10. First Aid For Venous Bleeding

11. First Aid for Capillary Bleeding
 Clean the wound using clean, potable water. Pour or run water over the abrasion while brushing off
blood and debris – dirt, loose pebbles, etc.
 Dab the wound with (ideally) a sterile pad or bandage.
 Once the wound is clean and dry and the bleeding has stopped, apply an antibacterial cream (if
you have one) to stop any chance of infection.
 Apply a bandage large enough to cover the entire wound

12. First Aid For Capillary Bleeding