What can you do to help someone who has been shot?

Question

I recently witnessed a shooting and was wondering what a person can do to help the victim while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. What do you do if they're shot in the chest? Arm? Leg, etc?

Answer 1

That all depends on your level of medical training, relationship with the victim, and what you have on hand.

Let's assume you have little or no first aid training, and only have items you might find in your car on hand.

First off DONT MOVE THE PERSON unless you absolutely have to. The bullet might be lodged somewhere sensitive and jostling it around will only make it worse.

Call 911, or direct someone, by name, to call 911. Don't say, "somebody call an ambulance." Point directly to someone and say, "Steve! You! Call 911." If there's nobody around, you call, and then go try to help the person. It's better to get the ambulance en route and then try to help than wish you'd called for help 10 minutes ago.

If there is heavy bleeding apply pressure with cloth (clean is better, but anything is better than nothing). Depending on the location of the wound, it might bleed and hurt a lot - keep pressing. Don't ever remove the cloth (towels, blankets, your shirt, paper-towels), just keep stacking more on. Lots of pressure. You'd be amazed at the amount of blood inside 1 adult.

Try to keep the person calm. Them freaking out and wiggling around will only increase their heartrate and cause them to bleed more. Talk to them, ask them questions, try to keep them and you relaxed.

If you can, try to treat the person for shock. Prop their head up slighly on a pillow, prop their feet up on a cusion, or whatever is on hand. Put a blanket on them if possible. People can die of shock, but it's really being the scope of basic first-aid to treat it. Hopefully you're somewhere with help on the way in the next 5-10 minutes. The paramedics will be MUCH BETTER prepared for emergencies than you. Your job is to keep the guy alive until the paramedics get there. You're not trying to earn a lifesaving merit badge.

The above is usefull about 90% of the time. If the person has been shot in the head or chest, is not breathing, or has a blocked airway you've got more to worry about. You still want to get a pressure dressing on quickly, and then start CPR if you know it. There's so much that could be going on or go wrong nobody can give you a guide without some pretty intense training. Don't try to imitate something you saw on TV. Don't try to collapse a lung to alleviate a sucking chest wound, or perform a tracheotomy with a pocket knife and ink pen - your more likely to do catastrophic harm than any good.

Most states have a "Good samaritan" law. If you are honestly trying to help the person you can't be sued for accidentally injuring him.

Oh, the most important thing, the best preparedness for any emergency is the sense to avoid it. If you think there's a good chance of a shooting at a party - don't go there. An ounce of prevention...

Hope that helps,
Odd

Answer 2

First thing you need to do is call 911.
What you do to help the victim in any given situation depends on the wound and the amount of blood one is losing.
Chest wound barely bleeding just cover the wound and only apply slight pressure.
Heavy chest wound,cover the wound and apply strong,direct pressure and don't let up until help arrives and can take over.
Leg,arm etc wounds barely bleeding,just apply direct pressure.NEVER tie off the wound of a leg or arm unless they are bleeding so profusely that they may die. . .then you can do the torniquet deal.
As you wait for 911 to arrive,do NOT move the victim.
Keep the victim warm with a coat/blanket,newspaper or cardboard whatever you have on hand or can find.
Ask the victim pertainent questions such as known allergies,known medical problems ie diabetes/hemophyillia.
Ask the victim if there is someone to call.
Stay around after 911 arrives so as to answer questions for them that the victim may have given you information on and is not able to answer due to being in shock.
DO NOT under any circumstances try to give the victim any food or water as they will be going straight to the OR upon arrival at the hospital and they do not need anything on their stomach more than they may already have.

Answer 3

the best thing to do is wait for the ambulance to arrive but if you think its very nessary call a doctor while you wait for the ambulance.

Answer 4

call for ambulance first, put pressure on the wound, keep the victim stable as possible, and after that I would pray, but that's up to you.

Answer 5

If you can get ice then put ice and pressure on the wound til help arrives.

Answer 6

do a coach vodka rum vodka rum I did it ONCE. the one factor that occurred was once my face acquired particularly particularly REALLY crimson. But i didn't puke or whatever. I was once shoked lol I could reduce it all the way down to 3 pictures.

Answer 7

Be prepared by taking a class in first aid, available in most community centers. If not, check with your local fire dept. or ems center.

Answer 8

Well if they got shot in the leg or arm or something take their shirt off and tie it tightly above the wound so they will not bleed to death. If it is in the chest then just try to keep them calm and still

Answer 9

Put direct pressure on the area that is bleeding.

Answer 10

1st thing to do i stop the bleeding and call 911....then take a gun safety course and get well armed.