Once you’ve found the wound, remove any debris or clothing in the wound, then put a clean cloth or gauze over it and apply steady, direct pressure. You need to press down harder than you think — hard enough that the skin bows beneath your hands. Remember, the goal is to control the bleeding and get the blood to clot. Luk says blood clotting can save a victim’s life.
“If you apply pressure to stop the bleeding, they have less blood loss and they have a higher chance of survival,” he says.
No matter where the wound is, applying steady and firm compression directly over it is an effective way to slow the blood flow. For torso wounds, direct pressure is the only option until medical help arrives.
If you have access to a medical-grade tourniquet, you can use it to staunch bleeding on gunshot wounds in the arms or legs. Help the person lie down on a blanket if possible to decrease loss of body heat and maintain blood flow to their brain. A gunshot wound can shatter bones, which would require surgery, so try not to move the person too much.
Read the full article here
