How to Stop Heavy Bleeding — Pressure Saves Lives

Apply firm, direct pressure with the cleanest cloth available — a shirt, a towel, anything. Press hard and don't let up. If the first cloth soaks through, do not remove it — add more layers on top. Removing the soaked cloth disrupts any clotting that has started. Maintain pressure for at least 10 minutes without peeking. If possible, elevate the wound above the level of the heart. For limb wounds that won't stop despite pressure, a tourniquet applied 2-3 inches above the wound can be lifesaving — note the time you applied it and tell paramedics.