What to do to avoid bleeding to death when slashed with a knife – Medical doctors advice after a Nigerian woman died during fight with a flatmate

The death of a young Nigerian woman from excessive bleeding after her hand was slashed during a fight has shocked viewers, with many saying the death was avoidable.

Recall that two Nigerian women got into a fight and one of the women used a knife to cut the other on her hand. It seemed like a small cut but it bled so much until the injured woman died (read here). 

Reacting, an LIB reader advised the public on what to do to prevent death in such cases.

The follower wrote: “Simple first aid would have saved this girl life. Arterial bleed. You need to tie a tourniquet above the cut as blood is gushing to the external breech. Ensure the tourniquet is very tight if you can use a stick lock use it. 

“Next, ensure the hand is raised. And calm the patient down the more she is walking around and active blood is pumping out, lie her down so the heart is below the cut level. 

“Do this FIRST. If there is ambulance have someone call one, otherwise rush her to the nearly hospital. 

“Just putting a bandage over this or putting pressure won’t stop the bleed. Ways to notice arterial bleeding, it jumps, blood will rush out stop for a few minutes rush out again, it is usually very bright very very bright as its just been oxygenated and heart is pumping to the rest of the body but all will rush to the cut. 

“Note THIS. In an arterial if you do not intervene and blood continues rushing out for 3 MINUTES. That’s it! Remember first apply pressure and tie a tourniquet fast!! 

“It’s sad. She literally was walking around and reducing her chances of survival. Two things that can kill you instantly – 1. when you choke and airway is compromised, you literally have about 8 mins to survive without air. 2. Arterial or venous bleeding. Arterial 3 mins, venous 12 mins. Know first aid it is everyone’s responsibility to save lives.”

LIB spoke with a medical doctor, Serah Okoronkwo-Uwadi, who confirmed the suggestions above are “facts”.

Dr Okoronkwo-Uwadi said: “That patient definitely died from hypovolemic anaemia and shock due to the excessive bleeding. A simple tourniquet would have saved her life.”

She added: “Another way to describe Arterial bleed is that it runs like a tap.”