Every organ in the human body requires the critical oxygen and nutrients supplied by the constant flow of blood throughout the body’s circulatory system. Cell death occurs rapidly when there is a decreased blood supply, including the crucial cells in the body’s control center- the brain. Exsanguination occurs when the body experiences massive blood loss, triggering hemorrhagic shock, organ system shutdown, and death. When that blood loss follows a preventable accident such as a highway collision, an unguarded piece of equipment, a delayed emergency response, the families left behind often turn to a St. Louis personal injury attorney to determine who is accountable.
What Causes Exsanguination?
Medical researchers define exsanguination as: “The most extreme form of hemorrhage, with an initial blood loss of more than 40% and ongoing bleeding that, if not surgically controlled, will lead to death.”
Severe and/or fatal blood loss, or exsanguination, occurs from massive trauma to blood vessels from wounds such as penetrating injuries, crush injuries, and severe damage to major blood vessels. Some medical conditions, such as aneurysm ruptures, bleeding esophageal varices, and postpartum hemorrhages, can lead to exsanguination. In other cases, exsanguination occurs from preventable physical injuries sustained through the following:
- Car accidents that cause internal hemorrhaging
- Pedestrian accidents with crush injuries
- Crush injuries from falls from heights
- Workplace injuries, such as power equipment injuries from chainsaws and other cutting tools
- Assaults with deadly weapons, such as guns and knives
When an injury victim suffers rapid massive blood loss, they require immediate emergency medical care to prevent exsanguination death. If the exsanguination death could have been prevented with reasonable care by another party, such as a careless driver, a surviving family member may recover compensation and a sense of justice for their grievous loss through a St. Louis wrongful death claim.
Signs and Symptoms of Exsanguination and Blood Loss Injuries
In many cases, it’s clear that an injury victim is suffering from massive blood loss from visible injuries; however, when the bleeding is internal, there may be no initial outward sign of the hemorrhage. Instead, symptoms include the following:
- Paleness
- Cool skin
- Rapid heartbeat and fast breathing
- Dizziness, anxiety, and confusion
- Abdominal swelling
Depending on how rapidly the injury victim loses blood, the symptoms may quickly or slowly escalate into unconsciousness, shallow breathing, and a severe drop in blood pressure. It’s critical to call 911 for emergency assistance and transportation directly to a hospital after any significant injury, but it’s imperative to take immediate action when an injury victim presents any of the above symptoms of excessive blood loss.
Emergency Treatment for Blood Loss Injuries to Prevent Exsanguination
Exsanguination is commonly called “bleeding out,” and leads to death unless the injury victim receives immediate preventative treatment followed by critical care in a hospital, typically including blood transfusions to replace diminished blood volume. While waiting for emergency services to arrive, it’s crucial to take the following actions:
- Apply direct pressure to any visible wound with excessive bleeding, using a clean cloth if available. Do not release the pressure or lift the cloth to look at the wound
- Apply a tourniquet at least two or three inches above the wound if the injury is on a limb
- If the wound is a deep, penetrating wound, pack the wound with gauze or clean cloth before applying steady, firm pressure
Exsanguination is a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate emergency medical care to prevent death. After suffering a preventable injury that causes potentially lethal exsanguination, a surviving injury victim has a right to seek compensation under Missouri’s fault-based law of modified comparative negligence. from the at-fault party, including in car accident cases, workplace injury claims, premises liability cases, or assaults.