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- Apply firm, direct pressureUse a clean bandage or cloth, or your hand if there is nothing else. Press firmly and keep pressing. Wear gloves if available. Have someone call 112 right away.
- Life-threatening bleeding from arm or leg → tourniquetOnly a real tourniquet, not a belt or cloth. Apply it 5–8 cm above the wound, not on a joint (if unsure: as high as possible on the upper arm or thigh). Tighten until the bleeding stops and note the time. Still bleeding? Apply a second tourniquet above the first. No tourniquet? Keep pressing hard.
- Apply a pressure bandagePlace a thick pad on the wound and secure it firmly with a bandage. Check that the hand/foot is still warm afterwards.
- WarningDo NOT remove the bandageBleeding through? Add extra layers on top of the existing dressing and keep pressing.
- Call 112 and watch for shockNot called yet? Call 112 now. Pale skin, fast weak pulse, confusion? Keep the person lying down and warm.
Checked in October 2026 against the guidelines of the Red Cross, the Dutch Resuscitation Council (2025), the European Resuscitation Council, the Dutch public health institute RIVM and the NHS. This does not replace a first-aid course. If a life is in danger: call 112 straight away.
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