Severe Bleeding in the Field Part 2: When Gauze Does More Than Cover a Wound

When most people think about gauze in a first-aid kit, they probably picture covering a cut or wrapping a wound.
But gauze can do much more than that.
In a serious bleeding emergency, gauze can be used to pack a deep wound and apply pressure from the inside out. This can be an important skill to know if you’re hunting, shooting, or spending time outdoors where help may be a long way away.
Wound packing isn’t something you need for every injury. But when you’re dealing with severe bleeding from certain areas of the body, knowing how to pack a wound can be lifesaving.

What Is Wound Packing?

Wound packing involves placing gauze directly into a deep wound and then applying firm, continuous pressure.
The goal is to fill the space where the bleeding is occurring and allow pressure to be applied directly against the injured blood vessels.
Think of it this way:
You’re not just covering the hole—you’re filling it and putting pressure where the bleeding is happening.
This technique can be particularly useful for deep wounds in areas where a tourniquet cannot be applied.

When Might Wound Packing Be Needed?

Wound packing may be appropriate for deep, life-threatening wounds that are not located in an area where a tourniquet can be effectively applied.
Examples can include certain injuries to:

• The groin
• The armpit
• The shoulder
• The neck
  It can also be considered when you have a deep wound on an extremity and a tourniquet isn’t appropriate or isn’t controlling the bleeding.
  The key is recognizing that you’re dealing with severe bleeding, not simply a deep-looking cut.
  If blood is rapidly flowing, pooling, or soaking through dressings, treat the situation as an emergency.

First: Call for Help

Before anything else, make sure the scene is safe.
If you’re dealing with a hunting or shooting accident, make sure the firearm and surrounding area are safe before approaching the injured person.
Then call 911 or your local emergency number.
If you’re in a remote hunting location, provide as much information about your location as possible.
Don’t wait to call for help until you’ve finished treating the wound.
Control the bleeding while emergency help is on the way.

How to Pack a Wound

Wound packing is a skill that is best learned through hands-on training, but the basic process is straightforward.

1. Find the Source of the Bleeding

Expose the wound enough to identify where the bleeding is coming from.
You don’t necessarily need to completely remove clothing. In an emergency, getting access to the wound quickly is more important.

2. Use Gauze to Fill the Wound

Take your gauze and begin placing it directly into the wound.
Push the gauze into the deepest part of the wound first, continuing to feed more gauze into the wound as necessary.
Don’t simply lay gauze across the opening.
The goal is to fill the wound cavity so that pressure can be applied directly against the source of the bleeding.

3. Pack It Firmly

Continue packing the wound until it is firmly filled.
This can take more gauze than you might expect. Always remember to expand the gauze, if needed, by opening it up.
Once the wound is packed, apply firm, direct pressure over the packed wound.

4. Maintain Pressure

This is where patience matters.
Keep firm, continuous pressure on the wound. Don’t repeatedly lift the gauze to see whether the bleeding has stopped.
Removing the gauze too soon can disturb the clot that is beginning to form.
If the bleeding continues, continue applying pressure.

5. Secure the Dressing

Once the bleeding is controlled, the packed wound and gauze should be secured with an appropriate pressure dressing or other suitable material.
Continue monitoring the injured person while waiting for emergency responders.

Don’t Pack Every Wound

Wound packing isn’t appropriate for every injury.
A shallow cut that can be controlled with direct pressure doesn’t need to be packed.
You also shouldn’t blindly push gauze into every wound you encounter.
Wound packing is intended for appropriate deep, life-threatening bleeding, particularly in areas where a tourniquet cannot be effectively applied.
When you’re unsure whether an injury is serious, it’s better to treat significant bleeding as an emergency and seek professional medical help.

Don’t Remove the Gauze

One of the most important things to remember after you’ve packed a wound:
Don’t pull the gauze back out just because the bleeding has slowed down.
If you’ve successfully packed a wound and the bleeding is being controlled, leave the packing in place for medical professionals to manage.
If blood soaks through the dressing, don’t simply remove everything and start over. Continue applying pressure and add additional gauze or dressings as appropriate.

Training Makes a Difference

Wound packing can be intimidating the first time you think about doing it. That’s why hands-on training is so valuable.
A reputable bleeding-control or Stop the Bleed course can teach you how to recognize life-threatening bleeding and give you the opportunity to practice wound packing in a controlled environment.
Reading about it is helpful; practicing it is better.
You don’t want the first time you ever pack a wound to be when someone is standing in front of you with a life-threatening injury.

Keep Gauze Where You Can Reach It

A few pieces of basic gauze thrown into the bottom of a large hunting pack aren’t much help if you can’t get to them quickly.
Your first-aid supplies should be organized and accessible, especially the items intended for serious bleeding.
That’s why our Ally Munitions Hunt Saver and Life Saver First Aid Kits include gauze and other essential bleeding-control supplies. Everything you need for this situation comes in our kits.
Whether you’re heading out for a hunt, spending the day at the shooting range, or simply traveling somewhere remote, carrying the right equipment gives you another layer of preparedness when something goes wrong.
You can check out our Hunt Saver and Life Saver First Aid Kits at AllyMunitions.com.

Remember the Basics

When faced with severe bleeding, remember the fundamentals:
Recognize it.
Call for help.
Apply pressure.
Pack appropriate deep wounds.
Keep pressure on.
Don’t remove the packing.
Stay with the injured person until help arrives.

You don’t need to be a medical professional to provide lifesaving first aid.
But you do need to be prepared, have the right supplies, and know how to use them. Hopefully, you’ll never need these skills.
But if you do, you’ll be glad you learned them before you needed them.

From everyone at Ally Munitions, be safe, be prepared, and know how to use your first-aid kits.