Blood Loss
From BMEzine Encyclopedia
You can lose a lot of blood and live... but that doesn't mean you should!
While most body modification procedures do involve some blood loss, in most it is minimal and should require no first aid treatment let alone concern on any larger level. However, there are times when blood loss can be significant, both intentionally and unexpectedly.
It should be noted that blood loss almost always seems like more than it is at the time, but Grahame writes in to add,
- The human body can lose as much as twenty percent of its blood capacity before such medical necessities such as blood transfusions, hospitalization etc. become necessary to avoid the risk of DEATH. The average adult human contains approximately five or six liters of blood, hence, a liter loss of blood is possible, but not recommended by any standards — a liter of blood is A LOT of blood to lose.
- A blood donor will have only 300mls of blood drawn from them. Anyone who has given blood will know of the side effects after giving blood; drowsiness, lack of concentration, lethargy, which can take the body a long time to 'heal' from, when blood will reach its proper capacity in the body again.
Simple direct pressure can stop the bleeding a majority of the time, or pressure on the nearest supplying artery. Elevation above heart-height and a cold compress may also help with swelling. Heavy bleeding that does not stop after this may require medical treatment (i.e. such as a constant fresh flow of blood that cannot be stopped, not a large dermal punched piercing that drips over a week, or a PA piercing that bleeds for the first few days while sleeping.)
People with bleeding disorders (hemophilia, etc.) will bleed more, of course, and since their blood can't properly clot, their bleeding should be taken more seriously.
