#SeriousAboutYouth via BBC Bitesize
In the unlikely event that you are ever a victim of, or a witness to, a knife attack there are some practical steps you can take to make sure that you and those around you stay as safe as possible. While it would be perfectly natural to panic when someone has just been harmed, time is important. Street Doctors have this vital advice to follow immediately if you ever experience or witness a stabbing:
1. Keep yourself safe
By safe, means out of harm’s way. If there is an active argument or crime scene and it’s not safe to stay with someone who’s been hurt, get to a place of safety such as a shop, cafe, restaurant, gym, youth centre or police, ambulance or fire station. Go to where there are adults or members of the public. When you’re safe, call for help by dialing 999. Ask for an ambulance.
- Apply pressure to the wound
First check there is no sharp object in the wound. If there is no sharp object present you can apply pressure directly to the wound. If you have something to wrap around your own hands, such as clothing or a scarf, etc. you can use that.
If a sharp object is present DO NOT remove it. If you can do so without hurting yourself, you can apply pressure by placing your hands to the sides of the object on the person’s body, and pushing down. Keep your hands a safe distance from the sharp object.
Applying pressure might cause discomfort, but the more pressure you apply, the greater your chance of helping a blood clot to form and preventing further loss of blood.
3.Keep calm
We know that this would be a really stressful situation but if you can, be as calm as possible and stay on the phone with the ambulance staff. They can offer you real-time help.
4.Emergency first aid
If the person is not breathing, perform chest compressions by placing your hands on top of each other and pushing down in the centre of their chest (aim for 30 compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute). If you’re unsure what to do inform the ambulance staff on the phone will help you.