How To Survive a Gunshot or Knife Wound

By Riley Plante
"Evil does not exist within a gun. It exists in the minds and hearts of those who pull the
trigger for evil purposes."~Unknown
Action-packed shooting movies aren't what they seem to be. The popular shows Hawaii
Five-o, NCIS: Los Angels, CSI, and White Collar are all unrealistic. The reason behind why
they're not close to real life is because of their acting and where they get shot. For example,
most TV shows show the viewers that it's easy to get shot but then they get wrapped up and
theyre fine but that's not the case. You actually need to apply direct pressure on the wound and
if there is someone around to help, have them call 911 for the police and paramedics.
Statistics on gun violence from the 2009 Center of Disease Control show that most
people who are shot die from either homicide (murder) or suicide. In the U.S, 554 people also
get shot by accident each year. If you get the chance to take a first aid class do it! But if you're
a doctor, you're fine, because you already know how to do that. If you have time, though, show
your friends.
Sometimes these events can't be prevented. Although in some situations this can be
prevented, such as, when using a gun, keep the safety on. Also, your ammunition and your
weapons are supposed to be stored in two different places. You could even use a gunlock which
is like a small safe around the trigger.

Scenario 1:
You and your father are out in a remote part of the woods
and there isn't a town for another 5 miles. Your dad is
climbing over some dead trees that have fallen down. He
falls and his gun goes off! He is now bleeding out of his
Median and Ulnar artery. How do you save him?

Step 1: What to Use to Stop Bleeding

Take some of your clothes off (just enough to stop the bleeding).

Step 2: Apply Pressure

Put direct pressure on the wound to stop bleeding. If bleeding hasn't stopped use a tourniquet
but that's only the last option. This is to slow down the blood flow.

How to Use a Tourniquet:

First, tie off limb above where bleeding is.
Second, place the pen in the middle and tie a not around the pen.
Third, turn until circulation is cut off (Warning: This can cause nerve
damage.)

Tourniquet

Step 3: Help
After you've applied direct pressure or used the tourniquet, get him
back to the car or a populated area where he can get professional
help.

Scenario 2:
You're preparing dinner after a long day. You've just finished cutting the turkey and you're going
over to the sink to wash the knife. Your hands are all wet and slippery and you drop the knife! It
cuts right into your chest! There's a lot of blood and you don't think you'll be able to make it to
the phone to call for help without stopping the bleeding first. What do you do?

Step 1:
Apply direct pressure with some sort of cloth, that way the blood will start to clot.

Step 2:
If there's someone else in the house have them call 911.

Step 3:
Grab a plastic bag and cut a square big enough to go over the wound, then tape three sides.
This allows the wound to stay clean and keeping one side open prevents any infections, filtering
out bad air.

Sources:
Piven, Joshua, and David Borgenicht. The Worst-case Scenario Handbook: Life. San Francisco,
CA: Chronicle, 2006. Print.

"Gunshot Wounds: How to Treat 4 Types." N.p., 25 July 2012. Web. 11 June 2015.
Rettner, Rachael. "Colorado Survivors: How Do People Survive Gunshot Wounds?"
LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 23 July 2012. Web. 09 June 2015.
"Gunshot Injuries; Gunshot Wounds (GSW) Information | Patient." Patient. N.p., n.d.
Web. 11 June 2015.
"What To Do When Someone Is Shooting At You." What To Do When Someone Is
Shooting At You. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 June 2015.
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