Emergency Cases

How to survive if being stabbed?


I have slowly gained back my consciousness and found myself lying on a street. I could feel the pain all over my body…

If you are stabbed but still able to talk, you must call for help immediately. If there is no one around and you still have your mobility, call the emergency number yourself and indicate your exact location to help the police and the ambulance to locate you.

You should be able to determine where your wound is from the growing intensity of pain or hemiplegia at the wound site. If possible, you should apply firm pressure on it to stop the bleeding or slow down the blood flow at the wound site. If there are multiple wounds, use both hands to apply direct pressure on the two most significant wounds. Also, you can lift your injured arms or legs, or have them rested on the pavements to slow down the blood flow.

You should leave the object in the wound if it is still there. Pulling it our may cause the wound to bleed even more profusely. It is better to be done by doctors upon your arrival at the hospital. Blood flow can be controlled by applying direct pressure on the wounds. If your limbs were detached, you should seek help from the ambulance men to find and preserve them, and have them reattached in the hospital. Last but not least, you should stay calm and breathe slowly, and you should restrain your movement to prevent further blood loss until the ambulance arrives at the scene. As long as you are alive, there is hope. Hang in there and don’t give up! (I sincerely hope Mr Kevin Lau Chun-to a fast recovery.)

By Dr Ho Kin Kei
Consultant in Emergency Medicine, Union Hospital
[26/3/2014, AM730]

(This article is translated from Dr Ho Kin Kei’s original article in Chinese.)