Indication: For arterial bleeding of the upper arm, shoulder and axilla.
If compression of the brachial artery is impossible or ineffective in the case of bleeding from the forearm, the subclavian artery is the next pressure point.
Pressure Point: The subclavian artery comes out of the thoracic cavity, over the first rib and at the collar bone turns towards the arm. The pressure point is located between the collar bone and the trapezium muscle, halfway along the collar bone.
Procedure
- Place your thumb in the gap between the trapezium muscle and the collar bone, halfway along the collar bone.
- Place your fingers on the patient’s shoulders [Figure 8].
Figure 8
- Move the patient’s head towards the pressure point to relax the muscles in that area.
- This makes it easier to reach the subclavian artery.
- Firmly push your thumb straight down, onto the first rib [Figure 9].
Figure 9