Bruises

Bruises can be caused by a blow, a heavy fall or when a blood vessel close to the surface of the body is damaged in a collision. Blood loss into the tissues can be seen through the skin, with colours changing from red to purple as the blood is slowly reabsorbed into the body.

The victim may complain of:

• Pain at the injury area

• Pressure beneath the skin

Look for:

• Bluish discoloration around the injury area

• Swelling of the injured area

What you should do:

• If the injury is only a few minutes old, first stop any further bleeding to the tissues by raising the affected body part on pillows or some rolled-up clothing and applying a pressure pad and bandage.

• After ten minutes of firm pressure to stop any more bleeding into the tissue, prepare an ice pack. This will reduce pain and swelling. If you are applying a wrapped ice pack, first remove the bandage; an unwrapped ice pack may be applied over the bandage.