Step-by-Step: How to Treat a Gunshot Wound
Difficulty Level: High - requires composure under extreme stress
Critical Time Window: Aim for ambulance transport within 10 minutes
Check the scene first
Before you run to the person, look around. Is there still gunfire? Is the attacker nearby? Could a weapon, fire, traffic, or falling debris hurt you?
If the area is not safe, take cover and call 112. Do not become a second victim. Approach only when police or other trained responders say it is safe.
Once you reach the injured person, put on gloves if you have them. If not, use a plastic bag over your hand. Blood can spread infection, so protect yourself while helping.
Call emergency services
Call 112 immediately, or ask someone else to call while you give first aid. Put the phone on speaker so the operator can guide you.
Share:
- The exact location.
- The number of injured people.
- Whether the person is awake.
- Whether they are breathing.
- Where the bleeding is coming from.
- Whether there is still danger nearby.
Do not hang up unless the operator tells you to.
Stop heavy bleeding
Severe bleeding can kill a person within minutes. Look for blood that is flowing fast, spraying, or soaking through clothing.
Press firmly on the wound with sterile gauze, a clean cloth, a shirt, or your hand. Push hard and keep steady pressure. Do not lift the cloth to check every few seconds. If blood comes through, place another cloth on top and keep pressing. Do not remove the first one.
For a deep wound in the groin, armpit, or shoulder area, press firmly into the wound with gauze or clean cloth if you know how to pack a wound. Keep pressure until help arrives. These steps are emergency first aid, not a replacement for surgery.
Use a tourniquet on an arm or leg
If severe bleeding from an arm or leg does not stop with strong pressure, use a proper commercial tourniquet if one is available.
Place it several centimetres above the wound, never directly over a joint. Tighten it until the bleeding stops. It may hurt, but do not loosen it. Note the time it was applied and tell the ambulance team.
Do not use a thin wire, belt, or shoelace if a proper tourniquet is available. If you have no tourniquet, continue firm direct pressure.
Help with breathing
Check whether the person is breathing normally. A gunshot to the chest can cause serious internal injury even when the outside wound looks small.
If there is an open chest wound and you have a proper vented chest seal, use it as directed. If you do not have one, cover the wound with clean plastic or another airtight material while watching the person closely. If breathing becomes worse after covering the wound, lift or remove the covering and follow the emergency operator’s instructions.
Do not remove an object stuck in the body. Do not probe the wound, pour water into it, or try to pull out a bullet.
Watch for shock
A person in shock may have pale or cold skin, fast breathing, weakness, confusion, dizziness, or extreme thirst. Keep them still and warm with a jacket or blanket.
Do not give food, water, alcohol, or medicine. They may need urgent surgery, and eating or drinking can create problems during treatment. Reassure them in a calm voice. Simple words like “Help is coming. Stay with me” can keep panic from taking over.
If they stop breathing
If the person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, tell the emergency operator. Begin CPR if you are trained, or follow the operator’s instructions. Use an AED if one is nearby and available.
Avoid unnecessary movement, especially if there may be injuries to the spine, neck, or bones. Move the person only if the scene becomes dangerous, you must reach safety, or the emergency operator tells you to do so.
Withhold Food, Water, and Medications
Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink, including water. The victim may require emergency surgery, and an empty stomach reduces anaesthetic risk. Do not administer any medications, including over-the-counter pain relief, without medical direction.
Monitor, Reassure, and Stay With the Victim
Continuously monitor the victim's breathing, consciousness level, and circulation until emergency services arrive. Speak calmly to keep them alert and reduce panic. Note any changes to report to paramedics on arrival.
Expert First Aid Tips for Gunshot Wounds
Entry vs Exit Wounds
Do not attempt to differentiate between entry and exit wounds. There is no reliable field method to distinguish them and it does not alter your first aid response. Treat all visible wounds.
Bullet Path Is Unpredictable
Bullets can ricochet, fragment, or change direction inside the body. A wound on one side does not mean the projectile exited the other side. Never assume the bullet's path or final location.
Velocity = Damage
Tissue damage equals mass × velocity². Doubling bullet speed quadruples destructive energy. This is why high-velocity rifle wounds require immediate surgical intervention.
Shock Awareness
Watch for signs of haemorrhagic shock: rapid or weak pulse, pale/cold/clammy skin, confusion, or loss of consciousness. Report all signs to paramedics immediately.
Critical Mistakes to Avoid
- Do not remove objects embedded in the wound - stabilise them in place instead.
- Do not attempt to probe or clean the wound cavity.
- Do not apply a tourniquet to the neck, chest, or abdomen.
- Do not elevate the legs if the wound is above the waist (except arm wounds).
- Do not leave the victim unattended once you begin care.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not wait to see whether the bleeding stops.
- Do not remove bullets or embedded objects.
- Do not wash a deep wound.
- Do not apply turmeric, coffee, toothpaste, powder, or other home remedies.
- Do not loosen a tourniquet.
- Do not give food or drink.
- Do not take the person to a nearby clinic if an ambulance can provide faster trauma care.
Whether the shooting occurs near India Gate, Lajpat Nagar, Karol Bagh, or a residential lane in East Delhi, the first minutes matter. Keep yourself safe, call 112, control visible bleeding, support breathing, and stay with the injured person until professional help arrives. A gunshot wound needs emergency hospital treatment, scans, surgery, blood products, infection care, and close monitoring—not home treatment.
Turn Knowledge Into Life-Saving Skill
Reading about first aid is valuable, but hands-on training dramatically increases your ability to respond effectively in a real emergency. At 24x7 Medical Service, our certified First Aid and CPR courses in Delhi cover trauma management, bleeding control, CPR, AED use, and more - taught by experienced medical professionals.
Our Standard First Aid course is recognised by leading corporates, hospitals, and public safety organisations across India. Whether you are an individual, a corporate team, or a healthcare worker, we have a course tailored to your needs.
Explore our Corporate First Aid Training programmes or enrol online today.
