How not to faint at the sight of blood

[RobbyMaQ]

Any tips?
Looking forward to Rhino's thoughts

Seriously... been putting of med training because I really struggle with this. I can watch horror movies all day long. But if it's the real deal, or anything with 'fixing' broken human body stuff, I tend to get anxious easily... I don't really pass out, but I get all flustered and cannot think straight. Embarrassing to say the least. Any 12 step programs out there or other tips to become less anxious when dealing with all things trauma? Maybe 'think about baseball' or something?

 

[Ruffnek]

*I'm not an instructor, medical professional, or a Holiday Inn guest.*

The best way that I've learned is by having a son. I used to be squeamish but, after almost three years as a father, I've learned how to swallow it and do what has to be done.

 

[Leadeye]

Go hunting and field dress some deer.

 

[natdscott]

Work a second job on a farm with animals.

Take up hunting, and gut your own animals with no gloves.

Read Lanny Bassham's "With Winning in Mind" twice. Apply it to your life and your goals, and let others around you read it. Then read it again. Keep buying copies and reading/giving them to everyone you care about or have to spend a lot of time around. Do this until EVERYONE that can be helped has been helped.



Whatever you elect to do, you have GOT to get that crap on lock down if you intend to be a medical responder/professional. There's only TWO things you HAVE to be focusing on in those instances, and nothing else: safety and patient care. Not baseball. Not "not barfing". et cetera.

If you can't get there, then you can't do it, and that's fine too. I, for example, am perfectly happy to NOT work in a hospital, and I am so very thankful that there are people in this world that choose to do so. I have no issue with the level of medical training I have (40 hr WFR), and I hope that if I were called to do so, I could help somebody. But for me, a profession it is not.

-Nate

 

[Bfish]

I think Leadeye has an idea to get stepping in the right direction. If I had to guess you could most likely shadow and autopsy if you so wished to do so... It's a weird experience all in itself. My mom still talks about her first one!

Lastly you don't have to see blood in med training so I wouldn't put it off!

 

[Zoub]

As a kid I found out one of my idols was sickened by the sight of blood. It happened during an event in which my Dad was injured. He was a combat vet and career soldier just like my Dad. Years later I thought maybe he had a flashback but I never did ask him.

It's a liability for sure. With one adult injured, one sick, one drunk (he was in his 80's had a beer or two) he suddenly blacked out, the fourth adult holding the old guy, suddenly at 12 years old I am in charge. I had good first aid skills but it was an intense experience.

Not sure how you overcome it but gutting deer and hogs might help? Really get in there and get it on you! I am not so sure your response isn't normal. I started on fish and small game. Then mine and my friends injuries in the outdoors where I used my training. Education and application, a desire to do both.

I have saved three lives and probably myself twice. You never know when you might need it.

 

[chezuki]

Any tips?
Looking forward to Rhino's thoughts

Seriously... been putting of med training because I really struggle with this. I can watch horror movies all day long. But if it's the real deal, or anything with 'fixing' broken human body stuff, I tend to get anxious easily... I don't really pass out, but I get all flustered and cannot think straight. Embarrassing to say the least. Any 12 step programs out there or other tips to become less anxious when dealing with all things trauma? Maybe 'think about baseball' or something?

I'm really sleepy, so this snark will come with "some assembly required"...

Pretend I said something menstruation related, which covered the "sight of blood" angle while simultaneously implying that you may be a woman; and that the lack of manliness could be the underlying cause of your squeamishness. Make sure it was clever, humorous and only mildly offensive at worst to those of reasonable sensibilities, and not so graphically depicted as to earn me an infraction. Then shower me with (positive) rep.

 

[Kutnupe14]

Go hunting and field dress some deer.

That's quite a task for a person with the OP's issue. I'd start smaller with rabbits, chickens, and squirrels, and work your way up.
And actually, if you want a crash course, go to an autopsy. Most people don't know they can do this, but you can observe. The coroner, at least in Hamilton County, actually enjoys showing people what he does; well he likes the company. It's very clinical, as clinical as something like that can be, and very informative. All officers at our PD MUST attend at least one.

 

[Alamo]

If blood seriously puts you off, I'm not sure jumping right in and gutting a deer and covering yourself with gore is going to do the trick. Yes you need to desensitize yourself, but sink-or-swim claims a few drowning victims too. You might want to think about how to start "small" and work out your own program. (I don't recommend "self-cutting" as a way to get started "small" tho. Maybe start with fresh meat from the butchers.)

I am a volunteer FF/EMT, and have been to some messy situations. I didn't have a big revulsion to blood to begin with, so I really didn't have to work through that, but seeing people hurt, scared, in pain, is not fun, especially when you realize people are depending on you to do "the right thing." I am much more repulsed by people covered in vomit and feces than blood, but I get through it.

The advice I draw from those experiences that might help you is to focus on what needs to be done and exclude your feelings about the patient(s) and yourself. You may have to deal with them later, but "in the moment" the only thing you should care about and focus on is "air should be going in, blood should not be going out." Ruffnek noted he learned to deal with unpleasant stuff when he had a son -- he learned to prioritize his son's need over his own feelings.

Well, one exception to the previous paragraph - I find the feeling, the realization, that the patient is depending on me, to be a big element in being able to ignore all the gross stuff and my own discomforts. The thought of failing the patient or my fellow firefighters is a bigger fear than anything else.

As someone noted, go ahead and get the training, it's not bloody in and of itself. Focus on learning the tasks really well, like direct pressure, dressing and bandaging, etc, so that you don't have to think about how to do them, only that you need to do them.

Good luck!

 

[T.Lex]

To echo what Kut said, I was never particularly squeamish, but autopsy photos of a 2 year old kid who had her head slammed into a wall and died from the resulting injuries pretty much cured me of anything like that.

Well... there were other autopsy pics, but that one has a special place in my soul.

ETA:
And now that I think of it, some of the pics of survivors were worse in some ways.

 

[9mmfan]

I work in a medical office; now a specialist but my first job in the medical field was an old fashioned family doctor who did EVERYTHING in the office. You get over being squeamish pretty quickly.
Don't even get me started on ear wax.

 

[SmileDocHill]

Come shadow me at work Wednesday. We'll be extracting about 20 teeth, a couple of which will involve laying a flap, sectioning teeth and removing bone to get to them. One case will involve laying a guys gums back to smooth rough edges of bone and other bony projections so he'll have a better chance of his dentures fitting in the future. It'll be a good day. We have people/students shadow from time to time so it'll be no big strange thing.

 

[Bigtanker]

I used to be able to gut a deer, accidentally slice open his stomach and go "that's stinks."

No more. The older I get, the more sensitive I've become to smell. The visual part really doesn't bother me but "Oh that smell.........", it makes me hurl. My kids blew chunks a while back. The sight didn't bother me until I tried to clean him up. I joined him.

 

[RobbyMaQ]

Thanks for the advice so far. This isn't for a career or anything... Just looking at a basic trauma class (like what ACT puts on every so often) to be able to attempt to keep someone alive until EMT's can get there (GSW, traffic accident, what have you).
I've done ok with my two kids so far, but then again, never had any arterial blood spurting trauma to deal with, with either of them.

Not sure I get as squeamish around animals as I do people in bloody situations. Gutting fish ain't no thing but I can try small game hunting. Or maybe gut the next possum that comes my way. That'd be damn foul and surely cure me.

Maybe the autopsy route is worth a try. If I can forget the heart pumping, blood moving, heebie jeebies and focus on the body as a mechanical thing perhaps that could help. Plus if I pass out there, I'd be in good hands lol.

I gather few others are bothered by blood n guts stuff.

 

[KittySlayer]

I gather few others are bothered by blood n guts stuff.

Blood is not a problem but can't even look at a needle being stuck into someone else. If I am the one getting stuck with the needle I warn the phlebotomist that I may pass out.

 

[jsharmon7]

Glad I'm not the only one with this issue. My problem is the "fixing" injuries. I've been on scenes with puddles of blood, gore, and death and it didn't bother me a bit. Watching a doctor put in stitches would chase me right out of a room though. It makes no sense.

 

[RobbyMaQ]

tmi. I've pierced my own navel (really should have gone to a pro for that one. Human skin is TOUGH), and two earrings. 12 ga needle, not much blood there though... just lot's of sweat. Still can't watch a blood draw (mine or anyone else's). Would pass me right the **** out.

 

[Sylvain]

I think Leadeye has an idea to get stepping in the right direction. If I had to guess you could most likely shadow and autopsy if you so wished to do so... It's a weird experience all in itself. My mom still talks about her first one!

Lastly you don't have to see blood in med training so I wouldn't put it off!

Depends on the kind of training.
I have been to a first aid class where the instructor said it was mandatory we see lots of blood.
He emptied a bottle of fake blood next to the victim with a bloody knife.

I guess it's a way to be used to it.

 

[Cameramonkey]

That's quite a task for a person with the OP's issue. I'd start smaller with rabbits, chickens, and squirrels, and work your way up.
And actually, if you want a crash course, go to an autopsy. Most people don't know they can do this, but you can observe. The coroner, at least in Hamilton County, actually enjoys showing people what he does; well he likes the company. It's very clinical, as clinical as something like that can be, and very informative. All officers at our PD MUST attend at least one.

That sounds intriguing...

Come shadow me at work Wednesday. We'll be extracting about 20 teeth, a couple of which will involve laying a flap, sectioning teeth and removing bone to get to them. One case will involve laying a guys gums back to smooth rough edges of bone and other bony projections so he'll have a better chance of his dentures fitting in the future. It'll be a good day. We have people/students shadow from time to time so it'll be no big strange thing.

Nope nope nope. NOPE! I have an old friend from HS who is a hygenist. While I find things like 20yo blackheads or popping giant cysts/pulling botfly larvae from peoples backs, the mouth is another animal. She posted a cyst being drained from a patient's gums (not from her office) and I about fainted. Same procedure elsewhere on the body and I find it fascinating. Weird.

 

[jblomenberg16]

Robby, congrats, you are human! You have feelings and emotions, and seeing another human bleeding is triggering a natural reaction. Ok, that is it for the touchy feeling part of it.

I'm the same way as you, and it bothers me not even the slightest bit to gut a deer, clean a squirrel, touch a fish, or bait a hook. But seeing another human seriously injured does get my pulse up a bit. Cuts, scrapes, bruises, needles, even broken bones don't bother me too much, but major trauma, or seeing someone cut gets the hair on the neck to stand up for me.

I've been lucky not to have faced any really significant trauma situations in my life, but have been the first person to come upon the scene of some pretty significant car accidents, and rendered first aid. I'll say this...you don't even notice it. Note, I'm not an EMT or firefighter, so am not at all claiming to be cut from that cloth...those guys are another level of brave and heroic in my book.

But my point is, when it is 'go' time you don't even notice it. You act and do what needs done, and then after the fact you get the adrenaline dump, and maybe even the nausea that comes with it. I think having some training and preparation helps deal with the initial nerves and allows you to focus.

I've often talked to people about it, and really like the way the Marines put it in one of their ads....There are two kinds of people: Those that run towards danger, and those than run away. The fact that you are seeking training to deal with it makes me think you are the kind that by nature would run towards the danger. That is a big part of it right there, and you can only get better from there.

My wife (who coincidentally is in health care, but fortunately not as a first responder) absolutely shuts down at the first sign of danger, or major stress. She goes into panic and overload, can't function, and literally will freeze. Things become more abstract and she can't focus. With some help from another person, she can regain her composure, and focus on what she is trained to do and do it very well. It just takes someone to get her to snap out of the "funk" from the initial stress.

On the other hand, for me, the more stress, the more focused I get and the more clear things become as to how to deal with the situation. I need someone to hold me back and tell me when to stop for my own good or my own safety. I literally go into the "zone" and can get so focused I fail to see other things going on around me. Time slows down, and its almost like things are in slow motion. We both have similar upbringing, identical levels of education (both have post graduate degrees), so it literally just comes down to how we are wired.


So, that's a little long and rambling, but think what you have identified gets you a long way to towards dealing with the anxiety that comes from the stimulus of human blood and/or major injury.