You're at the gun range with your friend,
enjoying some target practice
after a busy week.
While retrieving the target,
your friend accidentally
points the gun in your direction.
Bad news.
The gun wasn't empty.
You've been shot.
And you need to get help right away,
or you will die.
Here's
Gun-related deaths and injuries
occur around the world everyday.
In the United States alone, there are
And 200 more people are shot and wounded.
The amount of damage a bullet
can do to a human is devastating.
A 14-year-old boy was shot in the abdomen.
While the wound didn't look life-threatening
from the outside,
the bullet changed course inside the boy's body.
It tore through his intestines,
pancreas,
spleen,
stomach,
diaphragm,
and a lung
before planting itself in the boy's spine.
Thankfully, after four hours of surgery,
and a couple of follow-up visits,
the boy survived.
It's estimated that
you'll have an 80 to 90% chance of survival
if you're shot in a non-fatal area.
But not everyone will be as fortunate
as that 14-year-old boy.
If you survive,
you could end up with serious,
life-changing injuries.
Some of the damage is due
to the bullet piercing your body.
But the bullet's momentum can be deadly.
Bullets come in different shapes and sizes,
and each bullet has different
characteristics of energy transfer.
A 9 mm (35 caliber) bullet,
which is usually used by
law enforcement officers,
can travel up to 1,450 km/h (900 mph),
and will hit you with a force
of about 470 joules, (4,160 inch per pounds).
If we go up a few sizes,
the 5.56 mm (21.89 caliber) rifle round
is often used in assult rifles like
the AR-15 and the M4.
It travels at a speed of 3,300 km/h (2,050 mph).
When it hits its target,
it delivers a whopping
1,760 joules (15,577 inch per pounds) of energy.
That's more than four times the energy
of a 9 mm (35 caliber) bullet.
If you get hit with all that energy,
your skin will absorb it.
But then the energy
has to be transferred somewhere.
The bullet's entrance hole
will form a large cavity,
and then it will fall back on itself.
The trauma from this impact alone
could cause serious damage.
So, if you've been shot,
or you see someone get shot,
what's the next step to help them survive?
The first, and most important step,
is to try and stop the bleeding.
Put pressure on the wound
using whatever you have available,
like a shirt or bandages.
A former Green Beret,
Connor Narciso,
says that of all the preventable deaths
that occur on the battlefield,
90% of them are due to blood loss.
So keep as much blood in your body as possible.
After putting pressure on the entry wound,
look for an exit wound.
If there is one,
there will be a large cavity.
Apply pressure to the exit wound too.
If it's a large wound,
you'll need to make sure that
air doesn't get sucked in.
This could cause a lung to collapse.
Try to fill the wound with gauze or bandages,
then find tape or something
that can make a solid seal
around the wound to keep air out.
After the shooting,
you should immediately call for assistance.
Getting an ambulance on site
as soon as possible is critical
to surviving a bullet wound.
After being shot,
if a patient can make it to an emergency room
in the next 60 minutes,
they are more likely to survive.
It's called
Shock usually occurs
when blood has been lost.
This can happen if there isn't enough pressure
applied to the entry or exit wounds.
Going in to shock can cause
loss of consciousness.
If the bullet wound's position allows it,
lie down and try to elevate your legs.
Loosen any tight fitting clothes or belts.
And try to stay warm.
If you're helping someone else who's been shot,
watch for warning signs
like pale and clammy skin,
dizziness,
and rapid breathing.
Put your coat or sweater on the person.
Usually, you wouldn’t remove the bandage,
because taking it off can tear open the wound.
But again if you can’t call for help,
or you're in a disaster situation
where medics can't get to you,
try to make sure that the wound is clean.
If the wound isn't dressed correctly,
or re-dressed after some time,
you run the risk of getting an infection.
This can cause many complications.
When you're shot,
your body has a lot to cope with.
Rest, and allow your body
to recuperate and repair itself.
Being shot can be a terrifying experience,
and you might not look at life
the same way afterwards.
But it is possible to survive a bullet wound
if you act quickly, safely, and effectively.
But what if the danger isn't a gun?
What if you're near an exploding grenade?
Would a grenade cause more
damage than a bullet?
There's no need to hunker down.
We have all that information ready for you.
Watch How to Survive a Grenade Blast,
right here,