Question

[warri0r45]

Mods can lock this after I get an answer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No more than 10 mins ago, I was shaving (my face, just incase you were thinking otherwise) and I accidentally cut my hand with the razor. #-o

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cut didn't look to bad but it bled more than any scratch I have ever had. I ended up semi-fainting and sitting on the bathroom floor thinking to myself to breathe deeply and try not to stand up too quickly. Considering I lost no more than a shot glass of blood (I'd say no more than 20 ml actually [a shot glass is 30]) I was surprised that I actually half-fainted. After I got up, I used disinfectant and a bandaid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The question is this: Generally, how much blood do you have to lose to faint?

[darkmage099]

Try asking a reliable source such as a parent (who knows crap) or a medical website.

[warri0r45]

Try asking a reliable source such as a parent (who knows crap) or a medical website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I will, I'm just putting it out there for anyone who may know. I don't consider everyone on here an uneducated 12 year old you know (and just for clarity I'm not implying you are with this comment either).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the suggestion anyway, I will check a med website.

[d3nic]

I think you fainted because you saw blood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It happens to a lot of people when they see blood.

[Lionheart_0]

There is no set amount, it matters on each person's body. I would say its alot though, and matters where. Just on your face wont affect you, since fainting is just the lack of oxygen to the brain, which that shouldn't of affected.

[warri0r45]

There is no set amount, it matters on each person's body. I would say its alot though, and matters where. Just on your face wont affect you, since fainting is just the lack of oxygen to the brain, which that shouldn't of affected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm, I thought so. I suppose (from my education level) I could say that blood was concentrating around the cut to get a sufficient immune response to pathogens entering my bloodstream and the lack of blood around my brain caused me to faint, which, I suppose, is a mechanim to get you horizontal on the floor so more blood can flood towards your brain.

[Adam007]

Since people can faint just from getting blood drawn, I'd say it wouldn't take much. And it's not necessarily just from seeing blood. I had my blood drawn and didn't look at my blood, but had that 'half faint' feeling you're talking about and had to lie down. They gave me sucker after that to get sugar into me or something.

[The_Dragon_Reborn]

 

There is no set amount, it matters on each person's body. I would say its alot though, and matters where. Just on your face wont affect you, since fainting is just the lack of oxygen to the brain, which that shouldn't of affected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmm, I thought so. I suppose (from my education level) I could say that blood was concentrating around the cut to get a sufficient immune response to pathogens entering my bloodstream and the lack of blood around my brain caused me to faint, which, I suppose, is a mechanim to get you horizontal on the floor so more blood can flood towards your brain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lost me there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would say a lot? The medically enough for you?

[Barihawk]

A good round number would be a liter (1/8th of your total blood reserve). Some people can take much more, some people faint at the mere sight of blood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd just say that you are afraid of blood. Don't be upset with that. Many people can't stand the sight of other's blood, much less their own.

[warri0r45]

A good round number would be a liter (1/8th of your total blood reserve). Some people can take much more, some people faint at the mere sight of blood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd just say that you are afraid of blood. Don't be upset with that. Many people can't stand the sight of other's blood, much less their own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That's the wierd thing, I'm not. There was no element of fear, the dizziness just came about unexpectedly. :?

[indy500fan]

Since people can faint just from getting blood drawn, I'd say it wouldn't take much. And it's not necessarily just from seeing blood. I had my blood drawn and didn't look at my blood, but had that 'half faint' feeling you're talking about and had to lie down. They gave me sucker after that to get sugar into me or something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had that problem also. There was a point a few years back where I had to get blood drawn 4 times, about once a month to do tests. They didn't have to draw barely any at all. The first time I was on the verge of crying, and after it was done I could barely walk, and couldn't see. the next two times I was a little faint, but it got better. The fourth time I barely had a problem at all. The point I am trying to make is it was the same amount drawn every time, so what I was feeling was mostly in my mind. I believe it would probably be the same in your case, you subconscious thinks you are supposed to faint when you lose blood, so it decided that's what was happening. Mind over matter.

[MPM]

It all depends on the person and their lifestyle. If you give blood, you have probally seen someone pass out half a unit into donating, and then there are others that would be able to do a double unit without a problem, even if they are the same weight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barihawks number works for me in the guess for amount.

 

 

 

Did you eat today? Sleep last night? Drink enough clear liquids? Drink too much alcoholic liquids? Did strenous excesize? Have a history of fainting? Have low/high blood pressure? Have low/high blood sugar? Have diabetes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons of reasons it could have happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Btw: How do you cut your hand shaving? Hairy knuckles? :P

[warri0r45]

It all depends on the person and their lifestyle. If you give blood, you have probally seen someone pass out half a unit into donating, and then there are others that would be able to do a double unit without a problem, even if they are the same weight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barihawks number works for me in the guess for amount.

 

 

 

Did you eat today? Sleep last night? Drink enough clear liquids? Drink too much alcoholic liquids? Did strenous excesize? Have a history of fainting? Have low/high blood pressure? Have low/high blood sugar? Have diabetes?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons of reasons it could have happened.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Btw: How do you cut your hand shaving? Hairy knuckles? :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did you eat today? - Does iced coffee count? That could be it. #-o

 

 

 

Sleep last night? - Yes.

 

 

 

Drink enough clear liquids? - Yes.

 

 

 

Drink too much alcoholic liquids? - Haven't had a drink since last week.

 

 

 

Did strenous excesize? - No.

 

 

 

Have a history of fainting? - No.

 

 

 

Have low/high blood pressure? - Average.

 

 

 

Have low/high blood sugar? Average.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I cut my hand because I'm a clutz. :P :oops:

[MPM]

Not much eating? That may have been it. If you blood sugar drops quickly(like it does with drinks), it's very possible that even a small amount of blood can make you pass out/feel weak.

[warri0r45]

Not much eating? That may have been it. If you blood sugar drops quickly(like it does with drinks), it's very possible that even a small amount of blood can make you pass out/feel weak.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Due to the fact that our brains (from memory) use the most carbohydrates out of any organ in our body I suppose. Fair call there.

[Will H]

Hmm, I would say that about a litre would make you pass out. A shot glass is not enough. I think it was probably something to do with not enough blood sugar due to not enough eating weakened your reserves, and when your brain is deprived from sugar, blood become much more valuable per ml, so that may be why. If I were you, I would keep track of yourself and if you ever have the same experience again, go to a doctor. For now, I think you're fine.

[assassin_696]

I'm sure you're not afraid of blood, but i'm guessing it's more psychological than biological.

[Bubsa]

Could be just the shock of the amount of bleeding. Like you could have had a "Oh no, crikey, this is more than I thought" and your brain had a little panic. Or I could be talking absolute rubbish, I honestly don't know, but I'd guess at that due to you not having a real phobia of blood. A couple of questions, had you eaten and drank well that day? What was room temperature, your temperature? Any current illnesses?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You seem a level headed guy. You've done everything right, by the way. Disinfect, breathe well, band-aid, get up controlled - good work. I wouldn't go out of the way to make a new appointment, but if you see a doctor any time soon, just mention to him what happened. It can't hurt.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of all, I hope it doesn't happen again, pal!

[Parabola]

I think you fainted because you saw blood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It happens to a lot of people when they see blood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think so too. Given that plenty of people give a pint of blood but don't faint.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A good round number would be a liter (1/8th of your total blood reserve).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The average adult has 5 litres of blood, or 8 pints.

[warri0r45]

Thanks for your support and feedback guys. Mods can lock this now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My conclusion would be that I haden't had a decent breakfast when it happened and there was possibly a phycological aspect to it as well as, even though it wasn't that much, I can't remember bleeding that much in a long time. I think Bubsa hit it on the head a bit there, it was a tiny cut, and bled like 10 times more than I thought it would (in response to your questions, the room temp was a little above average because I had just showered [could have contributed, not sure], I hadn't eaten yet and have no current illnesses). Be careful with razorblades kids!! :lol: :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I definately will be taking more care in the future.

[trapical]

As said before biologically speaking you can loose a lot of blood and still be fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh and here's a quick med tip. If you get a cut that looks kinda deep first squeeze it for 5-10 seconds and wash/suck off the blood that comes out to prevent an infection. After you bleed out like 1/3 a teaspoon or about 5 seconds worth (depends on the cut) then just use your other hand and apply pressure by pinching that finger. After 5 minutes you can probably let go for up to 15 seconds before the cut reopens and starts to bleed. This is enough time to switch hands or apply a bandage. Anyway apply a bandage if you want and then just keep pressure for up to half an hour. If it's on your finger and you other hand is tired you can press the injured hand against a table or something. After half an hour your good to go, most of the time you don't even need a bandage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A month ago while sharpening my scalpel for anatomy it slipped and I had a deep cut on my thumb. Like halfway down to the other side :-X. I felt it, looked down and for a second could see it all opened up, split muscle and all. Then the blood came. A lot of blood, like pulsing out a teaspoon a second, soon my hand was covered in it. I sucked it for a second to clean it (it was a used scalpel after all) then just pinched the heck of the thing with my other thumb and pointer finger. The bleeding stopped immediately. As stated above, after five minutes I let go to wash the area and it didn't open back up until about 5-10 seconds, I pinched it for another five and then quickly smeared antibiotic gel and a band-aid over it and re-pinched it. 30 minutes later I had lab so I released the pressure and it was just fine. Healed in 10 days and now I don't even have a scar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anyway, point of the story is this can potentially save your life. Remember it next time you get cut, it works.

[TokyoPolice]

I hit my brother in the face and he filled a sink up with blood because of it. Didn't pass out, either.

[warri0r45]

I hit my brother in the face and he filled a sink up with blood because of it. Didn't pass out, either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Didn't think of going to the hospital? :?

[jemathonical]

 

I hit my brother in the face and he filled a sink up with blood because of it. Didn't pass out, either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Didn't think of going to the hospital? :?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe/Hopefully it was a small sink :-k

[TokyoPolice]

He deserved it, so of course not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think he posts on this board but I don't know his name. I'll ask him tomorrow and if he does, I'll have him tell the story.